St Anns

St. Anns is a large urban area of Nottingham, UK, with a population of around 13,000 people. In recent times it has become notorious for problems such as drug-related gun crime: most notably the shooting of a 14-year-old girl, Danielle Beccan. However, this is not the whole story.

Related Topics:
Nottingham - UK

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The area was originally common land, which the Enclosure_Act of 1845 allowed the city to take 1,068 acres of the Clay fields. The idea was to ease the overcrowding in the St. Mary's ward, 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 would be almost another century before St. Anns proper was created.

Related Topics:
Common land - Enclosure_Act - 1845 - St. Mary's ward - Lace making - Toby jugs - 1750s

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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 Lunatic_asylum, 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. 25 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.

Related Topics:
Lower classes - Terraced houses - Lunatic_asylum - Public_houses

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1969 however it was time for a change. 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.

Related Topics:
1969 - 1973 - 1980s

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Initiatives are in place to rejuvenate the area, with building projects already under way (2005). These range from blocking off the small alleyways used by criminal elements as escape routes, to plans to demolish certain areas completely. Only time will tell if this proves successful: a similar initiative was introduced in the 1990s to combat the burglaries and vandalism of the 1980s with brighter street lighting and other security measures, but this was met with little success.

Related Topics:
1990s - 1980s

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

St. Anns has its bright spots: for example the St. Anns Allotments Network, the "oldest and largest allotments site in England", created in the 1830s and now Grade 2 listed as being of "Special Historic Interest". There is also Stonebridge City Farm, created in 1982. This allows school children to experience a small working farm with real animals in the heart of the city, and which holds open days and fetes for the local community.

Related Topics:
Allotments - 1830s - Grade 2 listed - Fetes

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~