horses

By Freda Matthews

Important Historical Dates

The Gypsies in England

Early Years

Around 1000

Romany people reach the area of modern Turkey and Greece.

1322

Simeon Simeonis, a visiting monk, writes an account of Gypsies in Crete and living in "oblong tents, black and low like the Arahs" and in caves.

1505

First record of Gypsies in Britain.

1530

First law expelling Gypsies from England.

1554

First law making being an immigrant Gypsy in England a crime punishable by death.

Gypsies in Switzerland

Illustration from a book published in 1552 of Gypsies in Switzerland

1596

106 men and women condemned to death at York just for being Gypsies, but only 9 are executed. The others prove they were born in England.

1650's

Last known execution for being Gypsies, in Suffolk. Others are transported to America.

18th Century

Dutch government follows policy of getting rid of Gypsies. Some Gypsies tried to charter ships to escape to America. They were chased by Rotterdam port authorities who forced them to jump overboard.

1700

Map

The map above shows the main routes of the Gypsies out of India up to about 1700. The greatest numbers stayed in Eastern Europe and were called Rom. In Northern and Western Europe many were called Romanichals. In Spain and southern France were the Cale. These names included many smaller groups. Non-Gypsies called them different names e,g. 'Gypsies' in England, 'Gitanos' in Spain. from' Gypsies' by T Acton 1981.

1750's

By selling themselves as slave labour a few reached Pennsylvania. They escaped and formed a community known as the Chi-keners or "Black Dutch" and are still to be found in America today.

1768 - 1782

Maria Theresa and Joseph II try to force Gypsies to settle with several government decrees.

1782

Census in Hungary of Gypsies. Of 43,787 Gypsies counted 1,582 were musicians.

Gypsy Fiddler 18th Century Gypsy Fiddler from Galanta

 

The 19th Century

1816

John Hoyland, a Quaker, writes the first serious book calling for better treatment for Gypsies in England. Several charitable projects follow; but many Gypsies are transported as criminals to Australia.

1830's

First wooden horse-drawn caravans developed.

Gypsy Band 1840 Hungary. Rural Gypsy band.

1880's

Agricultural depression brings poverty to many Gypsies, who move to squatter areas near towns.

1885-95

Unsuccessful attempts to introduce Moveable Dwellings bills in Parliament to regulate Gypsy life.

1889

The Showmen's Guild formed to oppose Moveable Dwellings Bills: Showmen begin to become a distinct group from other Travellers or Gypsies.

Children Musicians End of 19th Century. Gypsy children musicians in Gyor.

 

The 20th Century

1908

Children's Act: Education made compulsory for Travelling Gypsy children, but only for half the year. This was continued in the 1944 Education Act, but many Gypsy children still have no schooling.

Kalderash Gypsies Kalderash Gypsies from Poland on arrival in England 1913 (from "The Gypsies in Poland" Ficowski).

1939-45

Second World War. Up to 500,000 Gypsies killed in Europe; Nazis draw up lists of English Gypsies for internment. British government creates caravan sites for families of Gypsies in the army or doing farm labour. These sites are closed after the war.

1945-60

Gypsies begin to use motor-drawn trailers, and buy land for their own stopping-places.

1960

Caravan Sites (Control and Development) Act stops new private sites being built until 1972. Eviction and harassment of Gypsies starts to reach a crisis.

Gypsy Orchestra 1961 Budapest. Dining with Gypsy Orchestra.

1966

Growing eviction and harassment leads to formation of Gypsy Council to fight for sites.

1967

First Gypsy Council summer school, in Essex. National Gypsy Education Council follows in 1970 (renamed Gypsy Council for Education, Culture, Welfare and Civil Rights in l991).

1968

Caravan Sites Act insists that from 1970, local authorities should provide caravan sites for Gypsies. This Act is never fully enforced.

1971

First World Romany Congress held in London.

1972

Government begins to exempt some councils from building sites. The Gypsy Council begins to split. Government starts to give grants only to Gypsy organizations who co-operate with it.

1978

Second World Romany Congress in Switzerland, founds International Romani Union - accepted as representing Gypsies by the United Nations in 1979.

1989

22 May: European Union starts five-year programme for the education of Gypsy children.

1994

Criminal Justice Act abolishes Caravan Sites Act leaving about 5,000 families with no legal home. British Gypsies look to Europe for protection.

Local history

Gypsies in Leeds and Yorkshire

WritingLeeds and Yorkshire has a history rich with the presence of Traveller and Gypsies.

In fact the first recorded mention of Gypsies was in 1572.

More

 

Also read about

Gypsies in Leeds and Yorkshire

WritingLeeds and Yorkshire has a history rich with the presence of Traveller and Gypsies. In fact the first recorded mention of Gypsies was in 1572.

More

 

Top of page    Mail page    Print page