Editing Semi-detached (section)

===Housing the urban working classes===
[[Life in Great Britain during the Industrial Revolution]] changed drastically. At the same time as the huge increase in the population of the rural counties, there was [[Demographics of the United Kingdom#Census established and the demographic transition, 1800–2000|an even greater shift in population]] from the impoverished land to the large towns and to cities ([[Urbanization|urbanisation]]). Society was restructuring, with the working classes dividing into artisans and labourers. In the cities, labourers were housed in overcrowded [[Tenement|tenement blocks]], [[Rookery (slum)|rookeries]] and [[Boarding house|lodging houses]], and philanthropic societies aimed to improve conditions. The rural Labourers' Friend Society expanded in 1844 and was reconstituted as the [[Society for Improving the Condition of the Labouring Classes]].{{sfn|Lofthouse|2012|loc=Housing the Urban Working Classes}} In their 1850 publication ''The Dwellings of the Labouring Classes'', written by [[Henry Roberts (architect)|Henry Roberts]], the society laid out plans for model 'semi-detached' cottages for workers in towns and the city. However, the first properties they built were tenements and lodging houses.

In 1866 the [[Metropolitan Association for Improving the Dwellings of the Industrious Classes]] built Alexander Cottages at [[Beckenham]] in Kent, on land provided by the [[Duke of Westminster]]. The development initially comprised 16 pairs of semis.  By 1868, they had built 164 semis.{{sfn|Lofthouse|2012|loc=Housing the Urban Working Classes}}

In [[Birmingham]], [[Wolverhampton]] and [[The Potteries Urban Area|the Potteries]] there was a tradition dating from the 1790s of artisans saving through mutual funds and [[friendly society|friendly societies]].{{sfn|Burnett|1986|p=94}} In the 1840s, the [[building society|permanent building society model]] was adopted. The Woolwich Equitable was founded in 1847, the Leeds Permanent in 1848 and Bradford Equitable in 1851. Artisans could invest and then borrow a sum for a mortgage on their own property.{{sfn|Burnett|1986|p=95}}