What is public space?
Has it always been public?
What is private space?
Who has the right to use it?
How has it been contested?
This website is the project of Dr Katrina Navickas, exploring the history of public space in England from 1700 to today.
From enclosure and improvement acts in the 18th century, through planned settlements in the 19th century, to slum clearance, new towns and Business Improvement Districts, and private-public initiatives in the 20th and 21st centuries, public space has been contested and privatised.
I am exploring the history of contested public spaces in particularly resonant sites in England, including north Manchester terraces and squares used for demonstrations, disputed rights of way and common rights on Pennine moors, landownership in Croydon, planning in Stevenage and other towns.
I am also conducting a survey of commons and footpath disputes as part of my Open Spaces Society fellowship at the Museum of English Rural Life. Go to: https://historyofpublicspace.uk/my-oss-fellowship-at-merl-2021/
I’m particularly interested in planning disputes and protests that have resonance to the present day. Contact me.
