London Workhouse and Slums to South Oxhey

After the Second World War the most immediate effect on the people of London was a lack of decent housing. The new Labour government brought in a massive programme of changes that established the National Health Service, and nationalization of gas, electricity, transport, rail, postal and telephone services (i.e. ownership by the State). Rationing of food, clothes and sweets continued, and life for most people was austere, with shortages felt everywhere.
New housing schemes and huge re-building programmes commenced, with high-rise blocks of flats being popular with the architects and planners. Many mistakes were made at this time, and London is still suffering social problems to this day which may be said to be caused by lack of community spirit. The spirit destroyed by the impersonality of these huge tower blocks of flats and cheap housing schemes. Again, if these housing schemes were cheap then each family who moved into one must have had more disposable money. If the community spirit flourished years ago with filth in houses and on the streets why would the community spirit be different now. I have read many examples of Londoners having a tough time but history tells us money was always available for drink.