Home for Heroes

In the aftermath of the war there was a great gap between the ideal and reality. The ideal was symbolised by the war memorials put up all over Britain, in every city, town and village.

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of each year there would be two minutes silence and powerful ceremonies to remember the war dead, not cynical ceremonies and symbols foisted on the British by their rulers, they were accepted by a people that needed to come to terms with the Great War, a token of a promise "that they had not died in vain", jobs and "homes fit for heroes" for the returning survivors.

Reality was to be different; there was a Ministry of Reconstruction in 1918, and plans for advances in education and housing, but by 1922 most of these plans were in ruins. A short term post-war boom soon collapsed, followed by long years of inter-war unemployment. It was once again "Business as usual" and "Back to 1914".
Blighty Brighton

The Squatters

The Garden Estates

Peacehaven