dc.contributor.author | Strachan, Alan James | en |
dc.date.accessioned | 2016-11-09T10:25:37Z | |
dc.date.available | 2016-11-09T10:25:37Z | |
dc.date.issued | 1969 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/1842/17665 | |
dc.description.abstract | The rural-urban fringe is that zone around a city into which the
urban area is expanding, but which still retains much of its agricultural
and open space character. Studies of this transitional area have been
carried out around maiy cities in North America whereas British cities
have hot been so intensively investigated.
An historical study was undertaken to establish whether or not a
fringe existed prior to the introduction of the automobile, since many
American researchers have attributed the emergence of this zone to the
increased personal mobility made possible by widespread car ownership.
In order to determine the character and changes which have taken
place in the form of urban growth an analysis was made of Edinburgh at
twenty year intervals after 1850. At each period the inner fringe
boundary was delimited,forming a line outwards from which the spread
of urban land uses could be identified. In addition a study was made
of the degree of agricultural orientation towards the Edinburgh market
at ten year intervals after 1866.
These detailed investigations established the fact that during tho
19th century urban growth was limited to the immediate vicinity of the
built-up area, beyond which was a scatter of institutions and several
villages whioh had begun to assume a dormitory role. In contrast to
this restricted zone of urban expansion poor transport facilities for
bulky and perishable agricultural produce gave rise to a wide ring of
urban oriented farming activity. After 1900 improved transportation
media allied with a demand for houses with gardens in semi-rural
surroundings led to a rapid outward growth of Edinburgh along the main
roads reaching out to and beyond the older dormitory villages. The
growing demand for recreation facilities resulted in the multiplication
of perks, playing fields and golf courses, which along with many
institutions and agriculture infilled the interstices between the
tentacles of urban growth. The implementation of planning legislation
in 1947 brought free urban expansion to an end and resulted in the
infilling of the star pattern giving rise to a compact urban area
around which a Green Belt of agricultural, recreational and institutional
land uses was established. This restricted area has forced new urban
expansion out of the towns and villages beyond the belt giving rise to
a ring of satellite settlements quite separate from the city.
Improved transport has negated the necessity for agriculture to depend
on the adjacent urban market. This means that the fringe area at the
present time is dependent on a few rural land uses which contrasts with
the important role played by agriculture during the 19th century.
The form and process of urban growth over the last one hundred
years, which had been identified with reference to Edinburgh, were
then compared with the more extensively documented rural urban fringe
areas around North American cities. In this comparison the differences
and similarities between them were highlighted and wherever possible
accounted for.
In the appendices a full account is given of the premises used
in delimiting the inner boundary of the fringe as well as functions
and area which should be investigated in order that the area! extent
of the rural-urban fringe around cities in the United Kingdom may be
determined. | en |
dc.publisher | The University of Edinburgh | en |
dc.relation.ispartof | Annexe Thesis Digitisation Project 2016 Block 4 | en |
dc.relation.isreferencedby | | en |
dc.title | Rural-urban fringe of Edinburgh 1850 - 1967 | en |
dc.type | Thesis or Dissertation | en |
dc.type.qualificationlevel | Doctoral | en |
dc.type.qualificationname | PhD Doctor of Philosophy | en |