Birmingham: A Study in Geography, History and Planning (World Cities Series)

Belhaven World Cities Series Edited by R.J. Johnston, University of Essex and P.L. Knox, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Birmingham, Britain's second city and still the national centre for manufacturing and engineering, has incredibly until now never had a full-scale academic study of its evolution, function and structure. This yawning gap is now filled by an authoritative and distinguished treatise by the acknowledged doyen of Birmingham's urban studies, Professor Gordon Cherry, author of many books and articles on planning and urban history and Emeritus Professor of Planning and Geography at Birmingham University. In this masterly survey, he explores the origins and selling of the city, its rise to industrial pre-eminence, its achievement in civic government, enlightened planning, housing and transport and their results in urban form and land use. He then considers the impact of the Second World War, change and decline in the industrial base, the restructuring of the city centre and Birmingham's role as an international ‘Fair' city in a post-industrial world. Profusely illustrated with maps, diagrams and photographs, and written with lightness, skill and authority, this will become a classic portrait of an important world city and an essential addition to the bibliography of urban Britain. Contents Introduction The Midland setting: Birmingham's origins and early development The manufacturing town 1760s-1851 The industrial city 1851-90s At the turn of the century Between the wars The Forties The post-war economy Post-war housing The planning machine: land, roads and people The city centre ReflectionsGordon E. Cherry is the author of 'Birmingham: A Study in Geography, History and Planning (World Cities Series)' with ISBN 9780471949008 and ISBN 0471949000.