Change In Leisure And Transport 1918-79 Flashcards
What was the significance of the 1871 Bank Holiday Act?
It enabled more leisure time for workers, contributing to the growth of leisure activities.
How did trade unions contribute to leisure time in Britain?
They fought for paid holidays, resulting in the 1938 Holidays with Pay Act.
What changes occurred in leisure pursuits in Britain after the First World War?
Leisure became increasingly defined by activities outside of work, with rising incomes and reduced working hours.
Fill in the blank: Before the 1980s, leisure was seen as an ________ area for historical study.
[unimportant]
What was the impact of the middle class on working-class leisure activities?
They sought to promote virtuous leisure activities, such as choirs and organized sports.
What was the trend in spending on entertainment from 1920 to 1938?
Spending rose from £195 million in 1920 to £263 million in 1938.
What was the trend in spending on alcohol from 1920 to 1938?
Spending fell from £423 million in 1920 to £306 million in 1938.
True or False: The growth of leisure activities in Britain was primarily limited to the upper class.
[False]
What factors contributed to increased leisure time in Britain after the First World War?
Key factors included rising incomes, reduced working hours, legislation, and improvements in health and technology.
How did leisure pursuits change between 1918 and 1979 in Britain?
Leisure became a more significant part of life, defined by increased time spent on leisure activities rather than employment.
What role did improvements in communications and technology play in leisure activities?
They made leisure more accessible for people outside the traditional leisured class.
Fill in the blank: Spending on entertainment and leisure rose significantly while spending on ________ decreased.
[alcohol]
What was a cultural shift in leisure activities promoted by the middle class?
Promotion of activities that contributed to self-improvement and cultural skills.
What was the financial impact of leisure activities on British society by 1938?
Increased spending on entertainment and leisure activities reflected a cultural shift.
To what extent did the British experience of transport and leisure pursuits change between 1918 and 1979?
There was a significant change as leisure became increasingly important in defining social identity.
What was the perception of leisure before the 1980s among historians?
It was largely overlooked and considered unimportant for historical study.
What predominantly shaped working-class enjoyment of free time in the early 20th century?
The growth of mass commercialised leisure, which centred on the music hall, football, trips to the seaside, and the pub.
How can the growth of spectator sports be divided?
Into two phases: before and after the rise of television.
What created a national community of interest in sports before television?
Radio and the national press.
What events were early BBC radio sports coverage biased towards?
Events popular with the social elite, such as the Grand National, the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race, the golf Open, and tennis at Wimbledon.
What was noted during the 1948 London Olympics?
It was the first Olympics to be televised.
What limited the impact of televised sports in 1948?
Low sales of television sets and a broadcast radius of only 25 miles around the Alexandra Palace transmission station.
What shift occurred as television began to broadcast more sports?
Fans began to move from the terraces to their sofas.
How did television affect the financial landscape of sports?
It injected media and advertising revenue, incentivizing professional players to assert their worth.
How did the growth of spectator sports affect men and women differently?
It affected men far more than women throughout the period.
What significant event occurred in 1888 related to football in Britain?
The founding of the Football Association.
What was the attendance trend for football matches between 1914 and 1938?
Average attendances increased from 23,000 in 1914 to almost 31,000 in 1938.
What was the ticket price trend for football matches from 1914 to 1981?
A ticket cost sixpence in 1914, a shilling between the wars, two half-crowns in 1968, and £1 in 1981.
What contributed to the decline of live spectatorship in football?
The rise of television and hooliganism.
What were the ticket sales figures for football from the 1948-49 season to 1979-80?
From 41.2 million in 1948-49 to 24.6 million in 1979-80.
What technological advancements enhanced viewer enjoyment of sports on television in the 1960s?
The rise of colour television, multiple camera angles, and slow-motion replays.
What significant change occurred in 1983 regarding the Cup Final?
The A finally agreed to live screening of matches in return for huge sponsorship revenue from shirt advertisements.
How did television impact the financial aspects of sport from 1966 to 1983?
Television audiences grew, leading to higher fees for sporting events and a rise in advertising money from £1 million in 1966 to £100 million by 1983.
What were the wage caps for professional footballers before 1963?
Wages were capped at £4 in 1914, £18 from 1919-1939, and £20 in 1961.
What led to the scrapping of wage caps for footballers?
The threat of a strike by the Professional Footballers’ Association, formed in 1961.
What was Kevin Keegan’s reported earnings in 1978?
Kevin Keegan earned £250,000, with half of this from advertising and endorsements.
How did the rise of television affect amateurism in sports?
The new revenues from television challenged and undermined amateurism, leading to its decline by the mid-1980s.
What is Garry Whannel’s assessment of the transformation of sport due to television?
Television transformed sport beyond recognition, creating major global celebrities and reshaping sport to meet the needs of television and the promotional industry.
