Case Study: Bristol & Leicester (Edexcel GCSE History) : Revision Note

What do Bristol and Leicester show about the impact of migration on British cities? - Timeline & Summary

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Since the mid-20th century, migration has had a major impact on cities like Bristol and Leicester.

In Bristol, Caribbean migrants settled in areas like St Paul’s, creating strong communities and facing challenges such as discrimination in employment. The Bristol Bus Boycott in 1963 was a turning point in the fight for racial equality, eventually helping to end the colour bar and influencing national law. Migrants also shaped culture through venues like the Bamboo Club and celebrations such as the St Paul’s Carnival.

In Leicester, Asian migrants arrived after 1945, particularly from India, Pakistan, and East Africa. Many worked in the textile industry. However, they faced racism and poor treatment, shown in the Imperial Typewriters strike of 1974. The growing community had a positive influence on Leicester. Migrants opened thousands of businesses, created places of worship, and helped make Leicester one of Britain’s most diverse cities. Today, areas like Belgrave Road are symbols of this success, and events like Diwali and the Mela Festival are now major parts of the city’s identity.

Bristol in the mid-twentieth century

Background: Migration to Bristol

• After the Second World War, Bristol needed rebuilding due to bombing

• Caribbean migrants were encouraged to settle in Bristol to fill labour shortages in transport and industry

  • By 1962, there were around 3,000 Caribbean migrants living in Bristol

• Migrants often settled in the St Paul’s area of Bristol

  • It had low-cost housing available due to war damage

  • Many landlords in other areas refused to rent to Black tenants

  • Over time, St Paul’s developed into a vibrant Caribbean community

Experiences: The Bristol Bus Boycott (1963)

Racism in the Bristol Omnibus Company

• In 1955, the Transport and General Workers’ Union (TGWU) passed a resolution banning the hiring of Black and Asian bus workers

  • Despite bus staff shortages, this informal ‘colour bar’ remained in place throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s

Decision to boycott

• Paul Stephenson arranged a job interview for Guy Bailey with Bristol Omnibus Company

  • The company cancelled the interview when they found out Bailey was Black

• In 1962, the West Indian Development Council (WIDC) was formed to support the rights of Caribbean migrants in Bristol

• In April 1963, the WIDC, led by figures like Roy Hackett, organised a bus boycott

  • The Montgomery Bus Boycott in America inspired the WIDC

  • Members refused to use Bristol buses until the policy was changed

Outcome of the boycott

• The boycott gained national attention and was supported by:

  • Local MP Tony Benn

  • Church groups and university students

• After four months, the company ended the colour bar

  • The Bristol Omnibus Company hired the city’s first non-white conductor in September 1963

Long-term impact of the boycott

• After the passing of the the Race Relations Act (1965), over 97% of bus drivers and conductors were white

• The WIDC later became the West Indian Parents and Friends Association

  • This group still operates today, supporting Caribbean families and running community activities in Bristol

Impacts: St Paul’s Festival

• Began in the 1960s as a small local event to celebrate Caribbean culture and bring the community together

• It grew into a large cultural celebration of music, food, and dance

  • It is similar to the Notting Hill Carnival

• Th event is still held today, under the name St Paul's Carnival

  • It is one of the biggest events in Bristol

  • Different communities within Bristol and the UK attend the carnival

Impacts: The Bamboo Club

• Established in 1966 by Tony and Lalel Bullimore at 7 St Paul Street, Bristol

• The Bamboo Club was the first social venue in Bristol to welcome the African-Caribbean community

• It hosted artists such as:

  • Bob Marley and the Wailers

  • Desmond Dekker

  • Jimmy Cliff

  • Ben E. King

• Beyond music, the Bamboo Club:

  • Hosted theatre workshops

  • Served as the headquarters for local sports teams

• The Bamboo Club was destroyed by fire in December 1977 and was never rebuilt

The role of individuals in Bristol

• Roy Hackett

  • Founding member of the WIDC

  • Organised the bus boycott and later co-founded the St Paul’s Carnival

• Princess Campbell

  • One of Bristol’s first Black ward sisters

  • Fought racism in the NHS and worked in community groups promoting equality

• Barbara Dettering

  • Migrated from British Guiana in 1961

  • Played a key role in the boycott and later became a social worker and activist

Asian migrants in Leicester

Background: Migration to Leicester

• Leicester's booming textile and shoe industries attracted migrants to settle after the Second World War

• Many migrants came from:

  • India

  • Pakistan

  • Bangladesh,

  • East African countries like Uganda and Kenya

    • These were often "twice migrants" as they had previously settled in Africa during British colonial rule

• By 1981, Leicester's Asian population had grown significantly to around 60,000. This was due to:

  • The British Asian Welfare Society

    • This was established to assist new arrivals with housing, employment, and integration into British society

  • Religious buildings

    • By 1972, Leicester had multiple Hindu temples, Sikh gurdwaras, and mosques, reflecting the city's growing cultural diversity

Experiences: Discouraging Migration

• Initially, Leicester City Council welcomed Asian migrants

  • Local media feared their impact on the city

    • Their opinion changed after seeing the positive impact of Asian migrants on Leicester's economy

• In 1972, fearing an influx of Ugandan Asian refugees, Leicester City Council placed an advertisement in Ugandan newspapers stating the city was "full up"

  • This aimed to deter migrants due to concerns over housing and public services

• The far-right National Front benefitted from anti-immigrant feelings in the city

  • They organised marches in Leicester during the 1970s

• In the 1976 Leicester City Council elections, the National Front received approximately 18.5% of the total vote

Experiences: The Imperial Typewriters Strike (1974)

Reasons for the Imperial Typewriters Strike

• At the Imperial Typewriter Company in Leicester, Asian workers were earning less than their white colleagues for the same roles

• In May 1974, approximately 500 South Asian workers, many of them women, started a strike

  • They wanted equal pay and opportunities for promotion

Support for the strike

• The Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) did not support the strike

  • They worried that the Asian workers at Imperial Typewriter Company were taking jobs away from white British workers in Leicester

• Without union backing, the strikers relied on:

  • Community donations

  • Support from anti-racist organisations in Leicester

Impact of the strike

• The strike lasted for 14 weeks, ending in August 1974

  • Strikers were attacked by members of the National Front and arrested by the police

• The company fired many of the strikers

  • The factory was closed the following year

Impact of Asian Migrants in Leicester

Economic impacts

• In the 1970s, Asian migrants brought empty shops on the Belgrave Road

  • It is now known as the 'Golden Mile'

  • It has a high number of Indian-owned businesses, including jewellers, clothing stores, and eateries

  • Belgrave Road is a significant tourist attraction in Leicester

• Asian business are incredibly successful in the city

  • In 1994, Leicester recorded approximately 1,400 Asian-run business

  • By 2004, this number was 10,000

Cultural impacts

• Leicester hosts one of the largest Diwali festivals outside India

  • It attracts thousands of visitors annually

• The city also celebrates the Mela festival, showcasing South Asian arts, music, and cuisine

Political impacts

• The Race Equality Centre was created in 1967

• It continues to:

  • Fight racial discrimination

  • Promote equality

  • Support minority communities in Leicester