Greengates

 

"Greengates" by R.C. Sherriff, was published in 1936. It concerns a retired couple, the Baldwins, who decide to buy a brand new house in Metro-Land. Although this marketing construct is never mentioned by name, the house is on a new estate in a village north-west of London - a place that soon becomes suburban rather than rural. Metro-Land and ribbon developments around cities, which appeared in the inter-war period, demonstrates a mass desire to get away from urban living and return to the idea of a pastoral England. So many people wanted this that it became a self-defeating move, with rural areas around London in particular becoming swamped by new developments. The typically "Tudorbethan" architecture often seems to have had doors, window frames and gates painted green. Here's an extract from "Greengates" (p205 Persephone edition)

They were standing with the manager, discussing the final painting of the exterior. "Green" agreed Tom and Edith, "a rich, deep green". 

"You're right", said the Manager "you're never wrong with green - it'll look well against light coffee-cream walls. And the gates?"

"Green" said Mr Baldwin, green gates."

This can only be seen as a reflection of the desire to be among the green of the country, a statement of intent to be rural dwellers, to own their own piece of the country.