Corrugated Iron Buildings

Following the recent offer for sale of a Corrugated Iron house, it was interesting to learn more about these old structures.

They come in many forms, and it shouldn’t have come as a surprise to learn that the Portable Buildings, as they were known at the time, were available in a wide range of configurations, ranging from simple houses, all the way to dance halls and churches.

Dating back to their beginnings in the 1820s, their name/description is possibly a little confusing, and even unfair, as the Corrugated Iron referred to in their build is not the flimsy, general purpose steel sheeting we recognise today, but was then actually Wrought Iron, galvanised to resist the weather, relatively cheap, and able to produce a quickly assembled structure.

They are now quite rare, although there may be more around than is generally recognised, since once they are painted, there is little to differentiate them from a conventional build until the paint or any cladding is removed, and if they’ve have been extended with more modern materials, then they are even harder to recognise at a glance.

More common are structures made of the modern corrugated steel sheeting, often used to produce small porches and lean-to sheds, and the well known Nissen hut and similar structure during World War II.

Something else to keep an eye out for when touring around, and maybe even drop us a note of the location and a pic if spotted, as we have already noted some interesting structures on our Main Site page, and there will be more, ranging from ruined derelicts, through surviving originals, all the way to modern renovations.