Changing Places - Case Study: Brick Lane Flashcards
What is the location of Brick Lane? (2)
Brick Lane is a street in east London, England, in the Borough of Tower Hamlets.
It is in the wider area of Spitalfields and Banglatown, and is north of the River Thames.
What is Brick Lane’s locale? (5)
Brick/tile manufacturers Popular location for breweries Vibrant art and fashion scene Curry Muslim mosque amongst traditional and new shops, restaurants, markets and homes.
What are the 3 demographic characteristics in Brick Lane?
Population
Age
Ethnicity
Describe and explain the age demographic in Brick Lane.
Notably high proportion of population in 20-40 year bracket. This is similar to other inner London areas and is due to the range of jobs available.
Describe the ethnic demographic in Brick Lane. How does it compare to the borough average?
Rich ethnic and religious mix.
41% Bangladeshi origin (higher than borough average) and 41.5% Muslim.
Describe deprivation in Tower Hamlets. (5)
One of the most deprived areas in the country however considerable variation within the area.
2015 IMD found fewer inner areas of Tower Hamlets were in the most deprived 10% compared to 2010.
Spitalfields and Banglatown was ranked as most deprived LSOA in London in 2010 but relative improvement since then.
In 2015 was in the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in the country.
39% of children in poverty - almost double national average.
Why had deprivation in the inner areas of Tower Hamlets improved between 2010 and 2015?
Gentrification - poorer people have moved to the outskirts for lower housing costs and rents.
What is the crime rate in Brick Lane?
25.4 crimes per 1000 people. Double the borough average.
What is the most common type of crime in Brick Lane?
Theft.
Describe education in Brick Lane.
In the area, 4 schools are needing requirement and 2 are inadequate.
Give an example of how Brick Lane is represented through art and evaluate the source.
Adam Dant - Map of Spitalfields Life, 2011.
Counter map that gives a historical background into Brick Lane and the surrounding area.
Evaluation - Only presents Dant’s point of view. Within counter mapping the scale and sizes of different areas can be manipulated based upon the artists opinion of what is more important, making it a less reliable source in terms of geographical locations.
Give an example of how Brick Lane is represented through the media and evaluate the source.
Sally Flood - Tales from the East End, 1980s.
Local poet who shows Brick Lane as being very culturally diverse, but also includes many negative words such as ‘exploited’ and ‘bullies’.
Evaluation - a strong sense of place comes across however it is only one person’s point of view.
Give an example of how Brick Lane is represented through lived experience and evaluate the source.
Sarah Garnham - Student blogger who mentions Brick Lane e.g ‘Sunday’s in the East End’, Dec 2015.
Presented as vibrant and busy through Sunday market.
Evaluation - likely to be genuine however may be embellished to make it more interesting to read and heighten sense of place. Only one person’s sense of place, and is that of someone who does not live there.
(Can be compared to Sally Flood)
Describe how ethnicity and demographics have changed in Brick Lane.
17th century - Influx of French Huguenots.
Haven for immigrants escaping persecution.
19th and 20th centuries known for Irish and Jewish population.
1970s - Bangladeshi immigrants moved in; predominantly unskilled labourers.
Bangladeshi population now mainly office workers, teachers or social workers.
Give evidence of change in Brick Lane.
French Protestant church constructed in 1743. The building has since been used as a Methodist Chapel and the Machzikei Hadass Great Synagogue. In 1976 is was converted to the Jamme Masjid mosque.
Nickname ‘Banglatown’; weekly Bangladeshi Paper ‘Sylheter Dak’ has an office there.
How is gentrification affecting Brick Lane?
Bangladeshis have been joined by other ethnic groups and young professionals, causing businesses to change. Significant ethnic groups are being affected as shops are targeting the more wealthy people moving in.
Some residents are forced to move away and restaurants close as they can’t afford the high property prices and rents.
Residents also feel like it is ‘flattening’ the art, culture and community.
What is causing conflict in Brick Lane?
Gentrification.
Evidence of conflict in Brick Lane.
Antigentrification protests
People having to move out of the area
Why was Brick Lane renamed in the 15th century?
Brick/tile manufacturers used the local earth
Give evidence of how Brick Lane has developed a vibrant art and fashion scene.
The Old Truman Brewery has transformed derelict buildings into office, retail, leisure and event spaces
When did Brick Lane become a popular location for breweries?
17th century
What do guidebooks say about Brick Lane?
It’s the best place to go for a curry
Source for demographic characteristics?
2011 census
What was the population for Spitalfields and Banglatown at the time of the 2011 census?
12,500
What was the population density of Spitalfields and Banglatown at the time of the 2011 census? How does this compare to the borough average?
145 people per hectare - higher than the borough average of 129.
What ward is Brick Lane in?
Spitalfields and Banglatown
What London borough is Brick Lane in?
Tower Hamlets
What community is Brick Lane the heart of?
London’s Bangladeshi-Sylheti community
What is Brick Lane known as?
Banglatown
What is the major social inequality affecting Brick Lane?
Deprivation in Tower Hamlets
