ABSTRACT
The Quarry Hill estate exists on a number of different levels: as an official enterprise with professed intentions of policy and design; as part of the city's housing stock; and as a special concept in residential planning that was subscribed to by the formal association of tenants and socially concerned individuals who were interested in making it work this way. The level that has not so far been considered is that of private life. For the first thirty years no investigation of this was undertaken and there is no record of private reactions unless they gave rise to movements or actions that were mentioned in the estate records. In 1969, a sample survey of 103 households was carried out (Appendix 2) and though this represents only 11 per cent of the total, the consistency of the replies obtained, and their similarity in many cases with results from other surveys of housing estates, suggested that the points brought to light were significant and that the opinions expressed were representative. Thirty years after its foundation an estate such as this has lasted half its mortgage period and is beginning to serve its second generation. It might then be considered a most opportune time to take stock and form a general opinion of its performance and achievements as a working environment.
