The Punjab The Punjab The Punjab (pronounced or ; Punjabi: ਪੰਜਾਬ, The Punjab (pronounced or ; [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]: [[Gurmukhī script|ਪੰਜਾਬ]], The Punjab (pronounced or ; [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]: [[Gurmukhī script|ਪੰਜਾਬ]], [[Shahmukhi script|, ), also spelled Panjab ' onMouseout='HidePop("54720")' href="http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Foundry">foundries
A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings from either ferrous or non-ferrous alloys. Metals are turned into parts by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal in a mold, and removing the mold material or casting after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metal...
and on the production lines in motor vehicle manufacturing, mostly at the
Longbridge plantThe Longbridge plant is an industrial site situated in the Longbridge area of Birmingham, England. Opened in 1905, Longbridge was once the largest manufacturing plant in the world. During the 20th Century the site employed many thousands of people, central to the economy of the local area...
some 10 miles away.
By the early 1960s, there was much racial tension in the country and a great deal of this was being felt in Handsworth.
Civil unrest
Although these ethnic groups contributed to the local economy, they have fallen victim to a great deal of
racismRacism is the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. In the case of institutional racism, certain racial groups may be denied rights or benefits, or get preferential treatment...
. These problems had started during the 1950s, but the major problems didn't begin until a riot in 1981, during which similar riots took place in
London[]London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It has been a major settlement for two millennia, and the history of London goes back to its founding by the Romans, when it was named Londinium. London's core, the ancient City of London, the 'square mile', retains its medieval boundaries...
,
LeedsLeeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. The historic core at the heart of Leeds in 2001 had an estimated subdivision population of 443,247, whilst the entire city, that includes the urban and suburban areas incorporated into the city in 1974, had an estimated...
and
LiverpoolLiverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
as well. Handsworth's most notable rioting took place in September 1985 and also overspilled into neighbouring
LozellsLozells is a loosely-defined inner-city area in the West of Birmingham, England. It is centred on Lozells Road, and is known for its multi-racial population. It is part of the ward of Lozells and East Handsworth and lies between the districts of Handsworth and Aston.Lozells has a high population...
. As in many parts of Britain, the conflict between
black peopleThe term black people usually refers to a racial group of humans with skin colors that range from light brown to nearly black. It also has been used to categorize a number of diverse populations into a common group. Some definitions of the term include only people of relatively recent Sub Saharan...
in Birmingham, including the police service, fire service and all other local authorities was the start of unrest.
The 1985 riot claimed the life of a local post office owner, who was killed when a firebomb was hurled through the window of his shop.
After the
Handsworth riotsThe two Handsworth Riots occurred in the Handsworth suburb of Birmingham, England, during the summers of 1981 and 1985. The riots were allegedly caused by heavy-handed policing and drug-related problems in the suburb, fueled by a nationwide wave of uprisings in the wake of the April 1981 Brixton riot...
caused a huge publicity shock to world perception of British sub-urban integration, the approach to a mostly hostile community were reviewed. Local government was forced into building new community relations as a way of managing both racial and cultural differences. Encouragement was provided by arts organisation like West Midlands Ethnic Minority Arts Service and private groups such as
Shades of BlackShades of Black is a community organization in the Handsworth area of Birmingham, England, formed after the Handsworth riots in the mid 1980s, extending from the 1990s to work in other deprived areas including Stechford....
, which works closely with the community and is still going strong today. There was and still is tension in the mainly Afro Caribbean area which has notably gained press for the local Afro Caribbeans joining together to fight off any left wing nationals, which soon escalated into a dispute with other Afro Caribbeans. As a result, there were several members of the community participating in drug dealing and forming street gangs. Conflicts between rival drug dealers led to conflicts between opposing street gangs, and severe violent crime increased. There were 97 crack dens closed down in 1999 in Handsworth which increased to 130 in 2002. Many of the houses in the area are terraced houses, constructed in the 19th century in the Industrial Revolution. These houses were targeted by the gangs and drug dealers who then targeted the post-war tower blocks which became hotspots for drug-related crime in Handsworth. Over 2,650 needles were removed from inside and surrounding the Tower-Blocks/Estate in 2004.
Similarly, in 2005, further riots look part primarily on Lozells Road, in Handsworth/Lozells, in which two people were killed, many injured, and countless damage to property, launching the biggest investigation to ever be undertaken by West Midlands Police. The instigation of these riots this time round were because of an alleged rape of a young black girl by a group of Asian youths, although no evidence has ever been found to suggest a rape, and the supposed girl has never come forward despite numerous calls by members of the community at many levels. The failure of the girl to come forward has meant that the police were unable to launch a further investigation or even confirm the event took place. The riots erupted after a community meeting in a church on Lozells Road. Riot police were called out, and it was several days before the rioting was completely stamped out.
