Gentlemen landowners and the middle classes of Bromley : the transfer of power and wealth, 1840-1914
The central driving force behind this thesis was to study and analyse the balance of power, influence and wealth held by the landed gentry and the middle classes during the period 1840 to 1914. This was accomplished by focusing on thetown of Bromley, Kent, which historians and modern commentators alike havechampioned as the archetypal middle-class suburb. The thesis begins with an in-depth examination of the origins, ideals and actions of the small group of individuals who, in 1840, owned between them the majority of land in the town. Findings about the local gentry challenge existing theories about landowners' alleged antipathy towards commercial interests and show that landowners were not averse to exploiting prevailing economic conditions to their own financial gain. Gradually the local gentry's 'social' power and influence was surrendered to the middle classes which were gaining in wealth and self-confidence. Even though the socio-economic composition of the local middle class was increasingly diverse, there existed no conspicuous divergence in their aspirations or intentions. Indeed, unity of purpose intensified their impact upon the social and economic life of the community, as well as upon prevailing
Greenhalgh, Matthew
DA Great Britain ; HC Economic History and Conditions
Gentlemen landowners and the middle classes of Bromley : the transfer of power and wealth, 1840-1914. The central driving force behind this thesis was to study and analyse the balance of power, influence and wealth held by the landed gentry and the middle classes during the period 1840 to 1914. This was accomplished by focusing on thetown of Bromley, Kent, which historians and modern commentators alike havechampioned as the archetypal middle-class suburb. The thesis begins with an in-depth examination of the origins, ideals and actions of the small group of individuals who, in 1840, owned between them the majority of land in the town. Findings about the local gentry challenge existing theories about landowners' alleged antipathy towards commercial interests and show that landowners were not averse to exploiting prevailing economic conditions to their own financial gain. Gradually the local gentry's 'social' power and influence was surrendered to the middle classes which were gaining in wealth and self-confidence. Even though the socio-economic composition of the local middle class was increasingly diverse, there existed no conspicuous divergence in their aspirations or intentions. Indeed, unity of purpose intensified their impact upon the social and economic life of the community, as well as upon prevailing
landowner middle_class transfer_power wealth central drive_force behind study analyse balance_power influence wealth hold landed gentry middle_class period accomplish focus kent historians modern commentator alike archetypal middle_class suburb begin depth examination origin ideal action small_group individual own majority land town findings local gentry challenge_exist theory landowner allege antipathy towards commercial_interest show landowner exploit prevail economic_condition financial gain gradually local gentry social power_influence surrender middle_class gain wealth self confidence even_though socio_economic composition local middle_class increasingly diverse exist conspicuous divergence aspiration intention indeed unity purpose intensified impact_upon social_economic life community well upon prevail