CSMP04 - Past & Present Connections

Question 1

What are Brick Lane’s past connections (demographic)?

Answer 1

• The UK’s previous colonial Empire means that more immigrants arriving in Brick Lane are likely to be of these nationalities (more likely to meet immigration criteria).

Question 2

What are Brick Lane’s past connections (Political)?

Answer 2

• In the 1930s the Jewish community of East London found itself under the hateful glare of Oswald Mosley, head of the Union of Fascists On October the 4th 1936 Mosley and the BUF organised a march on East London cable street to gain support for their aims
• However they were met by thousands of Irish dockworkers, socialists and Orthodox Jews flooding the streets in opposition of their message of hate. The Battle of Cable Street has since been known as London’s landmark demo against fascism.

Question 3

What are Brick Lane’s past connections (Natural environment)?

Answer 3

• On 4 May 1978 Altab Ali was stabbed in what was then St Mary’s Park. He was attacked by three teenagers: Roy Arnold and Carl Ludlow were both 17 years old, and another unnamed boy was 16 years old. He was dead on arrival at the Royal London Hospital.
• The BBC reported the murder as racially motivated and random. In 1989 a memorial was built at the scene of Altab Ali’s murder, and in 1998 the park was renamed to Altab Ali Park.

Question 4

What are Brick Lane’s past connections (Culture)?

Answer 4

• In 1971, violent outbursts in what is now Bangladesh sent many families packing.
• Some found their way to East London and to Brick Lane They settled into the boarded-up shops and derelict apartments abandoned during the Depression.
• They brought more culture to Brick Lane and some of them opened curry houses.

Question 5

What are Brick Lane’s present connections (Demographics)?

Answer 5

• Young artists attracted by the art shops and graffiti on the wall in Brick Lane go to Brick Lane to open their own shops and to be inspired.

Question 6

What are Brick Lane’s present connections (Socioeconomic characteristics)?

Answer 6

• Younger people who grew up around Spitalfields and in Brick Lane have moved out because they now have families of their own and they can’t afford to rent or buy a home.

Question 7

What are Brick Lane’s present connections (Built envrionment)?

Answer 7

• 21.4 million hotel by Premier Inn on Brick Lane part of new hipster-friendly ‘hub’ brand 189-room budget hotel. Buildings like the hotel is taking up building space