Refurnishing Homes in a Bombed City: Moral Geographies of the Utility Furniture Scheme in London

Journal article


Reimer, S. and Pinch, P. (2020). Refurnishing Homes in a Bombed City: Moral Geographies of the Utility Furniture Scheme in London. The London Journal. 46 (1), pp. 26-46. https://doi.org/10.1080/03058034.2020.1753350
AuthorsReimer, S. and Pinch, P.
Abstract

The London Blitz was a catalyst for national state control of the entire commodity network for furniture; the only wartime commodity for which this was done. The Utility furniture scheme sought to manage material shortages and combat profiteering in the markets for new and second-hand furniture. It also responded to the vulnerability of the nation’s furniture producers, which were disproportionately concentrated in and around London. Set against the immorality of indiscriminate bombing of civilian populations and illegal practices on the ‘black market’, the Utility scheme prescribed new moral geographies of equitable distribution based on need; of consumer rights protection; and of improvements to labour conditions and wages. The paper intervenes into debates about the social construction of moral geographies by examining the collective institutional response of the Utility scheme and the manner in which it sought to provision wartime homes.

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in London Journal, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/03058034.2020.1753350

KeywordsGeography, Planning and Development; Urban Studies
Year2020
JournalThe London Journal
Journal citation46 (1), pp. 26-46
PublisherInforma UK Limited
ISSN0305-8034
1749-6322
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/03058034.2020.1753350
Publication dates
Online30 Apr 2020
Print02 Jan 2021
Publication process dates
Accepted03 Apr 2020
Deposited22 Apr 2020
Accepted author manuscript
License
File Access Level
Open
Page range1-21
Permalink -

https://openresearch.lsbu.ac.uk/item/89929

Download files


Accepted author manuscript
Refurnishing homes accepted author version.docx
License: CC BY 4.0
File access level: Open

  • 86
    total views
  • 35
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 2
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Sites of qualification: the motorcycle rider airbag and the production of safety
Reimer, S. and Pinch, P. (2020). Sites of qualification: the motorcycle rider airbag and the production of safety. Journal of Cultural Economy. 14 (1), pp. 26-40. https://doi.org/10.1080/17530350.2020.1788624
The German Internationale Bauausstellung (IBA) and Urban Regeneration: Lessons from the IBA Emscher Park
Adams, N and Pinch, PL (2013). The German Internationale Bauausstellung (IBA) and Urban Regeneration: Lessons from the IBA Emscher Park. in: Leary, M (ed.) The Routledge Companion to Urban Regeneration Routledge. pp. 230-241
Moto-mobilities: geographies of the motorcycle and motorcyclists’
Pinch, PL and Reimer, S (2012). Moto-mobilities: geographies of the motorcycle and motorcyclists’. Mobilities. 7, pp. 439 - 457. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17450101.2012.659466
Introduction
Spinney, J, Reimer, S and Pinch, PL (2017). Introduction. in: Spinney, J, Reimer, S and Pinch, PL (ed.) Mobilising Design Routledge.
Conclusion
Spinney, J, Reimer, S and Pinch, PL (2017). Conclusion. in: Spinney, J, Reimer, S and Pinch, PL (ed.) Mobilising Design Routledge.
MotoGP and heterogeneous design
Pinch, PL and Reimer, S (2017). MotoGP and heterogeneous design. in: Spinner, J, Reimer, S and Pinch, PL (ed.) Mobilising Design Routledge.
Legible London: mobilising the pedestrian
Clark, S, Pinch, PL and Reimer, S (2017). Legible London: mobilising the pedestrian. in: Spinney, J, Reimer, S and Pinch, PL (ed.) Mobilising Design Routledge.
Nationalising local sustainability: lessons from the British wartime Utility furniture scheme
Pinch, PL and Reimer, S (2015). Nationalising local sustainability: lessons from the British wartime Utility furniture scheme. Geoforum. 65 (Oct), pp. 85 - 95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2015.07.014
Waterspace planning and the River Thames in London
Pinch, PL (2015). Waterspace planning and the River Thames in London. London Journal. 40 (3), pp. 272 - 292. https://doi.org/10.1179/1749632215Y.0000000008
Indicators for Spatial Planning and Territorial Cohesion: Stakeholder-Driven Selection Approach for Improving Usability at Regional and Local Levels
González, A, Daly, G, Pinch, PL, Adams, N., Valtenbergs, V, Burns, MC and Johannesson, H (2015). Indicators for Spatial Planning and Territorial Cohesion: Stakeholder-Driven Selection Approach for Improving Usability at Regional and Local Levels. Regional Studies. 49 (9), pp. 1588 - 1602. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2015.1018883