£1.2 BILLION NEW LOOK FOR KENSAL CANALSIDE

Adjacent to Ladbroke Grove and home to Portobello Road, these streets and their environs have been the beating heart of this West London enclave since the arrival of early migrants from the Caribbean in the late 1940s. A “New Look” has been proposed. Almost 19 acres of this largely underused space is presently a meeting point for Carnival floats and home to a Sainsbury’s superstore. It is hoped that the 3500 new homes proposed will provide a boost to the area. Landmark surroundings include the tragic Grenfell Tower which was all but annihilated in 2017 by fire resulting in 72 deaths.

Since the 1950s, Notting Hill itself has been a hotspot for racism and antagonism towards Black residents. Once an extreme right-wing stronghold, during the 1950s a racist incident culminated in racial violence on a scale never seen which shocked Britain and received worldwide media coverage. The area has deep roots in activism for change, equality and inclusion, and has borne prominent Black activists.

Alongside many heritage plaques, including one to acclaimed musicians Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, as well as Kelso Cochraine and the activist Frank Chrichlow, founder of the Mangrove restaurant in All Saints Road. It typified the ultimate “Notting Hill Cool” as we know it today. With a mixed clientele base, Caribbean food and music it attracted customers from all walks of life, including well-known celebrities. Local resident Jacqueline Jones-Henry, born in 1963, aptly described the area ‘as home to an eclectic, inclusive, bohemian community of international residents.’

The British Black Panther movement gained national recognition reaching its pinnacle in 1970 as a result of the famous Mangrove Nine trial, following a protest against constant harassment by the local police. It included, amongst other notable names, the late Darcus Howe - activist, editor, broadcaster and avid racial equality campaigner. He was at one-time Chairman of the Notting Hill Carnival. This significant West London area, once known as “The Front Line” became a proud melting pot of races, ethnicities and cultures.

A far cry from the days of the notorious Rachman Landlord, some see the Ladbroke Grove area, now world-renowned for many positive factors such as inclusivity, diversity and cultural awareness, as an opportunity for a state-of-theart development in-line with many other urban areas that have been developed in the 21st century. A multi-faceted collaboration, including input from local residents, the project, is known as Project Flourish.

Aside from new housing and a new Sainsbury’s store, the Project will include new social facilities, encourage new investment to co-exist alongside the new streets, parks, cafes and restaurants. This may well be just what is needed. Time will tell!

Comprehensive details of the proposed development will be available for public view and scrutiny from October 2023.

For more information visit: www.projectflourish.co.uk

1948 Birth Of The National Health Service

The National Health Service (NHS) was a new concept designed to facilitate equal and vital medical/health and wellbeing services to the masses. Until that time, good medical care for most people was not accessible. Many of the those who travelled to Britain from the Commonwealth gained employment as nurses and auxiliary staff within the newly founded NHS. They became the backbone of the NHS as is widely acknowledged today.

1958 Notting Hill Race Riots

An unsettling era of discontent amongst residents of the area with Teddy Boys (a dangerous right-wing sect) roaming the streets, often attacking lone Black men. Fuelled by extremist groups and some residents who were disgruntled at so many Black people moving into this low-income area amid growing mixed relationships, fed into a simmering rhetoric which blew-up to gargantuan proportions culminating in violent race riots between 29th August and 5th September 1958. The area used to be called Ladbroke Grove after the main avenue, however Notting Hill has today earned world-wide recognition as a culturally diverse and very sought-after area in London.

65 Years

Did you know?

The Nottingham Race Riots in the suburb of St Ann’s began on 23rd August 1958 following a period of rising post war racial tensions in the area as a direct result of the influx of Caribbean immigrants. These went on sporadically for two weeks and many people were injured.

THE 10 PORTRAITS WHICH NOW FORM PART OF THE ROYAL COLLECTION AS A TRIBUTE TO THE WINDRUSH GENERATION