In 1898, Ebenezer Howard, appalled at the very unpleasant living and working conditions in the late 19th Century towns and cities, wrote a book outlining his ideas for a completely new way of living. The book, 'Tomorrow, A Peaceful Path to Real Reform', was later republished as 'Garden Cities of Tomorrow' in 1902.

Ebenezer Howard believed that the very best of both town and country life should be married together in small Garden Cities, each with its own greenbelt. He promoted well-planned towns with careful land zoning and a quality of life.

A Garden City would have well designed houses with gardens set in tree lined avenues, clean and healthy work places and a pleasant and healthy environment in which to live, work and follow leisure pursuits.

'There are in reality not only, as is so constantly assumed, two alternatives - town life and country life - but a third alternative, in which all the advantages of the most energetic and active town life, with all the beauty and delight of the country, may be secured in perfect combination. Human society and the beauty of nature are meant to be enjoyed together.'

Ebenezer Howard, 1898

Howard's vision became a blueprint for new communities across the globe. In Europe, Garden Cities were built in Russia, outside Moscow in 1923, and in France, outside Paris in 1912 and the 1930s.

Elsewhere Garden Cities were built in Japan near Tokyo in 1918, and in Africa from 1908 to the 1920s. Today it is Government policy in Japan to build on Garden City lines.

In 1903, First Garden City Ltd commenced the building of an experimental town on 3,818 acres of land at Letchworth, to prove that Howard's ideas were practical. The Garden City became a reality. A unique town where the profit from the management and development of the land was to be returned to the benefit of the town. Now, nearly 100 years later, this principle is still in place.

Architects, Barry Parker and Raymond Unwin were appointed to design a master plan for the first Garden City using Ebenezer Howard's design for new communities. Their 1903 layout plan was based on the principles of land use with defined areas for commercial and industrial development, varied residential districts and an agricultural belt. The plan set out the environmental standards for the 20th Century.

Barry Parker and Raymond Unwin went on to become two of the major pioneers of Town planning in Britain. Both received worldwide acclaim for their visionary designs in their lifetime.

One hundred years on, the Letchworth Garden City Estate comprises some 5,300 acres. It is owned and managed by Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation, an Industrial & Provident Society with charity status. In keeping with the original philosophy of First Garden City Limited, all surpluses generated by the Heritage Foundation are ploughed back into the Garden City community through reinvestment in the Estate and charitable expenditure in accordance with the Heritage Foundation's six charitable objects.