ABSTRACT
In his contribution to Jim Dyos' Study of Urban History, David Reeder emphasized the importance of comparative studies in understanding the 'theatre of suburbs' with their complex, varied social and physical development. 1 Mindful of these recommendations, this chapter will set out a broad basis for evaluating life on new working-class housing estates during the 1920s and 1930s. It avoids considering local authority estates in isolation and compares them with other model housing estates. 2 It views housing estates as one of the 'variety of social spaces' thrown up by urbanism and inviting the formation of associations and associational cultures. 3 Estates offered their inhabitants a physically and socially distinct locality, and a new domain in which to participate in local and public affairs. At the time, there was an expectation that the choice and self-direction available to residents would provide a clear basis for the development of new relations between individuals and society – a dwelling place 'free of the tyranny of both cousins and kings'. 4
