George Pepler papers

Minutes and papers of the Town Planning Institute and other bodies; papers relating to Singapore and other Commonwealth work; papers relating to international work; papers relating to town planning education; correspondence; press cuttings; photographs; maps and plans.

Sir George Pepler was born in Croydon and educated at Bootham and Ley Schools. He trained and practised as a surveyor but became interested in housing and town planning. He was a member of the National Housing and Town Planning Council and in 1908 won two gold medals at the Wolverhampton Model Housing Exhibition with his partner, Ernest G Allen. In 1913, Pepler was instrumental in founding the Town Planning Institute, in which he served as honorary secretary and treasurer and as president in 1919-1920 and 1949-1950. He was also active in the International Federation for Housing and Town Planning, serving as president in 1935-1938 and 1947-1952, thereafter as honorary president for life. In 1914, he joined the Local Government Board and took over the organisation of the Greater London Arterial Road Conferences. He was Chief Town Planning Inspector to the Ministry of Health from 1919-1941 and Chief Technical Adviser to the Ministry of Town and Country Planning from 1943-1946. His work at this period focussed strongly on post war housing and reconstruction. Pepler prepared the Town and Country Planning Act 1947, which made planning an integral role of central and local government and enshrined the concept of the 'green belt'. From 1948-1956 he was Town Planning Consultant for Renfrewshire and Town Planning Adviser to the Colony of Singapore from 1950-1954. Pepler was actively involved in the National Playing Fields Association from 1949-1959, and in the Council for the Preservation of Rural England from 1952-1959. Through lectures, conference papers and published work, Pepler made an enormous contribution to his profession, and was a great admirer of the work of Patrick Geddes. He was knighted in 1948.

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Sir George Pepler was born in Croydon and educated at Bootham and Ley Schools. He trained and practised as a surveyor but became interested in housing and town planning. He was a member of the National Housing and Town Planning Council and in 1908 won two gold medals at the Wolverhampton Model Housing Exhibition with his partner, Ernest G Allen. In 1913, Pepler was instrumental in founding the Town Planning Institute, in which he served as honorary secretary and treasurer and as president in 1919-1920 and 1949-1950. He was also active in the International Federation for Housing and Town Planning, serving as president in 1935-1938 and 1947-1952, thereafter as honorary president for life. In 1914, he joined the Local Government Board and took over the organisation of the Greater London Arterial Road Conferences. He was Chief Town Planning Inspector to the Ministry of Health from 1919-1941 and Chief Technical Adviser to the Ministry of Town and Country Planning from 1943-1946. His work at this period focussed strongly on post war housing and reconstruction. Pepler prepared the Town and Country Planning Act 1947, which made planning an integral role of central and local government and enshrined the concept of the 'green belt'. From 1948-1956 he was Town Planning Consultant for Renfrewshire and Town Planning Adviser to the Colony of Singapore from 1950-1954. Pepler was actively involved in the National Playing Fields Association from 1949-1959, and in the Council for the Preservation of Rural England from 1952-1959. Through lectures, conference papers and published work, Pepler made an enormous contribution to his profession, and was a great admirer of the work of Patrick Geddes. He was knighted in 1948.

Series level typed list available in reading room.

Created by Victoria Peters, December 2009.

Pepler collection of books and reports (Andersonian Library, University of Strathclyde)
Notes by Pepler concerning conservation and town and country planning (ref: GB 161 MS Addison dep c 144) (Bodleian Library, Oxford University)
Correspondence relating to Sturry Court (ref: GB 2225) (King's School, Canterbury)
Correspondence with Sir Frederic Osborn (ref: GB 1459 B117) (Welwyn Garden City Central Library)

published