The Midland Railway Company constructed houses in a variety of sizes and styles specifically to accommodate its operational workforce. The availability of tied housing helped the company to attract and retain the people it needed to operate the railway system all year round. In the days before mass car ownership, it was important for people to have accommodation reasonably close to their place of work. This was especially important in more remote areas. Within the SCRCA, the most easily identifiable (and arguably the most attractive) examples are the three 'standard' types that were built in 1875-6 during the final phase of the line's construction. This initial set of residential buildings were built by multiple independent contractors, but they share a set of common design characteristics that are similar to those found on the standard booking office buildings.
As car ownership increased and the number of people needed to operate the railways declined, these tied houses were gradually sold off.
Please note that ALL of the former workers' houses are now privately owned. If you decide to view these structures in the real world, please respect the privacy of the occupants and DO NOT TRESPASS.
