INTERESTING historical documents dating back nearly a century have revealed tenants in the 1930s didn't want electricity, homes came with a scullery and the average rent was six shillings a week.

During their recent office move, staff at Two Rivers Housing discovered a folder full of old tenancy agreements, letters, plans and drawings.

Most of the documents found relate to the former Rural District Council of West Dean. They show that mains water supplies were introduced during the 1930s and there's a postcard dated 1938 asking a Coleford tenant if he would like electricity installed – to which he replied "no"!

There was a surprise for Two Rivers Housing's administration apprentice, Lauren Hatton, who discovered among the documents a tenancy agreement for her great-great-uncle.

The hand-drawn plans dated 1920 and 1930 show developments in Lydney which were rather different from the plans produced today as the houses were built with a scullery, larder, parlour and an area to the side of the house to store fuel.

All the houses and tenants are recorded in a large ledger which only stopped being used in 2005, when records were transferred onto computer. Pages from the ledger book were added over the years using a special key, but it made it very heavy.

Neighbourhood lettings co-ordinator, Denise Voyce remembers filling in the book each week: "It's very interesting to look through, but I don't miss having to lug the heavy book around!" she said.

It is hoped that the historical documents will be put on display in 'Rivers Meet', the new home of Two Rivers Housing.