Manchester University Press
4 Travellers’ lives, 1945–68
Abstract
This chapter describes how Travellers were affected by and responded to changes in society in the post-war era, including increasing motorisation and other technological developments, also discussing the important phenomenon of the changing landscape of post-war Britain. The post-war period was a time of considerable change: one of the ways in which this was explained by contemporaries, both from Traveller and settled communities, was to point to the influx of Irish Travellers. The change of attitude of central government towards caravans had included Travellers, as a result of questions having been asked in the Parliament and in the press over the ‘serious hardship’ caused ‘when a traditional Gypsy camping ground is closed’. The end of the 1950s saw a move away from a negative view of both caravans and their inhabitants, but the new positive approach specifically excluded Travellers.
Abstract
This chapter describes how Travellers were affected by and responded to changes in society in the post-war era, including increasing motorisation and other technological developments, also discussing the important phenomenon of the changing landscape of post-war Britain. The post-war period was a time of considerable change: one of the ways in which this was explained by contemporaries, both from Traveller and settled communities, was to point to the influx of Irish Travellers. The change of attitude of central government towards caravans had included Travellers, as a result of questions having been asked in the Parliament and in the press over the ‘serious hardship’ caused ‘when a traditional Gypsy camping ground is closed’. The end of the 1950s saw a move away from a negative view of both caravans and their inhabitants, but the new positive approach specifically excluded Travellers.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- Preface vii
- Acknowledgements viii
- Abbreviations x
- Introduction 1
-
Part I: The early twentieth century and wartime
- 1 Travellers’ lives, 1900–45 27
- 2 The state and its legal responses 53
- 3 Education and missions 78
-
Part II: Post-war and the 1960s
- 4 Travellers’ lives, 1945–68 109
- 5 The state and site provision 133
- 6 Travellers and the welfare state 156
-
Part III: The later years
- 7 State developments and Travellers’ responses, 1968–2000 187
- 8 Conclusion 220
- Select bibliography 225
- Index 239
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- Preface vii
- Acknowledgements viii
- Abbreviations x
- Introduction 1
-
Part I: The early twentieth century and wartime
- 1 Travellers’ lives, 1900–45 27
- 2 The state and its legal responses 53
- 3 Education and missions 78
-
Part II: Post-war and the 1960s
- 4 Travellers’ lives, 1945–68 109
- 5 The state and site provision 133
- 6 Travellers and the welfare state 156
-
Part III: The later years
- 7 State developments and Travellers’ responses, 1968–2000 187
- 8 Conclusion 220
- Select bibliography 225
- Index 239
