St Anns
Encyclopedia
St Ann's is an area of Nottingham
, England
, with a population of around 15,000 people (2005 figures).
, brought about by the boom in lace
making. There was some industry and occupation before this time — brown earthenware such as Toby jugs, christening bowls, and punch bowls were made as early as the 1750s by Charles Morley, but it was almost another century before St. Ann's proper was created.
The area was not just given over to slums to rehouse the lower classes
. Although 10,000 standard back to back
terraced houses were created, these were a great improvement on dwellings common elsewhere in the city at the time. A psychiatric hospital
, parks, and a water reservoir were also built, the latter affording a panoramic view of Nottingham. There were even plans for an astronomical observatory. For the well off — doctors, solicitors, and factory owners — there was a grand tree lined recreation walk lined with larger houses. Twenty-five public houses, plus the later addition of a London and North-eastern urban railway link, horse drawn and then electric trams, and three cinemas, helps complete the picture of a thriving area.
In 1969, the area was looking impoverished, with many of the shops and houses 100 years old or more. A local Housing Act raised legal standards for houses being 'fit for human habitation'. Clearance of some of the land began in December of that year, although building of new houses didn't start until 1973 and continued into the 1980s. However, the open plan layout with interlocking footpaths, coupled with poor street lighting, actually brought about an increase in crime. This renovation included the relocation of many residents to The Meadows area of the city, which has contributed to some of the gang related crimes (see below) in the city.
The 1970s and 1980s layout of St Ann's was a relatively rare layout of that era, with Kates Hill
some 60 miles away in Dudley
being a comparable example. The preponderance of alleyways has also made it harder for police to catch criminals, particularly those on motorcycles. Nottingham film-maker Shane Meadows
caught some of this in scenes from This Is England
filmed in St Ann's.
terraces were replaced with better quality housing but despite this the Radburn style footways have contributed to anti-social behaviour. There have been a series of measures, such as gating, to reduce problems caused by the network of footpaths as well as improving the appearance of the housing stock. There are longer term plans to introduce more significant changes. Currently, the Stonebridge Estate is undergoing a transformation that is selectively removing problem pockets but refreshing most of the estate and building some modern homes.
In common with other parts of the city, the largely working class population is still affected by the collapse of manufacturing industry and much of the area scores badly on government measures of deprivation. Taking those factors into consideration there is much to commend the area: it is ethnically mixed with a strong sense of community.
site in England, created in the 1830s and now Grade 2* listed as being of "Special Historic Interest".
The allotments were recently granted £5 million of National Lottery
funding
for restoration, and were featured on the BBC's The One Show
.
Premiere Travel
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, 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...
, with a population of around 15,000 people (2005 figures).
History
The area was originally common land. The Enclosure Act of 1845 allowed the city to take 1,068 acres (4.3 km²) of the Clay fields. The idea was to ease the overcrowding in the St Mary's wardLace Market
The Lace Market is an historic quarter-mile square area of Nottingham, England.Once the heart of the world's lace industry during the days of the British Empire, it is full of impressive examples of 19th century industrial architecture and thus is a protected heritage area...
, brought about by the boom in lace
Lace
Lace is an openwork fabric, patterned with open holes in the work, made by machine or by hand. The holes can be formed via removal of threads or cloth from a previously woven fabric, but more often open spaces are created as part of the lace fabric. Lace-making is an ancient craft. True lace was...
making. There was some industry and occupation before this time — brown earthenware such as Toby jugs, christening bowls, and punch bowls were made as early as the 1750s by Charles Morley, but it was almost another century before St. Ann's proper was created.
The area was not just given over to slums to rehouse the lower classes
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
. Although 10,000 standard back to back
Back-to-back houses
Usually of low quality and high density, they were built for working class people and because three of the four walls of the house were shared with other buildings and therefore contained no doors or windows, back-to-back houses were notoriously ill-lit and poorly ventilated and sanitation was of...
terraced houses were created, these were a great improvement on dwellings common elsewhere in the city at the time. A psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental hospitals, are hospitals specializing in the treatment of serious mental disorders. Psychiatric hospitals vary widely in their size and grading. Some hospitals may specialise only in short-term or outpatient therapy for low-risk patients...
, parks, and a water reservoir were also built, the latter affording a panoramic view of Nottingham. There were even plans for an astronomical observatory. For the well off — doctors, solicitors, and factory owners — there was a grand tree lined recreation walk lined with larger houses. Twenty-five public houses, plus the later addition of a London and North-eastern urban railway link, horse drawn and then electric trams, and three cinemas, helps complete the picture of a thriving area.
