It was edited by Nick Wates and Christian Wolmar, and written by among others Piers Corbyn, Ann Pettitt, Steve Platt and Colin Ward.

Contemporaneous reviews praised the detailed knowledge it presented and later scholars have acknowledged it as a useful historical document.

Squatting in England and Wales has a long history, with recent waves occurring after World War II and in the 1970s.

[2][3] Contributors included Nick Anning and Jill Simpson writing about Villa Road, Piers Corbyn on Elgin Avenue, Ann Pettitt on squatting in the East End of London, Steve Platt on squatting in the 1970s across the UK, Colin Ward on the early history of squatting and Heathcote Williams on the Ruff Tuff Creem Puff squatters estate agency.

[5] Reviews of the book in the 1980s praised its detailed insider knowledge of the London squatter movement.