Brick Lane

Question 1

Where is Brick Lane located?

Answer 1

It is a street in Spitalfield, found in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Question 2

What is a nickname for Brick Lane?

Answer 2

Banglatown, due to the high proportion of Bangladeshis living there

Question 3

What proportion of the population is in the economically active bracket (16-64)?

Answer 3

80.1%

There is also a high proportion of people in their twenties

Question 4

What percentage of people living there are from Bangladesh?

Answer 4

41%, compared to 32% of people in Tower Hamlets

Question 5

What percentage of white British people live in Banglatown?

Answer 5

27% compared to 33% in Tower Hamlets

Question 6

What percentage of people are Muslim?

Answer 6

41.5% compared to 34.5% in Tower Hamlets

Question 7

What percentage of people are Christians?

Answer 7

18.4% compared to 27.1% in Tower Hamlets

Question 8

What is deprivation like in Banglatown?

Answer 8

Deprivation is widespread and is one of the most deprived areas in the country

There is considerable variation in the area however

Question 9

What was Banglatown ranked as in 2010?

Answer 9

The most deprived area in London

Question 10

Where was Banglatown ranked in 2015 in the IMD?

Answer 10

In the 20% of the most deprived neighbourhoods

Question 11

What has Banglatown been named?

Answer 11

‘The Mecca of London street art’

Question 12

What was drawn by the artist ‘Stik’?

Answer 12

A burka-clad stick figure holding hands with a non-burka wearing stick figure, showing the cultural diversity in the area

Question 13

Who unveiled the map of Spitalfields in 2011?

Answer 13

Local artist and cartographer, Adam Dant

The map details key locations in the Spitalfields area, but also the historic background too

Question 14

What does the map of Spitalfield create?

Answer 14

A very strong sense of place

Question 15

How does the media portray Banglatown?

Answer 15

Opinions are varied

Question 16

What do numerous websites talk about Brick Lane?

Answer 16

The best curry houses in the area

Question 17

What does the ‘Lonely Planet’ write about Brick Lane?

Answer 17

‘Full of noise, colour and life, Brick Lane is a vibrant mix of history and modernity’

‘The southern part of the lane is one long procession of curry and balti houses intermingled with fabric shops and Indian supermarkets’

Question 18

Who was the local poet who wrote the poem ‘The Brick Lane I See’?

Answer 18

Sally Flood in 1980

Question 19

What are some quotes from Sally Flood’s poem that is shows the area negatively?

Answer 19

The smell is a mixture of ‘curries, onions and bad drains’

‘Hopeful prostitutes’ - shows the desperate need for money and work

‘Cars and vans add to the pollution with exhaust fumes’

‘Pavements and gutters are littered with overspill from dustbins and workshops’

‘This is where the thug don the crown of King and bullies thrive’

Question 20

Who wrote a novel on Brick Lane in 2003 which has subsequently made into a film in 2007?

Answer 20

Monica Ali

Question 21

What is a quote from the novel ‘Brick Lane’ that conveys the area positively?

Answer 21

‘All this money, money everywhere. Ten years ago there was no money here’

Question 22

By what process has wealth increased in the area?

Answer 22

Gentrification

Question 23

How has gentrification affected the area?

Answer 23

It has brought wealth but has displaced some of the original residents previously living there