ABSTRACT

Most of the historiography on 19th and early-20th century reform campaigns relating to land, housing and planning focuses on the philanthropists and middle class, and often aristocratic reformers. Chase and Howkins have also examined elements of the working class radical tradition and land reform in the 19th century, but as yet no study has sought to examine the continuity of working class radical thought across the period. This chapter focuses on London working class radicals in the mid-19th century, and demonstrates the active engagement of radicals in land reform campaigns, which also touched on the wider issues of housing and the planning of new settlements. It also demonstrates both a level of continuity across several generations, but a distinctly separate approach to that of the middle class Liberals and radicals. Working class radicals and early socialists engaged with the organisations established by middle class radicals, but continued to advocate their own interests.