Lozells
Encyclopedia
Lozells 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 density compared to East Handsworth. It is a very ethnically diverse area with a high population of people of Afro-Caribbean and Pakistani origin. Housing in Lozells consists mainly of terraced houses, which were constructed during the Industrial Revolution
when the area became industrialised and the workers required housing. The housing is a mix of private and council housing with some newer housing being constructed in the post-war
period, post-war Tower-Blocks/Estates.
Lozells Road was the scene of violent riots on the night of the 22 October 2005 which left two men dead and a police
officer shot and wounded. The Lozells riots were started by an unsubstantiated rumour about a girl being raped, broadcast on a pirate radio station. Four men were later jailed for their part in the riots.
20 years earlier, rioting from 9–11 September 1985 occurred along Lozells Road in the 1985 Handsworth riots
, with many shops, houses and vehicles being burnt in rioting, with extensive looting also taking place. A nearby post office was among the buildings set alight, killing the two Muslim
brothers who owned it. Racial tension, high unemployment and hostility towards the police were seen as major factors of the rioting.
The Royal Oak pub on Lozells Road (now a shop) has a doorway by William Bloye
.
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. 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
Lozells and East Handsworth
Lozells and East Handsworth is a ward in Birmingham, England, created at the June 2004 elections. It is within the formal district of Perry Barr.The ward covers the areas of Handsworth, Lozells and Handsworth Park.-Politics:...
and lies between the districts of Handsworth
Handsworth, West Midlands
Handsworth is an inner city area of Birmingham in the West Midlands, England. The Local Government Act 1894 divided the ancient Staffordshire parish of Handsworth into two urban districts: Handsworth and Perry Barr. Handsworth was annexed to the county borough of Birmingham in Warwickshire in 1911...
and Aston
Aston
Aston is an area of the City of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Lying to the north-east of the Birmingham city centre, Aston constitutes an electoral ward within the council constituency of Ladywood.-History:...
.
Lozells has a high population density compared to East Handsworth. It is a very ethnically diverse area with a high population of people of Afro-Caribbean and Pakistani origin. Housing in Lozells consists mainly of terraced houses, which were constructed during the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
when the area became industrialised and the workers required housing. The housing is a mix of private and council housing with some newer housing being constructed in the post-war
Post-war
A post-war period or postwar period is the interval immediately following the ending of a war and enduring as long as war does not resume. A post-war period can become an interwar period or interbellum when a war between the same parties resumes at a later date...
period, post-war Tower-Blocks/Estates.
Lozells Road was the scene of violent riots on the night of the 22 October 2005 which left two men dead and a police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
officer shot and wounded. The Lozells riots were started by an unsubstantiated rumour about a girl being raped, broadcast on a pirate radio station. Four men were later jailed for their part in the riots.
20 years earlier, rioting from 9–11 September 1985 occurred along Lozells Road in the 1985 Handsworth riots
1985 Handsworth riots
The second Handsworth riots began on 9 September 1985 and finished two days later. The riots were reportedly sparked by the arrest of a man near the Acapulco Cafe, Lozells and a police raid on the Villa Cross public house in the same area. Hundreds of people attacked police and property, looting...
, with many shops, houses and vehicles being burnt in rioting, with extensive looting also taking place. A nearby post office was among the buildings set alight, killing the two Muslim
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
brothers who owned it. Racial tension, high unemployment and hostility towards the police were seen as major factors of the rioting.
The Royal Oak pub on Lozells Road (now a shop) has a doorway by William Bloye
William Bloye
William James Bloye was an English sculptor, active in Birmingham either side of World War II.He studied, and later, taught at the Birmingham School of Art , where his pupils included Gordon Herickx, Raymond Mason and Ian Walters...
.
External links
- Life in Lozells
- Handsworth & Lozells Community Dialogue
- BBC - '80 crimes' in night of violence (23 October 2005)
- BBC - Man killed in Birmingham clashes (23 October 2005)