Nelson: Inside Muslim-majority northern town “Britain’s valley of strangers”

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In the once-thriving Lancashire mill town of Nelson, change has been constant, but integration has not always kept pace. Today, many locals describe their home as “Britain’s valley of strangers,” where linguistic and cultural divides have grown deeper over the years, and where communication—literally—often stops at the language barrier.

 

 

Tariq Hussain, who has lived in Nelson for over 20 years, typifies this disconnect. A 57-year-old clothing merchant who sells traditional Asian garments, Mr Hussain admits he was unaware of Labour leader Keir Starmer’s recent immigration proposals, saying he has more immediate concerns. “I speak little English even though I have been in this country for quite a long time,” he explained in Punjabi. “I don’t watch the British news because I don’t understand it, so what’s the point?”

 

 

His days are spent catering to Pakistani customers and checking on family in Pakistan, a country grappling with fresh tensions with India. “All my work involves dealing with other Pakistani people and my friends are all Pakistani, so I don’t need to speak English,” he said. “If I do, I get somebody to help me.” He chuckled, “No knowledge without college,” acknowledging that his lack of formal education may have held him back.

 

 

But Mr Hussain is far from an anomaly. According to census data, Pendle Borough Council, which includes Nelson, has the highest rate in the UK of residents who speak little to no English. Nearly 38% of people in the borough whose first language isn’t English fall into that category, with the majority living in Nelson. In some parts of the town, as many as one in five residents struggle with English.

 

 

Zafar Ali, 65, moved to Nelson from Pakistan in 1968 and spent his life working in mills and other jobs. Speaking in a thick Lancashire accent, he lamented, “A lot of the new arrivals from Pakistan and other countries don’t make much effort to learn and speak English, but it wasn’t like that in my day. Of course, speaking English is important. But the immigration system is so messed up that they let anybody in, and no Government is bothered if people integrate or work. It’s all wrong.”

 

 

 

Indeed, many of the town’s institutions have changed dramatically. The local pub culture, once a cornerstone of social life, has all but vanished. Samantha Barrett, 39, who runs the Lord Nelson pub, said business is slow and rarely sees more than a handful of customers. “We are a pub in a Muslim-majority town, so it’s never going to be good,” she said. “The town centre is dead, a lot of people who live here don’t speak English, and they certainly don’t like a drink.”

 

 

Nearby, shopfronts cater to a predominantly Asian customer base, with bustling bazaars filled with vibrant fabrics and traditional food outlets. In stark contrast, the town’s main shopping centre is slated for demolition, a symbol of broader economic decline.

 

 

For Azhar, a mosque official and community organiser, the English language issue is nuanced. “A lot of our women don’t speak English because they don’t go out to work,” he explained. “In recent years, we’ve had a lot of Pakistanis from European countries settling in Nelson because they feel more comfortable here. They might not speak English but they’re fluent in Italian or Spanish. We’ve also had a lot of asylum seekers settling in Nelson and people from Eastern Europe.”

 

One such asylum seeker is Umid Ehsani, an Afghan hoping to become a professional boxer. He clutches an English language study book and relies on a friend to interpret. “One day I want to be fluent in English,” he said through his interpreter. “But at the moment I can’t speak with anybody apart from my fellow Afghans.”

 

Even long-time residents have noticed the growing gap. Basharat Ahmed, 72, reflected on the changing character of his town. “Nelson is a great place, but it’s definitely become more divided over the years and a lot of that is because of the new arrivals who have trouble speaking English,” he said.

 

Yet there are glimmers of hope. Baligha Sahfi, 24, arrived from Pakistan in 2023 after marrying a British-Pakistani man. “Before I came, I did a course in English and am now trying my best to improve because this is now my country,” she said. “I love Nelson and living in England, especially the food. I like fish and chips and cheese and onion pies.”

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Daily Mail  2025-05-19

 

 

[coolcarer]

Perhaps a whirlwind visit to sample a local balti then out quick again….

[Chomper Higgot]

8 minutes ago, coolcarer said:

Perhaps a whirlwind visit to sample a local balti then out quick again….

The would be Sparkbrook, for the real thing.