The Main Shopping Centres of Great Britain in 1961: Their Locational and Structural Characteristics

Abstract

This paper examines various characteristics of the main shopping centres of British towns as revealed by the 1961 Census of Distribution. Five interrelated topics are considered: 1. The selection and the size of centres is related to two types of urban area; the free-standing town and the complex urban region. 2. A seven-fold grading of centres by turnover-size is put forward as a possible (albeit subjective) classification. The relevance of this classification is considered by an examination of each standard region of G.B. 3. A study of the trade structure of the centres is based on an analysis of the sales of food, clothing and footwear and general stores. 4. The organisation structure of the centres is examined, and hypotheses are advanced and tested as to the relative role of multiple, co-operative and independent traders. 5. A special study is made of the centres of Greater London.