Architecture

8 Sites that Tell the Story of Italians in England

Italians have lived in England from the time of the Roman Empire in 43AD and the cultures of the two countries have been intertwined for centuries. Here we look at 8 places that help to tell the story of Italian England.

Italians have lived in England from the time of the Roman Empire in 43 AD, and the cultures of the two countries have been intertwined for centuries.

From the 15th to the 18th century, an influential community of merchants, bankers and artists arrived, living primarily in London or in coastal cities in the south.

In the 19th Century the Napoleonic Wars left parts of Italy devastated and prompted thousands to seek employment in England, coming primarily from the northern and central regions of the country.  The majority came to London, inspiring ‘Little Italy’ in Clerkenwell, and a similar community sprung up in Ancoats in Manchester.

Much more recently the opportunities of post-war Britain brought many Italians to England, and now large communities exist all across the country. These communities have made and shaped hundreds of England’s historic buildings and places

Here are 8 places that help to tell the story of Italian England.

1. Lombard Street, London

1. lombard street cc97 00298
Lombard Street, London 1870- 1900 © Historic England Archive CC97/00298

A Roman road, Lombard Street in central London is the historic home of many financial institutions. It was named after Lombard Banking, which originated in the Lombardy region of northern Italy and from the year 1000 the street was home to a group of Italian merchants.

2.Roman Catholic Church of St Peter, Clerkenwell, London

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Roman Catholic Church of St Peter, Clerkenwell © Charlotte Goodhart

Listed at Grade II* this remarkable building on Clerkenwell Road was designed by the Irish architect Sir John Miller-Bryson who modelled it on San Crisogono in Rome.  It is at the heart of London’s ‘Little Italy’.

Next door is London’s oldest delicatessen, Terroni of Clerkenwell, established in 1878 to feed the growing number of Italians in the area.

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Roman Catholic Church of St Peter, Clerkenwell © Charlotte Goodhart

The church houses a memorial plaque to the 470 Italian men who died aboard the SS Arandora Star, a British passenger ship, in 1940. The artist Eduardo Paolozzi lost his father, grandfather and uncle in the tragedy.

3. Tottenham Court Road and Pimlico Stations, London

8. TCR Paolozzi
Paolozzi’s mosaics at Tottenham Court Road Station © Historic England

Born in Scotland to Italian immigrants, Eduardo Paolozzi moved to England in the 1950s. Often called the ‘godfather of Pop Art’ he created several iconic pieces of public art that are well known across London. Mosaics which line Tottenham Court Road station, a sculpture of Sir Isaac Newton, which is housed at the British Library, and a cast metal ventilation shaft cover at Pimlico, which is Listed at Grade II.

8. Pimlico Paolozzi
Paolozzi’s ventilation shaft cover, Pimlico © Historic England

4. Ancoats, Manchester

By 1910, 3000 Italians had made this industrial area of Manchester their home, rivalling London’s ‘Little Italy’. Many had left their rural homes in Italy to work in the North West’s cotton mills.

The Manchester Italian Catholic Society was formed in 1888 by local priest, Father Tynan. The society instigated Italian language classes and social events for the community, as well as the popular Madonna del Rosario procession, which is still led annually from Ancoats across Manchester city centre. The procession involves the carrying of religious emblems and wearing of the colourful regional dress of Italy.

You can see pictures of past processions and find out more about the society here.

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Roman Catholic Church of St Peter, Clerkenwell © Charlotte Goodhart

As well as bringing highly skilled trades to England, such as mosaic laying and terrazzo tiling, Italians have also brought their knowledge of traditional Italian food and catering.

5. Rossi’s, Southend, Essex

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Rossi’s Icecream Parlour © Paul Collins

Rossi’s Ice Cream parlour, in Southend is a local favourite, serving traditional Italian ice cream. It was opened in 1932 by Pietro Rossi and until 2006 was still run by his descendants.

6. E Pellicci, Bethnal Green, London

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E. Pellicci © Historic England

Founded in 1900, Priamo Pellicci named his café in East London after his wife, Elide Pellicci, in. 117 years on it’s still family owned, and was listed in 2005 for its pristine 1946 décor. This time capsule has exceptionally preserved the Art-Deco style panelled interior, designed by local carpenter Achille Capocci.

7. Excalibur Estate, Lewisham

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Prefab church, the Excalibur Estate, Lewisham © Historic England

In 1941, the first Italian prisoners of war arrived in Britain – prior to this they had mostly been sent to the far reaches of the Empire. Between 1939 and 1948, 400,000 Germans, Italians and Ukrainians were imprisoned in Britain, some of who stayed on after the war. In 1945 many of them worked on the construction of a new temporary housing estate in South East London, some of which survives to this day and is Listed at Grade II.

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Prefab bungalow with mock tudor facade, the Excalibur Estate, Lewisham © Historic England

8. Bedford Brick Works, Grade II listed

London Brick, Stewartby Brick Works, Stewartby, Bedfordshire
Stewartby Brickworks, Bedford © Historic England DP046371

The county town of Bedford is home to one of England’s largest Italian populations: between 20 and 30% of the local community has Italian heritage. The community originated in the 1950s when the London Brick Company held an employment drive in southern Italy, due to post-war labour shortages. This prompted thousands of men to travel to England with their families, looking for work. The Italian community remains strong and the town has its own Italian Honorary Consulate.

Share what you know about Italians in England in the comments below, or add your knowledge and images to the List. Find out more about Enriching the List here.

Written by Charlotte Goodhart

Further Reading

9 comments on “8 Sites that Tell the Story of Italians in England

  1. Reblogged this on msamba.

  2. Brucianni’s cafes in Morecambe and Preston both have fantastic intact 1930’s interiors and the one in Morecambe is also Grade II listed. https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1207218. Both well worth a visit.

  3. Very interesting, thanks for sharing. I recently questioned myself on what it is like being Italian today, especially when you live abroad, and I wrote this blog post…. feel free to check it out:
    https://livingcolorsstudio.com/2016/04/21/viva-litalia/

  4. don’t forget the Italian Church in the Orkney Islands https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Chapel built by Italian prisoners of war.

  5. although its in Scotland, of course!

  6. The contributions that the Italians gave too Bedford ,( like my late parents that came over in the early 50’s
    Major businesses we had and employment for Italians ..
    Texas instruments,..Meltis chocalate factory..ingranic..prestar
    And our parents in contributing in building our church ..St Francesca Cabrini

  7. Margaret Ford

    What about Birmingham.

  8. STATUE OF ROMULUS AND REMUS statue ON LAND AT BEECHBARROW HOUSE, A39 on the way to wells
    I grew up in a big italian community in Street/Glastonbury this statue was important as it symbolizes the good relationship between the English and Italians being built by an italian prisoner of war because of his respect to the English. they use yo have a feast the site yo honur the strong connection between the two countries

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