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1950-1970
The fall again …
By the mid to late 50s racial tensions were high in the UK, not least in the Notting Hill area, where a large number of West Indian immigrants, from Trinidad, had settled.
The racist attitudes of some landlords at the time2 meant that most were unable to find decent housing and were forced into virtual slum accommodation run by the likes of Peter Rachman.
At the same time resentment had been building up among a section of young, white Britons. Barely out of post war austerity and for the first time earning money of their own, a mixture of fear, ignorance and maybe just a hint of downright spite led many of them to hold the belief that “Non native Brits” should “Go home”.
In 1958 these tensions spilled over onto the streets of Notting Hill. Initially centred around Bramley Road, fighting between white teenagers (especially teddy boys) and West Indian’s soon spread to other parts of he area. The rioting continued for roughly two weeks between August 24 and September 5.
1 Often the expression used was “It’s not me you understand, but my other residents wouldn’t like it”.
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