Ancient Town-Planning

The original lecture was written as a scholar's contribution to a modern movement. It looked on town planning as one of those new methods of social reform, which stand in somewhat sharp contrast with the usual aims of political parties and parliaments. Men and women have begun to demand that the health and housing and food and comfort of mankind, and much else that not long ago seemed to lie outside the scope of legislation, should be treated with as close attention and logic and intelligence as any of the older and more conventional problems of politicians. Among these newer efforts town-planning is one of the better known. Most of us now admit that if some scores of dwellings have to be run up for working- men or city-clerks — or even for University teachers in North Oxford — they can and should be planned with regard to the health and convenience and occupations of their probable tenants. Town-planning has taken rank as an art ; it is sometimes styled a science and University professorships are named after it; in the London Conference of 1910 it got its deductio in forum or at least its first dance.