North Kensington Flashcards
Why was there limited flows into the area in before 19th century in Notting Hill?
It was sparsely populated open countryside in 1750.
Who was the main landowner of Notting Hill in the 19th century?
Ladbroke family.
Natural environment shaping the flow of money and investment and subsequent socio-economic characteristics?
High quality heavy clay soil for brick making is found close to Counter’s Creek, giving rise to the development of potteries along Pottery Lane (Notting Dale ward now) to make London Bricks, as demand for bricks in London grew in the C19th.
—> The rise of piggeries followed the potteries, making use of the hollows created from the abstraction of clay.
—> A slum began to grow around the pottery industry. This became the biggest slum in Victorian London - the notorious ‘cut-throat lane slum’. Average life expectancy 11 years.
Inward flow of money & investment since 1840s, bringing inward flow of people changing demographic, socio-economic characteristics & built environment?
—> Together with architect Thomas Allison, the Ladbroke family began to lay out streets & houses to turn the area into a fashionable London suburb (Notting Hill West), with large private communal gardens enclosed by terraces of houses on an elevated location. These houses did not appeal to the richest Londoners but was favoured by the upper middle class e.g. lawyers, bankers (influx of people).
—> The wealthy residents sustained the pig-keeping industry at nearby ‘cut-throat lane slum’. 25% of the population of the slum were pig keepers, who used donkey carts to visit the rich houses to collect food waste as pig feed.
Inward flow of money for slum clearance (during the times of Great Depression and WW1): changing built environment and socio-economic characteristics?
—> ‘Cut-throat lane slum’ was demolished in 1870s, turned into Avondale Park.
—> 2500 new homes were constructed (slum clearance schemes, 1800 renovated (improvement schemes), between the two World Wars through cooperation with housing associations.
Outward flow of people, money after the Great Depression, changing socio-economic characteristics?
—> Large villas of Ladbroke Estate became too expensive to maintain after families’ wealth were diminished by the Great Depression.
—> Upper middle class families moved into the suburbs (out-migration).
—> 3000 homes were bombed in Kensington by the Nazi during the Blitz. - rich decided not to return.
Inward flow of people into London, shaping the socioeconomic characteristics near the times of Great Depression and WW1?
—> Jarrow Crusade (An organised protest) 1936, as a result of extreme austerity across the UK and high unemployment elsewhere.
—> Landlords neglected the maintenance of the buildings.
—> By 1936, more than 2500 families were living in overcrowded, unsanitary homes in Kensington.
Flow of people & investment changing cultural characteristics: Rachman?
—> 1950s - UK was short of labour after WW1 -> advertised for workers from old Caribbean colonies (Windrush Generation).
—> Racist landlords in London: black people unable to find places to rent easily except for Peter Rachman who evict white tenants, welcomes black families but charging them much higher rents!
His exploitative tectonic was made possible by policy change: rent cap put in place during WW1 was removed.
—> 30% rise in rent as rent control was removed.
—> Created London’s first multi-cultural community.
Flow of people & ideas changing cultural & political characteristics: racial tensions, the birth of Notting Hill Carnival?
—> New racial tension: rise of White Defense League exploiting distrust in the community led by Sir Oswald Mosley -> black residents living in fear -> racially motivated murder of young black Antiguan-born carpenter and aspiring lawyer Kelso Cochrane in 1959 finally brought the whole community together.
—> Over 1200 attended his funeral, many came to demonstrate solidarity and a show of defiance against racism.
—> Children’s street fayre (started in mid 1960s) organised by local residents and community activists (Laslett) to ease racial tension marks.
—> Laslett planned the event with local West Indian residents in mind, inviting well-known pan player Russell Henderson accompanied by his pan band members. Notting Hill Carnival was officially born.
—> Notting Hill Carnival now expects over a million visitors every year, only second to Brazil’s Rio Carnival in size. It is the largest street event in Europe, and still influenced by Caribbean culture.
Flow of ideas (housing policy), money & investment, resources improved built environment, socio-economic characteristics: slum clearance (1960s) and social housing at Lancaster West Estate (1975)?
—> London County Council development plan as part of slum clearance in 1960s: houses were knocked down -> social housing estate built on site
—> Lancaster west estate was completed in 1975.
—> original plan was to include workplaces, shops, school, public library, swimming pool in additional to residential land use -> design blocked, reduced local job opportunities for local residents -> persistent deprivation.
-> improved living conditions and environment in Lancaster West Estate compared to the slums -> no need to share bathroom and kitchen, no overcrowding.
Is there low levels of inequality between Notting Hill and Notting Dale?
Yes, before. Many enjoyed high quality housing with 40% living in council housing (both low and high earners).
When did gentrification start again? How did this affect Notting Hill and Notting Dale?
—> 1980s started gentrification again.
—> Inward flow of money, people and investment slowly improved built conditions of Notting Hill West: Dilapidated Victorian houses attracted young families who refurbished them.
—> Lack of money and investment: Built environment and socioeconomic characterstics to deteriorate in Notting Dale.
Outline impacts of supergentrication on Notting Hill and Notting Dale?
—> By 2016, income gap between richest and poorest was the same as it had been in the 1850s.
—> Inward flow of money, people and investment changed built environment, socioeconomic characteristics and demographics in Notting Hill West: Change of services, rise of high end shops (becomes unaffordable for some), lots of wealthy billionaires, bankers and oligarchs move in. Average household income: 150,000 / yr.
—> Negative place perception impacts Notting Dale: Seen as place for crime and antisocial behaviour. - Outsider view, crime rate actually low. Amongst highest deprived areas (top 10% in UK) with high levels of child poverty, 1/3 of families: £16,000.
2010 regeneraton? Impact of Grenfell?
—> 2010 regeneration strategy drawn up: ‘Core strategy with a focus on North Kensington.’ : Identified area as different from its borough. Council recognised importance of maintaining strong market place.
—> Before: 1/3 of children had to go to schools outside the borough
—> After: Development of KAA, specialising in performing and creative arts. Sponsored by Aldridge foundation. £29 million pound leisure center built, completed in 2015.
—> Grenfell: Faced neglect and cost-cutting and appearances over safety. Combustible plastic was used to reduce costs, despite not meeting building regulations. In 2017, 72 residents would lose their lives.
