ABSTRACT
In July 1934, before Adolf Hitler had fully consolidated his position as ruler of Germany, firms of builders in Middlesex were suggesting to Evening News readers that they might 'Live on an estate that will provide protection for your Dependants in the future. In one respect Hitler's war brought London great benefit as it was indirectly responsible for the establishment of a wide and continuous Green Belt in place of the tentative and ineffective open space preservation measures of the thirties. In 1936, as war fears mounted, the Territorial Army establishment for Middlesex had been increased from 3,000 to 11,000; by March 1939, strength had reached 9,000. In October 1938 Laing announced price reductions on some of their London estates 'as a token of gratitude for the continuance of peace', but this was more of an attempt to revive sales which had flagged badly during the war scare of the previous month.
