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Bedford's Italian question |
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Housing: Bedford’s “Italian Question”
Brickworkers at Kempston Hardwick Hostel, 1953. Nicola Valerio, leaning on the bicycle, was one of the first Italians to arrive.
© Carmela Semeraro |
Unaware of their rights, many Italians were exploited by unscrupulous landlords. The Bedfordshire Times alleged that up to 50 people could be crammed into houses designed for two families, and that some landlords even let the same bed to more than one person, taking advantage of the brick-workers shift patterns!
In 1956 the problem went to Parliament, and, in an unprecedented move, the Rent Acts were amended to protect the Italians. A loan scheme was established to enable Italians to purchase their own houses. New home-owners would then sublet rooms to other Italians – often new arrivals - engendering a great sense of community.
Housing remained a point of contention, however. Overcrowding continued and this intensified friction with locals, who complained that the area was being “overrun”. They particularly objected to the noise. In 1960 the Mayor observed that “An Italian singing in the street as he goes to work at 6.30am is perhaps not appreciated by the rather staid Englishman who wants another hour in bed!”
Loreta Scrocca in front of her new house on Winchester Road, Bedford.
© Hidden Voices, Carmela Semeraro and Bedford Creative Arts |
In 1960 matters reached a head, when the local council opposed the further bulk immigration of Italian workers requested by the brickworks, saying there was no room to accommodate them in Bedford “in comfort”, either they should stay in hostels or not be invited. The Bedfordshire Times ran numerous articles on “Bedford’s Italian Question”, and one councillor said Bedford had reached “saturation point”.
Testing times
Think of Italians and we think of good food, close-knit families, passionate characters and sunny weather. So how did they cope with arriving in grey, post-war England?
Whilst in terms of distance the Italians did not move as far as many immigrants, life in England still often came as a culture shock. They left a region where life was very localised: people from neighbouring villages were regarded as foreigners. Education and travel were limited, and many Italians would have had little experience of anything beyond village life, let alone of other countries.
Gilda Ciampa's twins, Angelo and Tony, used to meet her at the Meltis factory after school.
© Hidden Voices, Carmela Semeraro and Bedford Creative Arts |
Language was a major problem at first. Parents relied on their children to translate, and one man, Mario Capobianco, was often asked to act as interpreter. The newcomers used sign language in shops - one woman remembers staining a hankerchief in a shop to show she wanted to buy bleach. Concessions were made and newspaper articles were printed in Italian, there were weekly screenings of Italian films, and signs in shops and banks were translated into Italian.
Used to working outdoors on the land, life in the brick factories was difficult. It was hard and sometimes dangerous work. The Italians now had to work strict hours in shift patterns, clocking in and out, and although their diligence and willingness to do overtime impressed the brick companies, when their four-year contracts were up, most Italians looked for other jobs.
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