After the loss of his son during the War, when Samuel McAulay died in June 1920 he left in his will a sum of money with the specific purpose of funding a legacy for the memory of that son.
That legacy funded the building of the Captain F W McAulay Memorial Cottages in Aylesby.
In 1925, his wife, Mrs Maud McAulay commissioned the renowned architect Charles Holloway James to design the memorial cottages as a fitting memorial to her son, and to “provide homes for anyone in difficult circumstances, such as widows with young children, or disabled ex-servicemen with families”.
The land that was purchased was “approx 2 acres 3 roods or thereabouts” with a frontage of approximately 300 foot on the main road between Aylesby and Great Coates.
The architect hired to design the cottages was Charles Holloway James of Bedford Square, London, and the builders were Hewins and Goodhand of Grimsby.
The Architect
The McAulay family chose Charles Holloway James of Bedford Square, London to design the new Memorial Cottages. The accounts book from the time show that he was paid the sum of £695 4s 7p to do the architectural plans and oversee the project. As well as the main cottage building, the architect also drew up the plans for the external engine house building, for the gates and walls and the garden layout.
C H James (1893 – 1953) was architect who already had a strong reputation, had previously studied under Lutyens (who designed The Cenotaph, London and Lindisfarne Castle amongst other buildings), and who, in later life, went on to become a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Architects (RIBA). C H James also went on to design some significant public buildings, including the City Hall in Norwich (which shares a use of columns in the design which is evident on the memorial cottages).
Architectural magazines of the 1920’s featured the memorial cottages soon after their construction and were keen to praise the design by the architect. “Care has been taken with every detail…”. “The fenestration too is much superior to what is usually found in this class of dwelling”.
The Builders
The construction was carried out by Hewins and Goodhand Limited of Eleanor Street, Grimsby. This firm also built the (now derelict) Eleanor Street former education offices, technical college and art school (completed in 1895).
Entry in a Lincolnshire trade journal of the time listing Hewins and Goodhand (pic)
Early costs
The land was purchased from E T Tyrwhitt Blake on 5th May 1926 for the sum of £100 (plus stamp duty).
The architect C H James was paid £695 4 7 for his services.
The overall cost to the builders, Hewins and Goodhand was £9628 3 7 paid in September 1926.
Over the coming months there were costs to fit out the new memorial cottages including:
£142 13 5 for curtains and linoleum
£9 19 6 for Chairs
£353 3 5 for establishing the gardens
£167 19 7 for fencing
£79 6 for gravel
(all taken from the accounts books for the construction which can be found in the Grimsby Archives).
Go to an overview of everything about the building
Explore the architectural details and read about the Grade 2 listing
The cottages are also homes
Find out how the cottages have changed and evolved
View a gallery of images