Living Back-to-back
Living Back-to-back by Chris Upton, published by Phillimore in August 2005, explores the historical significance of back-to-back housing in England. This edition, comprising 176 pages, delves into the practical realities of life in these unique homes, which were once prevalent among working-class communities in Victorian cities. Upton utilizes a blend of documentary evidence and oral history to examine the factors that influenced Britain’s urban migration patterns in the 19th century and the subsequent decline of these living arrangements by the 1960s.
Readers will find a detailed account of the social conditions surrounding public housing in Birmingham, England, as well as insights into the architectural and cultural implications of back-to-back homes. The book is illustrated with sepia-tone black-and-white images, enhancing the narrative with visual context. Upton’s work serves as a comprehensive resource for understanding the evolution of housing and urban life in Great Britain, making it a valuable addition for those interested in social history and urban studies.
Official synopsis Publisher
The back-to-back was once the most common form of housing in England. Although a half-million of the homes built in rows, courts, or blocks housed working people in Victorian cities, few remain standing today. Upton (history, Newman College of Higher Education, Birmingham, UK) took as the starting point for his popular history Court 15 in Birmingham, now a National Trust museum. Upton combines documentary evidence and oral history to describe the practical realities of life in a back-to-back as well as more conceptual matters like why Britain’s population moved so readily into cities in the early 19th century, and moved away just as rapidly in the 1960s. The volume is well illustrated in sepia-tone b&w. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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