| Description | Leaflet and booking form for upcoming events at the Commonwealth Institute, London Includes listing for 'Handsworth from the Inside' by Vanley Burke. November 1983.
Introduction for exhibition at Bhownagree Gallery, 3 Nov - 2 Dec, by Vanley Burke, followed by list of prints.
"It is my belief that Handsworth is no worse now either socially, economically, or in any other way than it was before black immigrants from the old British Empire arrived in the area. Its economic and social nature, its importance to industry, and its status as a dormitory area have remained the same. In order to understand the argument that the essential character of Handsworth of the prosperous industrial nineteenth century, it is necessary to look into the geographical and physical aspects of the area, and their influence on the residential and industrial development.
Handsworth is situated a few miles from the centre of Birmingham and, in the early days of industrialisation, formed a link between the growing city and the coal mining town of Wednesbury. The Handsworth area was poorly suited to agriculture but was well wooded, and the processing of timber became a dominant economic force. Part of Handsworth is a valley through which runs the river Tame. The rest of Handsworth forms a plateau. The first settlers were Anglians who came down the river Tame during the eighth and ninth centuries. These first immigrants settled along the banks of the river, planting subsistence crops and utilising the plentiful supplies of timber. They set trading links to the north along the valley.
Later the railways and canals followed the line of the valley, setting up a very definite and industrial pattern which has been followed to the present day. Corn and flour mills soon sprung up along the Tame together with other necessary industries such as grinding. With the birth of these small industries came migration. As the industrial revolution gathered steam, so Birmingham began its transformation from agricultural village to one of the world's largest manufacturing centres. In Handsworth, by 1771, nearly 1,000 people were employees in the new factories. Between 1871 and 1881 the population rose to 22,897 and in the same period the number of houses rose from 2,790 to 4,826.
Inevitably, with the rapid rise in population, came the serious problems of sanitation and drainage. There were serious I complaints of ill health and epidemics of typhoid and, consequently, a very high mortality rate. The coming of the first tramway in 1872 greatly increased job mobility. The ease and relative cheapness of travel encouraged many working class people to move into Handsworth to work in the expanding industrial areas of Hockley and Soho. The wealthier residents, in their turn migrated to the suburban areas of Handsworth Wood, and farther afield.
The pattern of industry and migration continued throughout the rest of the nineteenth century. The first world war disrupted the pattern of migration as workers in Handsworth, like those in the rest of the country, joined the armed forces. In 1948, West Indian immigration to Britain started with about 500 Jamaicans, some of whom came to Handsworth. These people were mainly ex-RAF men who had served in the war. These British subjects from the British Empire were encouraged to take up residence in Britain because of the availability of work a direct result of the war.
Their skills as ex-servicemen were needed in the newly instituted Health Service. The boom in the railways meant more jobs and the growing road transport services entailed more employment. In the beginning, the men came to Britain without their families. Although initially they came for five years, they brought with them their religion, their traditions and their cultures. They found, just as the former immigrants did, that Handsworth was in convenient proximity to Birmingham as well as being within easy reach of the industrial areas where workers were needed. However, although much of the property in the area had been made empty by the more prosperous people moving away, the new immigrants found it difficult to find accommodation.
West Indians are guided by strong Christian beliefs. Indeed, religion is often the greatest guide in their lives. The church often provides a secure brotherhood within which, with guidance from the Bible, families support each other, morally, by giving sound advice and educationally, by providing supplementary teachers and schools; in general, it provides priceless moral support. A great number of successful West Indian musicians - both secular and religious had their first lessons at church services. Although, West Indians primarily came to work for others, many now own their own businesses. Among the many photographic studies are the tailor whose bedroom doubles as his workshop, the baker who is also the butcher and the delivery man, and the motor mechanic whose workshop also serves as a self-help community school where local boys learn the trade through informal apprenticeship.
In Handsworth it is not uncommon to see the beauty of a Victorian terraced house rejuvenated with bright colours which would have seemed quite inappropriate fifty years ago. Sometimes it is the ironic contrast between the old brickwork and the brightly painted woodwork which creates the scenic beauty. Backyards are often full of seeming junk; often these objects are put to further use - another example of West Indian thrift.
The bazaar-like layout of shops in the Handsworth area is particularly attractive to West Indians because it is reminiscent of markets at home! The personal contact which is inevitably brought about encourages conversation (even if it is in the form of haggling) and fosters a community spirit.
I have also tried to capture the truth behind the less pleasant situations. Handsworth has always been an arena for various political demonstrations and counter demonstrations. Inevitably this involves the police force, scuffles between police and young people, misunderstandings between groups and between races. I hope that my photographs mirror the angles through which I have been privileged to look at Handsworth. This study is an ongoing one. One which, for me, has no end - only change. Indeed, I do believe that such a study into the backgrounds of people, into their traditions, their religions, their culture, could never end. The photographs exhibited here are part of a much larger collection which is continually expanding.
I am grateful to Kodak Limited, from whom I received a bursary, and to West Midlands Arts for a grant which enabled me to make the project a reality. Most of all I would like to thank all my family and friends who have helped and encouraged me. My sincere thanks to all those people who have for so many years allowed me to share their lives.
Vanley Burke" |