In 1969, the area was looking impoverished, with many of the shops and houses 100 years old or more. A local Housing Act raised legal standards for houses being 'fit for human habitation'. Clearance of some of the land began in December of that year, although building of new houses didn't start until 1973 and continued into the 1980s. However, the open plan layout with interlocking footpaths, coupled with poor street lighting, actually brought about an increase in crime. This renovation included the relocation of many residents to The Meadows area of the city, which has contributed to some of the gang related crimes (see below) in the city.
The 1970s and 1980s layout of St Ann's was a relatively rare layout of that era, with Kates Hill
Kates Hill
Kates Hill is a residential area in Dudley, West Midlands, England.-History:Kates Hill was the scene of chaos in 1648 when parliamentarians used it as their base in the Civil War against King Charles I...
some 60 miles away in Dudley
Dudley
Dudley is a large town in the West Midlands county of England. At the 2001 census , the Dudley Urban Sub Area had a population of 194,919, making it the 26th largest settlement in England, the second largest town in the United Kingdom behind Reading, and the largest settlement in the UK without...
being a comparable example. The preponderance of alleyways has also made it harder for police to catch criminals, particularly those on motorcycles. Nottingham film-maker Shane Meadows
Shane Meadows
Shane Meadows is an English film director, screenwriter, occasional actor and BAFTA winner.-Background:Meadows grew up in the Westlands Road area of Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. His father was a long distance lorry driver and his mother worked in a fish and chip shop...
caught some of this in scenes from This Is England
This Is England
-Track listing:#"54-46 Was My Number" - Toots & The Maytals#"Come On Eileen" - Dexys Midnight Runners#"Tainted Love" - Soft Cell#"Underpass/Flares" - Movie Dialogue From This Is England#"Nicole " - Gravenhurst...
filmed in St Ann's.
St Ann's today
St Ann's today is dominated by council housing, a legacy of the slum clearance at the end of the 1960s. The damp, crumbling VictorianVictorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
terraces were replaced with better quality housing but despite this the Radburn style footways have contributed to anti-social behaviour. There have been a series of measures, such as gating, to reduce problems caused by the network of footpaths as well as improving the appearance of the housing stock. There are longer term plans to introduce more significant changes. Currently, the Stonebridge Estate is undergoing a transformation that is selectively removing problem pockets but refreshing most of the estate and building some modern homes.
In common with other parts of the city, the largely working class population is still affected by the collapse of manufacturing industry and much of the area scores badly on government measures of deprivation. Taking those factors into consideration there is much to commend the area: it is ethnically mixed with a strong sense of community.
Allotments
The St Ann's Allotments is the oldest and largest allotmentAllotment (gardening)
An allotment garden, often called simply an allotment, is a plot of land made available for individual, non-professional gardening. Such plots are formed by subdividing a piece of land into a few or up to several hundreds of land parcels that are assigned to individuals or families...
site in England, created in the 1830s and now Grade 2* listed as being of "Special Historic Interest".
The allotments were recently granted £5 million of National Lottery
National Lottery (United Kingdom)
The National Lottery is the state-franchised national lottery in the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man.It is operated by Camelot Group, to whom the licence was granted in 1994, 2001 and again in 2007. The lottery is regulated by the National Lottery Commission, and was established by the then...
funding
Big Lottery Fund
The Big Lottery Fund is a grant-making non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom created by the Government to administer the funding of "good causes" following the creation of the National Lottery. It has an annual expenditure of £630 million...
for restoration, and were featured on the BBC's The One Show
The One Show
The One Show is a topical magazine-style daily television programme broadcast live on BBC One and BBC One HD, hosted by Alex Jones and Matt Baker. Chris Evans joins Jones to present the programme on Friday...
.
Transport
Nottingham City Transport- 39: Nottingham – St Anns (Beacon Hill Rise) – Thorneywood – Carlton Valley.
- 40: Nottingham – St Anns – Sherwood – City Hospital.
- 41: Nottingham – St Anns (Direct).
- 42: Nottingham – Abbotsford Drive – St Anns.
Premiere Travel
- S11: St Anns – Thorneywood – Carlton – Netherfield – Victoria Park.
Further reading
- Gosling, Ray (1962), Sum Total. London: FaberFaber and FaberFaber and Faber Limited, often abbreviated to Faber, is an independent publishing house in the UK, notable in particular for publishing a great deal of poetry and for its former editor T. S. Eliot. Faber has a rich tradition of publishing a wide range of fiction, non fiction, drama, film and music...
. (Republished by Pomona in 2004. ISBN 1904590055.) - Gosling, Ray (1967), Saint Ann's. Nottingham Civic SocietyNottingham Civic SocietyThe Nottingham Civic Society is a civic society based in the city of Nottingham, England.The society was founded in 1962 and aims to care for the city of Nottingham, especially with respect to its historic buildings and heritage. Meetings are held in St Barnabas Cathedral Hall.- External links :*...
. - Gosling, Ray (1980), Personal Copy: a memoir of the sixties. London: Faber. ISBN 0571115748.