What was the male participation rate in sport in 1961 compared to 1979?
Male participation increased from 9% in 1961 to just under 30% in 1979.
What were the female participation rates in sport in 1961 and 1979?
Female participation increased from 6% in 1961 to 17% in 1979.
How did sport reinforce traditional gender images?
Women were not allowed to join leading golf clubs or sport governing bodies, reinforcing gender divides.
What was the trend in the construction of sport centers from 1970 to 1979?
The number of sport centers increased from 27 in 1970 to over 500 by 1979.
What was the impact of leisure and paid holidays in 20th century Britain?
Leisure time increased, allowing workers to take holidays, with paid holidays becoming a right.
How did the number of paid holidays change from 1960 to 1979?
Paid holidays increased from one week in 1960 to three weeks in 1979.
What was the significance of seaside visits in British holidays?
Seaside visits became a highlight of holidays, especially after the wars, emphasizing the importance of fresh air and relaxation.
What was the impact of increased free time on leisure in Britain?
Leisure ceased to be a symbol of social dominance and was extended to the masses in the 20th century through greater affluence and legislative changes.
What significant legislative change occurred in 1938 regarding holidays?
The Holidays with Pay Act made paid holidays a right rather than a privilege, suggesting that three consecutive days of holiday should be paid for by employers.
How many workers received paid holidays in 1935?
Only 1.5 million out of 18.5 million workers received any paid holiday.
What was the trend in holidaymaking in Britain before 1938?
Less than half the population left home for even a single night during the year before 1938.
How did the amount of leisure time for workers change from 1960 to 1979?
For full-time manual workers, paid holiday increased from two weeks in 1960 to four weeks in 1979.
What was the most common type of holiday for Britons between the wars?
The seaside visit comprised the vast majority of holidays undertaken by Britons between the wars.
What was the significance of the commercial holiday camp launched in 1937?
It marked a major shift in British holidaymaking, allowing poorer families to go away for the first time.
What was the impact of the Second World War on tourism?
The government used methods to prevent travel for pleasure to free up roads and railways for military purposes.
What was the trend in the number of people taking holidays of a week or more by 1937?
Only around a third of Britons took a holiday of a week or more away from home.
What was the membership trend of the Youth Hostel Association and the Ramblers Association in the 1930s?
Both associations saw rapid increases in membership, indicating a desire for time away from home and work.
What were the class-based holiday locations in the UK before the war?
Better-off individuals went to locations like Tynemouth and Bournemouth, while working-class families visited places like Whitley Bay and Margate.
What measures were taken to manage railway transport during peak holiday times?
Orders were given to prevent railway companies from putting on additional trains at peak holiday times.
These measures were largely ineffective.
What was Wakes Week and Trip Week?
Wakes Week was when most factory workers in Lancashire went to Blackpool, and Trip Week was when workers from Swindon went to Weston-super-Mare.
These holidays continued throughout the war.
What was the government’s approach to holidays during 1941-42?
The government tried to promote ‘Holidays at Home’ but largely accepted holidays near home as the best way to maintain worker morale and productivity.
What developments after 1945 promoted the spread of holiday camps?
The creation of prisoner of war camps, military barracks, and workers’ hostels provided the infrastructure for post-war expansion of holiday camps.
What strategic deal did Butlin make at the start of the war?
Butlin leased his existing two camps to the Navy and arranged for other sites to be built for wartime use, suitable for future holiday use.
He could buy them back after the war at 60% of cost price.
How did disposable income affect holiday choices by the end of the 1970s?
More people could afford foreign holidays and caravan holidays, with almost half the UK population having been on a caravan holiday.
What was the change in the share of holiday transport from 1951 to 1981?
In 1951, 28% traveled by car, 48% by train, and 24% by bus or coach. By 1981, 72% traveled by car, 12% by train, and 12% by bus or coach.
What were the statistics for UK holidays in 1951 compared to 1971?
In 1951, 25 million Britons went on holiday in the UK and 2 million abroad. By 1971, these figures were 34 million and 7 million respectively.
What factors contributed to the increase in foreign holidays after the mid-1970s?
The availability of cheap overseas package-tour holidays and the end of currency restrictions contributed to the increase in foreign holidays.
What was the impact of foreign travel on British culinary tastes?
Experience of foreign travel changed culinary tastes dramatically, with wine consumption doubling and continental lager becoming popular.
What was the significance of the 1975 referendum regarding the European Economic Community?
The experience of foreign travel may help explain a decisive yes vote in the referendum to stay in the European Economic Community.
What was the impact of car ownership in Britain from 1918 to 1979?
The rise of car ownership profoundly changed the lives of citizens, affecting where they live, work, and their leisure pursuits.
How did car ownership change from 1904 to 1939?
Car ownership increased from 9,000 registered cars in 1904 to two million by 1939, with the average price of cars falling significantly.
