Whitechapel

Question 1

WHITECHAPEL: Endogenous and exogenous factors that contribute to the character of the place

Answer 1

• Deindustrialisation and rise of service economy - shift to knowledge-based economy Gentrification + hipsterfication - men’s haircut £38, 1 cupcake £3.50
• Anti-gentrification riots on Brick Lane in 2014 - locals mad they could no longer afford to eat in the area – Pubs going out of business
• Movement of people – Huguenots left their mark through the nomenclature of the street names and some architectural features – Jewish community left no lasting impact on the area – the flow of people has moved on. Does that mean in the future there will be no sign of the Bangladeshi community?
• Bengali community have influenced the area a lot after arriving in 1950s —- At the peak time of the population there was upwards of 80-90% Bengali people but has been dropping since — Increased the number of leather shops — In the late 70s there was a lot of fascism, BNP would march down Brick Lane and clash with the Bengali citizens
• Murder of Altab Ali in 1978 — Now the park on Whitechapel High Street is called Altab Ali park — At one point there were 30 Bengali curry houses on Brick Lane now only 14

Question 2

WHITECHAPEL: Lived Experience

Answer 2

• Bengali Community struggling a lot now due to gentrification
• At the peak time of the population there was upwards of 80-90% Bengali people but has been dropping since
• Increased the number of leather shops
• In the late 70s there was a lot of fascism, BNP would march down Brick Lane and clash with the Bengali citizens
• Murder of Altab Ali in 1978. Now the park on Whitechapel High Street is called Altab Ali park
• At one point there were 30 Bengali curry houses on Brick Lane now only 14
• Local council doesn’t ask for voice of the community - pedestrianised Brick Lane without letting locals know – damaged businesses A lot of residents are struggling to afford the area now

Question 3

WHITECHAPEL: Changing demographic and cultural characteristics

Answer 3

• Huguenots left their mark through the nomenclature of the street names and some architectural features
• 17-18th Century Jewish community left no lasting impact on the area – the flow of people has moved on. Does that mean in the future there will be no sign of the Bangladeshi community
• Bengali community have influenced the area a lot after arriving in 1950s

Question 4

WHITECHAPEL: Economic change and social inequalities

Answer 4

• More people in Tower Hamlets have a university degree than the rest of the UK – rapid increase after 1990 – before 1990 it was a lower rate than rest of UK
• After 1981 the % of people renting from local authorities drastically dropped from 82% in 1981 to 20% in 2010 – most likely due to private landlords - still higher than rest of UK at 10% - at peak difference it was in 1981 with TH at 82% and rest of UK at 32% (50% difference)
• Higher male unemployment rate than rest of UK (2010 – TH – 10%, UK – 7%). Peaked in 1990 – 28% compared with UK – 12.5%
• Median income has increased by 9.2% from 2009-2013.