Towards an Archaeology of the Welfare State (1945 - 1979)

The Welfare State between the end of WWII and the rise of Margaret Thatcher marked a high-point for direct, proactive governmental intervention in the social welfare (education; health; employment) of the population of Britain. This resulted in a major intervention into the urban and rural landscapes of the UK through the construction of social housing, schools, hospitals and other welfare provision.

However, much of this infrastructure has now reached the end of its use life and is being demolished or transformed through major renovation. What was once the cutting edge of modernity is now becoming the threatened relics of a past society. This proposed PhD thesis aims to explore the landscapes and buildings of the Welfare State, using London as a case study.

Exploring similarities in approaches to the use and articulation of space and deployment of materials, and the interaction of built and open space, it hopes to identify distinctive historical landscapes that can be associated with the Welfare State. The research questions include: How are the principles of state modernity spatialized across a range of different forms of built space?

Can the same principles be seen to be applied across a range of different WS construction programmes?

How did the day-to-day use and engagement with the built space serve to adapt, enhance and confront the visions laid out by the architects and designers? At what scale did such adaptations take place: formal extension/refurbishment? Ad hoc re-working of built space?

How can the research and social value of buildings constructed as part of the Welfare State be captured and articulated in a contemporary heritage management context?

How can recording briefs and WSIs be better designed to capture key aspects of the use of built and unbuilt space in complex 20th century construction schemes?