What were the statistics on car ownership after the First World War?
Car ownership rose from 100,000 in 1919 to two million in 1939, aided by cheaper, smaller cars like the Austin Seven.
What role did the Ministry of Transport play in car ownership?
The Ministry of Transport spent more on road improvements than was collected in road tax until the mid-1930s.
What were the speed limits for motorists before 1965?
A speed limit of 20mph was abolished in 1930, and a limit of 30mph was introduced in built-up areas in 1934.
How did car ownership change between 1960 and 1970?
Car ownership doubled from 5,650,000 to 11,802,000 due to the end of petrol rationing and increased incomes.
What was the significance of bicycles in commuting during the 1920s and 1930s?
Bicycle sales increased from six to ten million between 1929 and 1935, surpassing car sales.
How did buses impact commuting before the Second World War?
Buses were crucial for the working class, with passenger miles increasing from 3.5 million in 1920 to 19 million in 1938.
What is ‘ribbon development’?
Ribbon development is the construction of houses and communities along transport routes, such as roads.
How did car ownership affect shopping habits?
Car ownership allowed people to buy larger quantities of groceries in one weekly shop.
What was the significance of the first purpose-built shopping park?
The first purpose-built shopping park opened in 1939, leading to the growth of out-of-town supermarkets.
What was the state of women’s driving licenses in 1933?
In 1933, women held only 12 percent of all private driving licenses.
How did air travel change after the First World War?
By 1918, flight became commercially viable, but remained expensive and unprofitable until after World War II.
What was the role of Imperial Airways?
Imperial Airways was formed in 1924 and subsidized by the government to promote British power and modernity.
What happened to the railway operations after the First World War?
The state took control of railway operations, leading to the merger of 120 local companies into four major railways.
What was ‘Metro-land’?
Metro-land was a series of suburbs north of London promoted as ideal rural retreats linked to the city by the Metropolitan Railway.
Who wrote poems to celebrate the spirit of Metroland?
Poet Sir John Betjeman wrote a series of poems to celebrate the spirit of Metroland.
What did Sir John Betjeman create in 1973?
He created a Metroland documentary for the BBC in 1973.
How did historian A. N. Wilson describe the Metropolitan Railway?
A. N. Wilson said that the Metropolitan Railway ‘merely ended up creating an endless ribbon… not perhaps… town or country.’
What happened to the big four railway companies in 1948?
They were nationalised to create British Rail.
When was British Rail privatised?
British Rail was privatised in 1994-97.
What did Dr. Richard Beeching recommend in his reports?
He recommended the closure of over half of all stations and almost a third of all track miles (around 5,000 miles in total).
What was the impact of track closures initiated by Beeching’s recommendations?
Many communities were cut off from the rail network and left with no form of public transport.
What demand increased as a result of the rail closures?
The demand for car ownership increased in the 1960s and beyond.
What is one way government legislation impacted leisure time and tourism?
Government legislation impacted leisure time and tourism through various regulations and policies.
Why did the traditional seaside holiday decline after the Second World War?
The decline was due to various social and economic changes post-war.
What impact did increased car ownership have on people’s lives?
Increased car ownership changed people’s lives by providing greater mobility and access to leisure activities.
What is the AS Level exam-style question regarding car ownership?
Was the increase in car ownership the main reason for changing leisure holidays, sport in the 1970s? Explain your answer. (20 marks)
Who wrote poems to celebrate the spirit of Metroland?
Poet Sir John Betjeman wrote a series of poems to celebrate the spirit of Metroland.
What did Sir John Betjeman create in 1973?
He created a Metroland documentary for the BBC in 1973.
How did historian A. N. Wilson describe the Metropolitan Railway?
A. N. Wilson said that the Metropolitan Railway ‘merely ended up creating an endless ribbon… not perhaps… town or country.’
What happened to the big four railway companies in 1948?
They were nationalised to create British Rail.
When was British Rail privatised?
British Rail was privatised in 1994-97.
What did Dr. Richard Beeching recommend in his reports?
He recommended the closure of over half of all stations and almost a third of all track miles (around 5,000 miles in total).
What was the impact of track closures initiated by Beeching’s recommendations?
Many communities were cut off from the rail network and left with no form of public transport.
What demand increased as a result of the rail closures?
The demand for car ownership increased in the 1960s and beyond.
What is one way government legislation impacted leisure time and tourism?
Government legislation impacted leisure time and tourism through various regulations and policies.
Why did the traditional seaside holiday decline after the Second World War?
The decline was due to various social and economic changes post-war.
What impact did increased car ownership have on people’s lives?
Increased car ownership changed people’s lives by providing greater mobility and access to leisure activities.
What is the AS Level exam-style question regarding car ownership?
Was the increase in car ownership the main reason for changing leisure holidays, sport in the 1970s? Explain your answer. (20 marks)
