H. John Manning
H. Manning
H. John Manning was a London carpenter and builder, conceived the 'Manning Portable Colonial Cottage' in 1830 as a prefabricated timber building which could be packaged into a small volume for transportation overseas and assembly at its destination. Arguably, the Manning's Portable Cottage is considered to be one first documented prefab houses.
Manning built it for his son who was immigrating to Australia. Manning wanted his son to have a comfortable place to live in the new land, but didn't know what materials and supplies his son would find there. So he constructed a house in pieces that could be stored in the hull of a ship, and then unloaded and assembled once his son arrived Down Under. A single man could carry most of its lightweight components, making it ideal for the untamed Australian wilderness. (The house, which Manning produced in a range of styles, became a mild commercial success.) It worked so well that Manning shipped dozens of the cottages there. A few still stand today.
