Stewartby Brickworks, Marston Vale
Amid the bleak interwar years of the 1930s, Britain was
plagued by economic catastrophe and mass unemployment. The decade also saw the
rise of both domestic and international fascism, paving the way to the Second
World War. The 1930s is often viewed as a minor footnote, an unfortunate
prologue to the following decade which would see an unprecedented level of
global destruction. However, by the end of the decade Britain’s economy was on
its way to recovery and new industries such as car and aircraft making were
transforming the nation in a way which would set the tone for post-war
prosperity.
One place in which this transformation can be seen is within
Bedfordshire’s booming brick-making industry. Marston Vale’s various smaller
local companies were bought by the London Brick Company (LBC) after the First
World War and the industry would go on to completely transform the region. LBC
would go on to build model villages, such as Stewartby (named after the
directing Stewart family), which gave workers the opportunity to move out of
the slums and into accommodation provided with water, electricity, and
drainage.
The industry was revolutionised during the 1930s with the
introduction of the dragline excavator, a machine which was able to transport
large quantities of clay directly to the factory via a conveyer belt. By 1936
Stewartby had become the largest brickworks in the world, with Marston Vale
producing 500 million bricks per year, and employing over 2,000 people.
With the end of the Second World War, Britain’s towns and
cities were left in ruin with over 1.1 million houses and flats being damaged
or destroyed during the Blitz. With this came a huge post-war demand for bricks,
a quantity which Stewartby could not feasibly provide due to labour shortages. This
was an issue which plagued many industries in post-war Britain and was plugged
by the influx of immigrants, the most famous of which being dubbed the
‘Windrush Generation’. However, unlike many places in Britain, Bedfordshire did
not see its population increased by immigrants from the Caribbean or West
Indies, rather its ranks were strengthened by the Italians.
Although this minor discretion may at first seem trivial, it is important to consider it within the context of the period. Italy had fought along-side Germany during the Second World War and anti-Italian sentiment had largely solidified within the nation. Much like FDR had interned Japanese-American citizens, Italians living in Britain faced significant discrimination throughout the war. With Italy joining the war in 1940, Churchill ordered the mass internment off Italians, Germans and Austrians living in Britain, apparently using the infamous phrase ‘collar the lot’. Over the coming months over 4,000 Italians were arrested in Britain and shipped to the Isle of Man where they were detained.
It is then safe to say that Britain had become somewhat of a
hostile environment for Italians during the period. Despite this, high
unemployment in their homeland drove many to emigrate in search of work after the
war. Between 1951 and the 1960s over 7,500 Italians moved to Bedford to find jobs
in the brick-works. Although this was, for many, a chance at a better life very
few stayed past the first year of their contract. Hard work, cold weather and British
cuisine drove many back to Italy within 12 months.
Although Bedford did not provide many of its new inhabitants
with an immediate home away from home, Italian influence continued to grow throughout
the county and has remained to the present day with 20% of Bedford’s population
being either Italian or of Italian descent. The town is littered with Italian
shops and restaurants, as well as being home to a annual festival celebrating
Italian heritage. Although Italian immigrants have undoubtably attained a
foothold within Bedford, there are still cultural issues regarding assimilation
with those of a British Identity.
During the 2012 Euro’s, 150 England fans in Bedford attacked
those celebrating Italy’s victory over Roy Hodgson’s side. England had unsurprisingly
been knocked out of the tournament by way of penalty shoot-out, the games most
iconic moment being Andrea Pirlo’s Panenka against Joe Hart. Although such
events are of a rare nature, they highlight the hostility still faced by those
who have emigrated to Britain.
The discussion surrounding immigration continues to be a contentious issue within British political discourse, playing a central role in recent elections. Although the focus is largely targeted at those coming from Caribbean and Asian countries, it is important that the contribution of those from other backgrounds is equally remembered and celebrated. From the ashes of the 1930s and 1940s, Britain entered into a new age of prosperity which, at the time, was unmatched throughout history. Prime Minister, Harold MacMillan’s famous 1957 misquote “you’ve never had it so good” perfectly sums up the immediate post-war era, a society built by those like the Italian immigrants at Stewartby Brickworks, Marston Vale.
Jordan Harris
Comments
Post a Comment