ABSTRACT

THE influence of the class system and of kinship upon the life of the people of Gosforth has already been discussed. Equally important as a basic factor in the social structure is physical proximity. Like blood relationship, proximity of residence is a pre-requisite but not a determinant of the degree of social intercourse. If it were a determinant, Whitehaven, with its closely packed rows of houses, would possess a much more developed and highly interwoven community life than Gosforth, whereas in fact the reverse is the case.