Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2024
First exams 2026
Tension in Notting Hill (Edexcel GCSE History) : Revision Note
Why did tension rise in Notting Hill in the 1950s?- Timeline & Summary
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After the arrival of Caribbean migrants in the 1940s and 50s, Notting Hill became an overcrowded and divided neighbourhood. Many white residents blamed migrants for taking jobs and housing. Far-right groups like the Union Movement spread racist ideas through marches and posters. Attacks on Black residents increased, especially by white gangs such as the Teddy Boys. These tensions exploded in 1958 during the Notting Hill Riots. The police arrested over 140 people.
The riots shocked the public and exposed racism in both society and the legal system. Far-right activity increased, but so did activism within the Black community. People like Carmen Bryan, who stood up in court after being wrongly arrested, became symbols of resistance. New groups such as the Inter-Racial Friendship Coordinating Council and the West Indian Standing Conference were formed to speak out against discrimination.
Racial hatred in Notting Hill
Racist attitudes
After the Second World War, Caribbean migrants were unwelcome in British society
Many White British people blamed Black and Asian people for housing shortages and unemployment
Many landlords refused to rent to Black families
It was common to see signs saying "No Blacks, No Irish, No Dogs"
Black people were often:
Followed in shops
Denied service in pubs, clubs and shops
Verbally and physically abused
Response from the police
Migrants viewed the police as unsupportive
They were slow to respond to racist violence
Police officers were more likely to arrest Black residents during disturbances
This created a growing sense of injustice and tension within the community
Racist organisations and far-right groups
Far-right political groups encouraged racism within the community
Two major groups were:
The Union Movement, led by Oswald Mosley
The League of Empire Loyalists
These organisations:
held public marches
drew racist graffiti
spread anti-migrant leaflets
stirred up fear about 'race mixing'
Their actions contributed directly to a rise in racial violence and unrest
This was especially in areas like Notting Hill with large migrant populations
Examiner Tips and Tricks
It is important to understand the historical context of Notting Hill and how it caused events such as the Notting Hill Riots.
In your revision, you could split these causes into:
Long-term, such as racism, overcrowding and poor housing
Short-term, such as the protests from far-right groups
Notting Hill Riots
Causes of the Riots
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A concept map of the causes of the Notting Hill Riots
Events of the Riots
The violence began on 29th August 1958
A mob of 400 white people saw a mixed-race couple outside of a pub
Armed with iron bars, petrol bombs and broken bottles, they attacked Black residents and their houses
The worst violence took place around Bramley Road and Latimer Road, in the heart of Notting Hill
Black residents fought back in self-defence
The riots lasted until 5th September 1958
The police eventually restored law and order
Impact of the Notting Hill Riots
Arrests and policing
The police arrested around 140 people during the riots
Most were Black men, even though they were often defending themselves
White attackers, especially Teddy Boys, were rarely punished
Many received light sentences or were let off altogether
The police refused to admit the riots were racially motivated
Instead, they blamed general disorder or 'youth violence'
Reactions from migrant communities
Caribbean residents insisted they had not started the violence
They argued that they had to defend themselves and their homes
Migrants formed new groups to attempt to avoid an event like the Notting Hill Riots again
The Inter-Racial Friendship Coordinating Council – aimed to reduce racial tensions through local community work
The West Indian Standing Conference – represented Caribbean voices and campaigned for better treatment and protection
The riots led to increased unity in the community and a push for fair treatment
Who was Carmen Bryan?
Carmen Bryan was a young Black woman living in Notting Hill during the late 1950s
In the aftermath of the Notting Hill riots in August 1958, tensions remained high between Black residents and white aggressors
The incident
Carmen Bryan was involved in an incident where she defended herself against a group of white youths who were harassing her
Despite acting in self-defence, the police arrested and charged her
The court case
Carmen's case went to court, drawing significant public attention
During the trial, evidence suggested that she had been targeted because of her race and was merely defending herself
The judge ultimately dismissed the charges against her
The court acknowledged the circumstances of self-defence
Worked Example
Study Sources A and B. How useful are Sources A and B for an enquiry into the causes of the Notting Hill Riots in 1958?
In your answer, you must use both sources and your own knowledge of the historical context.
Source A: An excerpt from an interview by ITN in 1958 with Oswald Mosley.
Mosley: "We condemn entirely violence. I always have and always will condemn violence...but at the same time it's no good simply suppressing the causes of force. We've got to solve the problem which gave rise to the recent race trouble.
Interviewer: Is it true that you want to get rid of all the [Black] people in this country?
Mosley: We want to send them back home to good conditions."
Source B: An account by Black migrant and soldier, Baker Baron, published in 1994. He talks about racial tensions in Notting Hill in 1958.
"Mosley tried to stir up a conflict between the blacks and the whites because his aim was to drive the blacks from North Kensington, to drive them from the shores of England. I wasn't for that because I came here to fight for the mother country... Mosley was stirring up a hate campaign, his supporters, the Teddy boys running around with bicycle chains and 'Keep Britain White, Keep Britain White'. They were going around in groups seeking out [Black people] and beating him up, fighting, repressing [Black] man or [Black] woman, they go round kicking them about and beating them up."
(8 marks)
Partial answer:
Source B is useful because it shows the view of a Black person who lived in Notting Hill during the 1958 riots. The speaker, Baker Baron, explains that Mosley encouraged racist attacks. This helps us understand that one cause of the riots was the hatred spread by far-right groups. This is supported by what we know from the time. Mosley’s Union Movement held marches in Notting Hill, and racist posters and leaflets were seen in the streets. The source was recorded in 1994, so Baker was remembering events many years later, which might affect the detail. However, his account is useful for showing how Black people felt unsafe and targeted in Notting Hill in 1958.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
The 8-mark "How Useful” question requires you to make a judgement
The common mistakes that students make when making a judgement are:
Not giving a clear judgement. Students do this by:
Explaining that neither of the sources is useful to a historian
Failing to decide how useful the sources are
Using language in their answer which is not decisive e.g. “kind of” or “maybe”
Focusing on reliability rather than how useful the source is. Students do this by:
Not making any judgement about the source’s usefulness
Stating that, because the source is unreliable, the source is not useful to a historian
Good judgements will include:
Specific content from the sources
The source’s provenance
Your knowledge of the time period
This will help you to see if the source is accurate or typical for the period
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