Building phases

There were four designs for the houses, which were originally sold at slightly different prices.

The houses were not built progressively along the street, but piecemeal as the plots were sold; hence for some years there would have been empty spaces along the roads. The houses were initially named rather than numbered.

Oxford Road

In 1932 Hooke's Street Directory for Abingdon lists no. 2 Oxford Road as 'Union Institution', and (apart from The Holt, presumably a single house) only three other numbers: 4/6 (with one inhabitant), 8 and 10. The next road after no. 10 is listed as Boxhill Road.

In 1934 and 1935 no. 2 is no longer listed as the Union Institution but just a house number. By 1936 there has been more building: no. 2 is now The Holt, and nos 4 to 28 are followed by 'Here are Abbot's Road (sic) and Thesiger Road' and nos 30 to 46 by 'Here are Boxhill Road and St John's Road'. The original owners of 4/6, 8 and 10 are now indicated as living at numbers 42, 44 and 46, so presumably their houses were renumbered.

Abbott Road

In 1936 Abbott Road had only four houses; in 1937 there were another ten; 1938 added another seven houses and 1939 a further six. Although Hooke's Directory for 1939 still showed only house names, the 1939 registration, made at the beginning of the Second World War, allocated house numbers. The following year added another four houses, and 1941 a further six.

Thesiger Road

In 1936 Thesiger Road had only three houses; 1937 added another six; 1938 added twelve; 1939 added four; by 1941 there were another fifteen. Both Abbott and Thesiger Roads had more houses added later, and some have since been rebuilt entirely.