London Chinatown

London Chinatown

Gerrard Street in the late 50's was a shabby street. As a result property prices were very cheap, and short leases could be found for next to nothing in the area between Shaftesbury Avenue and Leicester Square. At the same time thousands of agricultural workers from Hong Kong, forced out of their traditional occupations by changes in the world rice markets, began to arrive in Britain. With the booming catering trade, these new immigrants found immediate employment, often with tied accommodation (a practice which continues to this day) as restaurants and takeaways sprang up in every major city and town in the country.

Conditions, however, were not easy. Working 17 hours a day was not uncommon and this lead to no opportunity to learn English. Accommodation conditions were often overcrowded and basic. With the influx of Chinese, and the substantial business success of the catering trade, associated businesses designed to cater for restaurant workers, grew up on Gerrard Street, which became known as Chinatown. More families were reunited as wives and children joined their husbands.

The relative educational success of British Born Chinese brought further economic success, and the Chinese by and large moved out of Chinatown, making room for more commercial space, and went to the suburbs. Chinatown itself was transformed by Westminster City Council, recognising that it had become a major tourist attraction. Gerrard Street was pedestrianised, as was part of Newport Place and Macclesfield Street. Chinese Gates, street furniture and a Pavilion were added as Chinatown came of age, a symbol of the success as well as a cultural focal point of the Chinese community of London.