Once an agricultural area comprising a large common field with several smaller farms, Sudbury experienced a housing boom in the 1930s, following the British Empire Exhibition, which brought 27 million visitors to the Wembley area in 1924/25. The expansion of transport links also played a major role in the urbanisation of the area, and by the beginning of the Second World War Sudbury had assumed its modern physical character of a medium density suburb with mixed housing.
Recent times
At the beginning of the 1950s residents of Sudbury were overwhelmingly of White British descent. However, today this has completely changed, with Indian, Sri Lankan, Pakistani and various other communities shaping the demography of the area as we know it today, and with the religious makeup spanning from Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh to Jewish among others.
From the 1950s onwards, modern Sudbury has changed to meet the needs of these new residents, and the existing community has adapted.
Well, the language has changed for one thing, you don’t hear so much English anymore, and the people, they’re not local people, they came from abroad, and… it’s a completely different atmosphere.
Esther
New businesses have been created in current premises, religious groups have adjusted to new congregations (i.e. local churches accommodating new worshippers), and people from all ethnic backgrounds have come together in groups such as Sudbury Town Residents Association to discuss and agree decisions that affect them all.
This is also a period of time when major changes in domestic life – from fridges to heating to TVs – changed the way people experienced life at home and the way they connected to each other.
‘Changing Sudbury’ looked at how this area of Brent, and the lives of its inhabitants, has been both modified and adapted since the 1950s through a collection of interviews with local residents (‘oral history’). A group of dedicated volunteers unlocked fascinating memories, bringing to the foreground an untold and multifaceted narrative.
Local residents, who either grew up or moved to the area, told us about a time with no TV and fast food, but also about the lack of sari (Asian garment) shops, exotic goods, or temples. But even in the absence there’s a story to be told. Sudbury and nearby areas embraced the change and responded to its urge. ‘Changing Sudbury’ explored the many ‘how’, ‘when’, ‘why’, ‘who’ and ‘what’ following the tread of people’s memories and looking at what was, and wasn’t, there.
At that time, in 1975, there was no Indian shops here so I used to go to Southall and buy things.
Pravina
However, this isn’t a comprehensive or exhaustive story, so take it as a snapshot. A snapshot which tells us that every single voice plays a key role in the bigger picture of changes, and makes an impact. A bigger picture which is, ultimately, the picture of London (and beyond): multicultural, resilient, adaptable, mutable, ever changing, and challenging.
