'Scattered squalor'...'Downland Homes': aspects of housing history
Dr Geoffrey Mead SpeakerNet Sponsor
- Region:
- South East
- Notice Period:
- Emergency (maybe less than one week's notice)
- Type:
- Local interest/professional
- Fee:
- Paid: £80 plus travel if needed
- Category:
- History
- Updated:
- 12th October 2020
- Tagged:
- Housing | Transport | Agricultural History | Architecture
Between the wars there was an enormous growth in British suburban housing, but not all were Tudorbethan semis with clipped lawns and an Austin 7 in the drive. Many were what are now termed 'plotlands', but in the past had harsher terms applied- hutments, track and shack or simply shanty towns...a term now viewed with much disfavour! As a result of research for my doctorate I studied these plotlands in various UK locations, their origins, growth, demise and even disappearance. They are a largely ignored aspect of our housing history but one that has implications for present day and future UK landscapes
Views: 1115 | Enquiries: 15About Dr Geoffrey Mead
I am an Associate Tutor with the Geography team at the University of Sussex where I thought I had retired...10 years ago! I specialise in the landscapes of SE England, in both urban and rural areas and I did my doctorate in the suburban growth of the interwar period. I taught adult education for nearly 30 years at Sussex where I worked in the Landscape Studies degree team and was Convenor for Local History. I give talks across SE England to a wide range of groups, from universities to local history societies, WI groups , U3A, Probus and Round Tables. I run weekly classes at local community centres. The most requested from my range of talks are those that combine social history, geography, geology and a 'sense of place'. I can adapt my talks to particular areas or interests.
Other Talks on SpeakerNet by Dr Geoffrey Mead
- Landscapes of SE England
- The South at Work
- Feeding the Nation-agriculture in the South
- Channel coastlands
- Brighton before the Royal Pavilion
- Sussex Literary Landscapes
- What is Landscape?
- Resorting to the coast- aspects of holiday history
- Sussex landscapes
- The working coast
- 'A man may have constant employ';Sussex Industrial History,a different view
- The journey to the South Downs National Park
- Brighton: West End - East End
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