Altab Ali Park Arch - Whitechapel Road, London, UK
N 51° 30.967 W 000° 04.156
30U E 703338 N 5711294
This memorial arch stands at the western entrance to Altab Ali Park on the south side of Whitechapel Road. The arch and park are a memorial to Altab Ali, a young man who was killed in a racist attack in 1978.
Waymark Code: WMF7PY
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 09/06/2012
Views: 3
The arch was unveiled on 1st October
1989 as a memorial to Altab Ali who was murdered in the area. The gate is at the
corner of Whitechapel Road and White Church Lane. The PMSA website [visit link] tells about
the arch:
"Ornamental wrought iron gateway
arch at the entrance to the park. A black tubular framed arch, Bangladeshi in
style, is decorated by interwoven bands of orange-coated metal wrapped around
and interwoven through the tubular framed structure. 'An ironwork arch is to be
built . . . Stepney Neighbourhood has agreed to spend £8,600 putting up the
memorial in St Mary's Gardens.
Mr Ali, a 24 year old machinist,
was stabbed in the neck as he returned to his Reardon House, Wapping home in May
1978. Labour controlled Stepney has commissioned Welsh artist/blacksmith David
Petersen to carry out the work. "Stepney Neighbourhood decided to provide the
arch not only as a memorial to Altab Ali himself but also to recognise the
turning point in the struggle against racism that his death marked" said a
spokesman'.
The artist was approached by London
Borough of Tower Hamlets and members of the Bangladesh community who had seen
his work. Not knowing very much about the culture he said he would do the work
only if they taught him something about their history. He visited the local
mosque and spent time with both elderly and young in the community. A friend of
his, who was a photographer, had spent a year in Bangladesh and also supplied
much of the background information. The design was originally to include
railings and gates but the project ran out of money.
The design had to be submitted to
English Heritage as the pillars by the archway are listed. They asked for the
design to be modified allowing only one bolt to be attached to each pillar. It
was hand forged in Wales. The final design was based on Bangladeshi architecture
and European Perpendicular architecture, a marrying of two cultures, the new
community in the area and to represent the original church of St Mary's which
had stood on the site.
On the opening day the children in
local primary schools made hats in the shape of the arch and carried red
carnations and walked through the arch; part of the Bangladeshi culture is to
pass through an arch at all important events e.g. marriage and death. Thus the
Altab Ali arch is regarded as symbolic to the local community.
A photographic history of the
project was mounted at the Whitechapel Art gallery by Tom Learmouth. Altab Ali
was a local Bangladeshi who was murdered in a racist attack in
1978."
The artist and blacksmith was Mr David
Petersen. The arch is made from wrought iron and steel and stands 6.3m (20 feet)
high.