Author
A.N. FRIED1, J.J. ROBERTS1 and A.K. TOVEY2 1 School of Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Kingston University, London. U.K. 2 Basement Development Group, c/o British Cement Association, Crowthorne, Berks. U.K.

Abstract
This paper reviews basement usage in the U.K. from Victorian times to the present. It covers in detail the economic case for basements, together with structural design and basement waterproofing. Studies have indicated that the need for basements in the U.K was very limited from the early twentieth century until about 1990 when rising land costs and increased affluence in the U.K sparked renewed interest in including domestic basements under properties. In response to this, structural design guidance and practical information on waterproofing has been developed.