The following section of text is taken from the 60th anniversary 'history' of the GA's Thanet Branch, written by Derek Wilson. Available to download from the GA website.
The first Land Utilisation Survey of Britain was a comprehensive survey of land use in Great Britain in the 1930s. This survey was the first such comprehensive survey in Britain since the Domesday Book survey in the 11th Century.
Dudley Stamp, reader and later professor of geography at the London School of Economics instigated the survey. Preliminary experimental work was done in 1929, the survey got going in earnest in 1930 and most of the field work was completed in the field season of 1931.
In the 25 years since the Land Utilisation Survey was carried out in East Kent, many changes, both urban and rural, took place in the intervening period. Two members of the committee of the GA's Thanet branch (Alice Coleman and Ken Maggs) felt an urge to record an up-to-date picture and ambitiously planned a survey of nearly 500 square miles, i.e. the area of East Kent.
Eleven other members gave their assistance with the project and it was completed in mid 1959.
Alice Coleman was invited to give a lecture on the results at the Geographical Association’s National Conference in January 1960.
Then began a period of constructive activity. Alice Coleman and Ken Maggs illustrated and the IOTGA published a 32 page handbook. This handbook, which cost 2s 6d (in old money), had to be reprinted 3 times due to demand and orders were received as far afield as Sweden, Ontario and Pakistan.
Alice Coleman's survey employed a much more detailed classification than Stamp's in both urban and rural areas, giving 64 categories grouped into 13 groupings.
Keen and competent geographers welcomed the project whole-heartedly. There was a reaction in a few quarters that it was almost incredulous that a single Geographical Association could aspire to so much.
Indeed, the parent Geographical Association declared that it was impossible for such a project to be undertaken by a branch and their first impulse was to take it over themselves. Fortunately, its ultimate decision proved favourable in that it acceded to the request by the IOTGA not to take the survey over and to offer any unofficial help within its power.
The Royal Geographical Society was most gracious in granting help. Its distinguished platform was offered to Alice Coleman for a lecture in March 1960 and its exhibition gallery was devoted to a display on Land Use for several weeks.
Around 3000 volunteers completed much of the field work covering some 90% of England and Wales.
Several members of the Isle of Thanet Geographical Association contributed to this national survey.
They included: Pam Dunford, Clare Lukehurst, Ken Maggs, P Mitchel, Mr and Miss Palin, Janet Pigg and Miss G Brand and Marjorie Woodward covering the areas Fordingbridge, Mitcham and the Isle of Purbeck, Croyden and Edenbridge, Ashford in Kent, Exmoor and Cranbrook respectively.
The Nature Conservancy provided the salaries of two full-time surveyors to map the vegetation in the the remote moorland areas. Funds for preparing maps for the printer were granted by University College, Swansea and the Pantyfedwyn Trust. These totalled £1000. The evolving printing fund, which was so generously opened by Professor Stamp’s gift of £2000 was augmented by Broadstairs, Deal and Ramsgate Councils and by the School which mapped the Princes Risborough Sheet. Secretarial, postage and other expenses were met by Professor Stamp and Alice Coleman, whilst the University College of Wales at Aberystwyth provided secretarial and administrative expenses for the Welsh Regiona Organiser.
Unfortunately, coverage of only around 10% of the country was published at 1:25,000 due to printing problems (only 115 sheets had been completed when the programme was suspended in 1977).
Nevertheless published sheets included the whole of Greater London and industrial Thames-side, giving a snapshot of London at its peak as a centre of manufacturing. The handing down of tradition demanded the printed word.
This was one of the principal aims of “Panorama”. It was hoped to record the Isle of Thanet Branch activities of the Geographical Association, particularly the results of research projects and to make them available to build on further in future years.
The actual printing of the first volume was undertaken by the members themselves. A type-setting party was set up to deal with the exacting task. The printing squad included Alice Coleman, Marjorie Woodward, Peggy Hopkins, Mrs Greig, John Lane, Alan Simmons, Michael and John Cuckney, Vera Wiggett, Carol Coatman, A Check, A Neve, Mary Tully, Mary Towes, J Frier, Linda Beecham, Carol Mizon, Kathleen Cunningham and Ken and Mrs Maggs.
During the decade, there were 11 volumes printed; volumes 1 to 4 were edited by Ken Maggs, volumes 5 to 8 by Clare Lukehurst, Volume 9 by John Evans, volume 10 by Alice Coleman and volume 11 jointly by Alice Coleman and Prof WGV Balchin.
We are looking for copies of Panorama magazines to complete a collection. Some are proving difficult to track down.
Here's the one of Ely, showing the site of my school buildings, which didn't exist at the time, as they started to be added in the 1970s.
If anyone has any copies of the missing 'Panorama' magazine issues, please get in touch.
