The Challenges of Being Left Behind: Peripheralisation in English Small Rural Towns

ABSTRACT Rural small towns have long been viewed as places of retail and service provision for both their populations and people in surrounding rural hinterlands, although in many countries these roles are in decline, with these settlements increasingly viewed as ‘left behind places’ experiencing peripheralisation. In countries such as the United Kingdom, however, some of these towns have seen inflows of capital, residents and visitors, stimulating economic and physical growth. This article examines whether peripheralisation can apply to towns experiencing such contrasting fortunes, focusing on small rural towns in England. Using data from the 2019 Index of Multiple Deprivation, the 2021 Census, and surveys, regional variations in deprivation are identified, particularly in former coalfield and coastal areas. It also explores towns with low deprivation, often connected to urban centres or service economies. Seven clusters of small rural towns are identified, highlighting how peripheralisation interacts with different dynamics, including gentrification and post‐pandemic changes.