Musical legacy
Handsworth has produced some notable musical acts:
Steel PulseSteel Pulse is a roots reggae musical band. They originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, in Birmingham, England, composed of David Hinds , Basil Gabbidon , and Ronald McQueen...
,
Joan ArmatradingJoan Anita Barbara Armatrading, MBE, is a British singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Armatrading is a three-time Grammy Award-nominee...
,
Pato BantonPato Banton is a reggae singer and toaster from Birmingham, England.-Biography:Born in Birmingham, Banton first came to public attention in the early 1980s when he worked with The Beat. He recorded "Pato and Roger a Go Talk" with Ranking Roger, included on the 1982 album Special Beat Service...
,
Benjamin ZephaniahBenjamin Obadiah Iqbal Zephaniah is a British Rastafarian writer and dub poet. He is a well-known figure in contemporary English literature, and was included in The Times list of Britain's top 50 post-war writers in 2008.Zephaniah has said that his mission is to fight the dead image of poetry in...
,
SwamiSwami are a critically-acclaimed British Indian pop/alt/bhangra band from Birmingham, England. It is also the pseudonym of the band's lead performer, producer, DJ and guitarist Diamond Duggal , who founded the band with his brother Simon Duggal...
, Apache Indian,
Ruby TurnerRuby Turner is a British soul singer, songwriter and actress. In a career spanning a quarter of a century, Turner has had hit albums and singles on both sides of the Atlantic, and provided backing vocals for major popular music stars...
and
BhangraBhaṅgṛā Punjabi: ਭੰਗੜਾ, بھنگڑا is a form of music and dance that originated in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan. Bhangra began as a folk dance conducted by Punjabi people to celebrate the coming of Spring, or Vaisakhi...
group B21 and Jamaican musicians such as Mighty Diamonds,
Alton EllisAlton Nehemiah Ellis, OD, was a Jamaican musician best known as one of the innovators of rocksteady music and was often referred to as the "Godfather of Rocksteady". In 2006, he was inducted into the International Reggae And World Music Awards Hall Of Fame.-Biography:Ellis was born in 1938 and...
,
Burning SpearWinston Rodney, OD , also known as Burning Spear, is a Grammy Award winning Jamaican roots reggae singer and musician...
and
Dennis BrownDennis Emmanuel Brown was a Jamaican reggae singer. During his prolific career, which began in the late 1960s when he was aged eleven, he recorded more than 75 albums and was one of the major stars of lovers rock, a sub-genre of reggae...
have performed in Handsworth. In addition,
Steve WinwoodStephen Lawrence "Steve" Winwood is an English singer-songwriter who performs and writes rock, blues-rock, and jazz. He sings with a tenor voice and is a multi-instrumentalist who plays Hammond organ, guitar, bass, and other string instruments. In addition to his solo career, he was a member of...
and
progressive rockProgressive rock is a form of rock music that evolved in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility."...
drummer
Carl PalmerCarl Palmer is an English drummer and percussionist. He is credited as one of the most respected rock drummers to emerge from the 1960s. In addition, Palmer is a veteran of a number of famous English bands, including the Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Atomic Rooster, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and Asia...
were born in Handsworth.
Steel Pulse's first
studio albumA studio album is an original collection of new tracks by a recording artist.It usually does not contain live recordings and/or remixes, and if it does, those tracks do not make up majority of the album and are often "bonus tracks"...
Handsworth RevolutionHandsworth Revolution is a reggae album by Steel Pulse. It is named after the Handsworth district of Birmingham, England, the band's home....
is named after the area.
Events
Handsworth ParkHandsworth Park is a park in the Handsworth area of Birmingham, England. It lies 10 minutes by bus from the centre of Birmingham and comprises 63 acres of landscaped grass slopes, including a large boating lake and a smaller pond fed by the Farcroft and Grove Brooks, flower beds, mature trees and...
has hosted numerous events: The
Birmingham TattooThe Birmingham Tattoo is held annually at the National Indoor Arena in the centre of Birmingham, England. The military tattoo features massed military bands, spectacular displays and a massed chorus. The event takes place for two weekend performances in November...
, The Birmingham Festival (both originally called Handsworth- rather than Birmingham-) and the Flower Show, and in 1967 The Birmingham Dog Show. The Scouts Rally was another annual event held in the park for many years when scouts from a wide area congregated and paraded. The Handsworth Carnival grew out of the Flower Show and Carnival; Caribbean style carnivals began in Handsworth Park, in 1984, with a street procession via Holyhead Road. Also, the guitarist Richard Michael hails from this area. In 1994 the carnival was held in Handsworth Park for the last time. The following year it was moved from the park out onto the streets of Handsworth, since which time it has been known as the
Birmingham International CarnivalBirmingham International Carnival takes place biennially in Birmingham, England.Caribbean style carnivals were held in Handsworth Park there, from 1984 – 1994. The following year, the carnival moved from the park onto the streets of Handsworth, since which time it was known as the Birmingham...
