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Notting Hill, c1948 to c1970
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Caribbean migrants in Notting Hill faced poor housing and racism, but built a lively community and a strong tradition of activism.
Housing and community
After 1948, many Caribbean migrants came to fill labour shortages. In Notting Hill, cheap but poor housing was available.
Many lived in overcrowded houses of multiple occupation (HMOs), rented from slum landlords such as Peter Rachman.
Bruce Kenrick set up the Notting Hill Housing Trust in 1963.
Caribbean shops, cafes, music and food grew, along Portobello Road market and All Saints Road. 'Pardner' schemes were savings groups where members took turns to receive the pot.
Many lived in overcrowded houses of multiple occupation (HMOs), rented from slum landlords such as Peter Rachman.
Bruce Kenrick set up the Notting Hill Housing Trust in 1963.
Caribbean shops, cafes, music and food grew, along Portobello Road market and All Saints Road. 'Pardner' schemes were savings groups where members took turns to receive the pot.
Racism and riots
In 1958 gangs of white youths attacked Caribbean residents during the Notting Hill Riots.
In 1959 Kelso Cochrane, an Antiguan carpenter, was murdered. Nobody was convicted, and over 1,000 people attended his funeral.
Oswald Mosley stood for Parliament in North Kensington in 1959 for his anti-immigrant Union Movement, but lost badly.
In 1959 Kelso Cochrane, an Antiguan carpenter, was murdered. Nobody was convicted, and over 1,000 people attended his funeral.
Oswald Mosley stood for Parliament in North Kensington in 1959 for his anti-immigrant Union Movement, but lost badly.
Black activism
Claudia Jones founded the West Indian Gazette (1958) and organised a Caribbean Carnival in 1959 (held indoors), a forerunner of the Notting Hill Carnival.
Frank Crichlow ran the Mangrove restaurant on All Saints Road, a community hub that police raided repeatedly. After a protest march in 1970, nine people (the 'Mangrove Nine') were tried; they were acquitted of the main charges in 1971.
The British Black Panthers campaigned against police racism.
Frank Crichlow ran the Mangrove restaurant on All Saints Road, a community hub that police raided repeatedly. After a protest march in 1970, nine people (the 'Mangrove Nine') were tried; they were acquitted of the main charges in 1971.
The British Black Panthers campaigned against police racism.
Explain why Claudia Jones was important in Notting Hill.
- She founded the West Indian Gazette, giving Caribbean people a voice.
- After the 1958 riots she organised the 1959 Caribbean Carnival to celebrate Caribbean culture.
- This helped lead to the Notting Hill Carnival.
Answer: Her newspaper and her 1959 Carnival built pride and unity.
HMOs and slum landlords (Rachman); Notting Hill Housing Trust (Kenrick). 1958 riots; Kelso Cochrane 1959; Mosley's 1959 campaign. Claudia Jones, West Indian Gazette, 1959 Carnival. Mangrove and the Mangrove Nine; British Black Panthers.
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