The diversity of European migrants, 1750-1900 - OCR BItalian and German migrants

While some Italian immigrants were wealthy, the majority were from poor families living in the villages of southern Italy. Extreme poverty and civil war had affected their homeland so badly that thousands migrated to Britain.

On arrival they settled in many large cities such as Manchester where the men might be employed in road building or whole families could work in the textile mills. Here and in other cities, such as Glasgow and London’s ‘Little Italy’, Italians also started up businesses in a new street food - ice cream. Some family businesses did extremely well. For these people, Britain’s booming industrial economy offered the hope of jobs and survival.

There were also many German immigrants in the 19th century. A very different group of immigrants were the young entrepreneurs who came to study and work. Unlike many countries in 19th century Europe, Britain was at peace and its economy favoured new ideas and enterprise. Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert was German and close ties between the countries encouraged many Germans to come as students and stay as engineers, designers and businessmen.

Some Germans also sold food. Many bakeries were German-run and the ‘full English’ breakfast was in fact a German import.

Although Italian, German and other European immigrants did experience some hostility, this was far less than that experienced by the Irish or the Lascars.