The name ‘Spitalfields’ refers to St. Mary’s Spital, a hospital and a priory founded in 1197, at
the east end of London. Up to the 17th century the area mainly consisted of gardens and fields,
but with the waves of immigrants the house building started. Spitalfields has been a great
access point for immigrants from all over the world in the last few centuries. The best
example for this changing of inhabitants is the building at the corner of Brick Lane/ Fournier
Street: It started as a protestant church in 1774, in 1897 it was turned into a synagogue and
finally in 1975 it became the London Jamme Masjid Moshe.
In 1685 the ‘Edict of Nantes’ from 1598 was revoked by Louis XIV (www.wikipedia.org) and
the radical Protestants in France were forced to leave the country. Many of them settled down
in Spitalfields.
During the 19th century the population in Ireland grew poorer and poorer. Many left their
home country to try to make their living elsewhere and the better part of them also moved to
Spitalfields.
At the same time the Jews in Eastern Europe were persecuted and they, too, chose Spitalfields
as their new living space.
Eventually in the 1970s people from South Asia started populating Spitalfields for the better
working and living conditions in Great Britain. Today the area is called ‘Banglatown’ and a
centre of South Asian Life and culture in London. Many of the street signs in ‘Banglatown’
are both in English and Bengali and it consists of lots of restaurants with Bengali Food.
The following peace of work will describe the living conditions of the particular groups of
immigrants in detail and explain their influence on Spitalfields.
[...]
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 The Huguenots
3 The Irish immigrants
4 The Jews
5 Conclusion
6 Bibliography
Objectives & Core Themes
The work examines the historical transformation of Spitalfields into a prominent arrival point for diverse immigrant communities in London and analyzes the resulting living conditions and socio-cultural impacts on the area.
- Historical waves of migration to Spitalfields
- Living and working conditions of Huguenot, Irish, and Jewish populations
- Social tensions and integration processes in the East End
- Transformation of urban spaces and cultural identity
Excerpt from the Book
4 The Jews
Through history Jews have been persecuted many times; e.g. in Russia they were persecuted since the 14th century. Whenever persecuted they sought refuge in other countries and a big passel of them came to England.
In 1753 there were about ten thousand British Jews. They started to seek naturalisation rights what led to the assumption that the Jews would take over the country. They had been expelled from England on All Saints Day in 1290 and only in 1656 they were formally readmitted. The first Jews coming to England were of Spanish and Portuguese origin and flew the Inquisition. Jews of German and Polish origin followed and by 1690 they were numerous enough to have their own synagogue and cemetery and with every new persecution of Jews in Central or Eastern Europe, their number grew: By the end of the eighteenth century it was estimated to fifteen to twenty thousand Jews living in London, mostly in or near Whitechapel (Cf. Bermant 1975, 123/124).
The English population and the groups of immigrants that already lived in Spitalfields were not too happy about that development. They sensed the outward appearance and the habits of the Jewish community as strange and dirty and made them responsible for the outbreaks of the cholera. Apart from that they were outrivaled by the Jews on the employment market because they were considered more industrious and were set to work for less money than any other workers (Cf. Bermant 1975, 125/126).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of the history of Spitalfields as a hub for various immigrant groups and outlines the scope of the study.
2 The Huguenots: This chapter discusses the arrival of French Protestants in Spitalfields, their contribution to the silk industry, and their eventual assimilation into English society.
3 The Irish immigrants: This chapter covers the struggles of Irish immigrants in London, their harsh working conditions at the docks, and the social conflicts they faced during the 18th and 19th centuries.
4 The Jews: This chapter examines the migration of Jewish populations to London due to persecution, the challenges of their living conditions, and the emergence of anti-alien sentiments.
5 Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the ongoing role of Spitalfields as a center for immigration, highlighting the modern development into 'Banglatown'.
6 Bibliography: This section lists the academic sources and historical references utilized in the research.
Keywords
Spitalfields, London, immigration, Huguenots, Irish immigrants, Jews, East End, assimilation, social conditions, labor history, urban development, Banglatown, integration, silk industry, poverty
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper explores the history of the London area known as Spitalfields and its long-standing role as a primary destination for successive waves of immigrants throughout the centuries.
Which immigrant groups are primarily discussed?
The study focuses on three main groups: the Huguenots (French Protestants), Irish immigrants, and Jewish populations, along with a brief mention of later South Asian migration.
What is the primary objective of the text?
The objective is to detail the specific living and working conditions of these immigrant groups and to analyze their influence on the development of Spitalfields.
What methodology does the author use?
The author employs a historical-descriptive method, relying on literature review and academic references to reconstruct the social and economic history of the area.
What does the main body of the text cover?
It provides a chapter-by-chapter chronological analysis of the arrival and integration of specific communities, detailing their economic impact, social clashes, and cultural adaptation.
Which terms best characterize this work?
Key themes include socio-economic migration, urban transformation, cultural assimilation, and historical labor studies in the London East End.
How did the silk industry influence the Huguenot settlement?
The Huguenots brought specialized skills that allowed the local silk industry to flourish, which facilitated their economic survival and eventual acceptance by the British population.
What was the cause of the social tension regarding the Irish in the 18th and 19th centuries?
Tensions arose from religious differences, competition for low-skilled labor at the docks, and anti-Catholic sentiment, often leading to public riots and protest movements.
What factors contributed to the survival of the Jewish community in Spitalfields despite extreme poverty?
The community relied on religious traditions like the Shabbat, charitable support systems, and the hope for better prospects for future generations to cope with difficult living conditions.
How is Spitalfields described in the conclusion?
The area is described as 'Banglatown', reflecting its modern-day status as a vibrant center of South Asian life and culture in London.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Katharina Grafmüller (Autor:in), 2007, The history of Spitalfields, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/122348
