3.2.2.2 Relationships, connections, meanings and represenatations (Easingwold and Brick Lane)

What are places shaped and produced by

Relationships, connections, meanings, representations

Easingwold regional connections

Strong commuting relationship with York, economic stability dependent on York, bus routes link residents with York with daily spatial interactions

Easingwold national connections

Proximity to A19 access the North, local businesses rely on national supply chain, tourism in York benefits hospitality

Global connections Easingwold

Agriculture connects to global markets, migrant flows impact house demand and culture exposure

Lived experience Easingwold

Safe traditional market town shows continuity, Georgian architecture in marketplace shows heritage

Quantitive representations of Easingwold

Census data shows 70% population 50+ for an elderly profile, very homogenous with 96.9% white British, high level of affluence with 65.5% households owned, dwelling growth by 18% places pressure on primary school

Qualitative representations Easingwold

Marketing materials create ‘rural idyll’, Easingwold Art Society highlight contemporary landscapes to reinforce geography connection, Reader letters in York Press argue the creation of a clone town, Local insiders describe as ‘God’s Waiting Room’

Continuity of Easingwold

Market town preserved, Demographic continuity, Settlement structure (primary throughfare Longstreet)

Change in Easingwold

Increasing commuter population, economic shift from 18th century stagecoach stop (26 inns) to ‘café culture’, 18% growth causing affordability and infrastructure pressures

Impacts of continuity and change in Easingwold

Young people limited due to few higher skilled local jobs, families benefit from stability and safety, rising house prices affect affordability

Flows of people effect on demographic/cultural characteristics Brick lane

Historical flow of French Huguenots and post WWII Bangladeshi migrants causes 42% population to be Bangladeshi. Caused creation of Banglatown with Jamme Masjid mosque

Brick lane National and global connections

Tourism, Curry industry (Bangladeshi diaspora), creative industries and transport links

Lived experience Brick Lane

Symbol of cultural identity, resilience and community for Bangladeshis. Edgy and authentic experience for tourists

Quantitative representations Brick Lane

Census data demonstrates diversity with 47% Muslim, youthful representation with only 1.2% over 80, Inequality and crime with 5.2% unemployment and a crime rate 3.16x higher than London average, Gentrification with 20% properties above London average

Qualitative representations Brick Lane

Media platforms like Old Truman Brewery website represent trendy hive of creative businesses, Architecture like Jamme Masjid mosque shows shift from Huguenot church to mosque, ‘Ballard of Brick Lane’ construct atmospheric sense of place, topohobia with 2015 protests in Spitalfields about erosion of identity

Continuity Brick Lane

Consistent area of international migrants since 17th century Huguenots, Long standing association with clothing/textile industry (Bangladeshi machinists dominant 20th century), persistent site of socio economic struggle

Change Brick Lane

Shift in ethnic composition from Jews/Irish to Bangladeshi and young professionals, economic transition such as Old Truman Brewery stopping 350 years of production to become hive of creative businesses, gentrification and resident displacement

Impacts on people Brick Lane

Bangladeshi experience financial pressure, loss of belonging and cultural space. Young professionals get more jobs. Tourists experience a constructed representation

Comparison between Easingwold and Brick Lane

Easingwold shows stable and regional continuity, Brick lane shows rapid and global change