. In 1999, it was again held in a park, but this time in Perry Barr Park. Handsworth Park also hosts an annual Vaisakhi Mela.
Notable residents
- Francis Asbury
Bishop Francis Asbury was one of the first two bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States.-Biography:...
, born in Handsworth, bishop of the Methodist Episcopal ChurchThe Methodist Episcopal Church, sometimes referred to as the M.E. Church, was a development of the first expression of Methodism in the United States. It officially began at the Baltimore Christmas Conference in 1784, with Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke as the first bishops. Through a series of...
- Matthew Boulton
Matthew Boulton, FRS was an English manufacturer and business partner of Scottish engineer James Watt. In the final quarter of the 18th century the partnership installed hundreds of Boulton & Watt steam engines, which were a great advance on the state of the art, making possible the...
(1728 - 1809) Lived in Soho HouseSoho House , Matthew Boulton's home in Handsworth, Birmingham, England, is now a museum , celebrating his life, his partnership with James Watt and his membership of the Lunar Society. It was designed by Samuel Wyatt and work on the current building began in 1789...
. Buried in St Mary's Churchyard.
- Bert Freeman
Bertram Clewley Freeman was an English footballer who was one of the most prolific goal-scorers of his time, playing at centre forward for Woolwich Arsenal, Everton, Burnley and Wigan Borough...
(1885 – 1955), England international footballer was born in Handsworth
- William Murdoch
William Murdoch was a Scottish engineer and inventor. It is believed he Anglicised his name to Murdock when he moved to England....
(1754 - 1839). Inventor. He was the first to make extensive use of coal gasCoal gas is a flammable gaseous fuel made from coal and supplied to the user via a piped distribution system. Town gas is a more general term referring to manufactured gaseous fuels produced for sale to consumers and municipalities. It is also known as manufactured gas, syngas , hygas, and producer...
for illumination and a pioneer in the development of steam-power. In 1777, he entered the engineering firm of Matthew BoultonMatthew Boulton, FRS was an English manufacturer and business partner of Scottish engineer James Watt. In the final quarter of the 18th century the partnership installed hundreds of Boulton & Watt steam engines, which were a great advance on the state of the art, making possible the...
and James WattJames Watt FRS was a Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer whose improvements to the Newcomen steam engine were fundamental to the changes brought by the Industrial Revolution in both the Kingdom of Great Britain and the world.-Biography:James Watt was born on 19 January 1736 in Greenock,...
, whose experiment on the distillation of coal and wood first brought gas lighting to a practical stage, illuminating their factory with it in 1803. Presented with the Rumford MedalThe Rumford Medal is awarded by the Royal Society every alternating year for "an outstandingly important recent discovery in the field of thermal or optical properties of matter made by a scientist working in Europe". First awarded in 1800, it was created after a 1796 donation of $5000 by the...
by the Royal SocietyThe Royal Society of London for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, or even the Royal, is a learned society for science that was founded in 1660 and is considered by most to be the oldest such society still in existence...
. Buried in St Mary's Churchyard.
- George Ramsay
George Burrell Ramsay was secretary/manager of Aston Villa Football Club in the most successful period of their history....
(1855 - 1926) Secretary/Manager of Aston Villa in the most successful period of the club's history. Buried in St Mary's Churchyard.
- Tommy Roberts
William Thomas 'Tommy' Roberts was an English professional footballer who played for Soho Villa, Leicester Fosse, Preston North End, Burnley, Tottenham Hotspur, Dick Kerrs X1, Chorley and England at international level.- Football career :Roberts began his career at non League Soho Villa and later...
, Professional footballer.
- James Watt
James Watt FRS was a Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer whose improvements to the Newcomen steam engine were fundamental to the changes brought by the Industrial Revolution in both the Kingdom of Great Britain and the world.-Biography:James Watt was born on 19 January 1736 in Greenock,...
(1736 - 1819) Lived on the "Heathfield" estate, on land that now comprises West Drive and North Drive. Buried in St Mary's Churchyard (although his tomb is now in the subsequently expanded church).
- Benjamin Zephaniah
Benjamin Obadiah Iqbal Zephaniah is a British Rastafarian writer and dub poet. He is a well-known figure in contemporary English literature, and was included in The Times list of Britain's top 50 post-war writers in 2008.Zephaniah has said that his mission is to fight the dead image of poetry in...
(born 1958) poet and writer, grew up in Handsworth.
- Mr Hudson singer
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