Black History in Croydon  

In October every year the UK marks Black History month which is a celebration of the history, achievements and contributions of Black people in the UK.
It was first launched in London in the 1980s, to inspire the local community to challenge racism and educate themselves and others about
the British history that was not being taught in schools.

Samuel Coleridge Taylor

Samuel Coleridge Taylor the English composer and conductor lived in Croydon for the majority of his younger years before returning with his wife and children. He was the first black person to be accepted into the Royal College of Music as a violin student at 15 years of age. Samuel was also the first black person to be the recipient of a Blue Plaque which you can still see on his house in Dagnal Park, South Norwood.

Did You know?

After Samuel Coleridge Taylor died at the young age of 37, King George V granted his wife Jessie an annual pension. This was evidence that the composer was held in high regards.

Daughter’s Words

You can listen to his daughter Avril, talk about her Father in this Oral History clip…

‘Stormzy’, A.K.A. Michael Ebenezer Kwadjo Omari Oquo Jr.

Stormzy is a British rapper, singer and songwriter from South Norwood in the borough of Croydon. He found his fame through his freestyle rap videos on YouTube. He was the first UK Grime artist to take the reigns as headliner on the ‘Pyramid Stage’ for the UK’s biggest music festival, Glastonbury in 2019.
In 2020, following the death of George Floyd and the worldwide protests that followed, Stormzy announced that he would donate £10 million to “organisations, charities and movements that are committed to fighting racial inequality, justice reform and black empowerment within the UK.”

Did you know?
Stormzy wore a customised stab-proof vest when he graced Glastonbury’s stage in 2019. It was designed by the artist Banksy and was later on sale in Banksy’s pop-up shop that appeared overnight in the centre of Croydon. The vest was worn as a comment on the knife-crime crisis in the UK and racial inequality in the criminal justice system.

Stormzy in the Museum

In 2019 the Museum of Croydon was a temporary home to a portrait of Stormzy and his mother Abigail, by photographer Olivia Rose as part of the National Portrait Gallery Coming Home project. The Museum of Croydon teamed up with local artist and Stormzy fan Pins, who created an installation mimicking a front room feel to surround the portrait.

Seretse Khama was the head of a ruling family in Bechuanaland, now Botswana, and heir to the kingship of the Bangwato people. While studying in Britain in the late 1940s, he met and married Londoner Ruth Williams. This inter-racial marriage was controversial. In 1950, the British government, under pressure from South Africa, exiled the Khamas from Botswana.

Seretse, Ruth and their children, Jacqueline and Ian were forced to leave Botswana for exile in Britain for six years. They eventually settled in Addiscombe, Croydon. The Khamas were allowed back to Botswana in 1956.

10 years later, Seretse Khama became the founding President of Botswana after the country gained it’s independence from British rule in 1966.  Seretse died on 13 July 1980  and Ruth died on 22 May 2002

Did you know?
The 2016 motion picture, A United Kingdom is based on the controversial romance between Seretse Khama and his wife Ruth Williams which put his kingdom into political and diplomatic turmoil.

The British West Indies Regiment and the Vignale brothers

Every ten years, a special document called a census is created which records where people live and work. We know thanks to the 1911 census that two brothers called Ralph and Otho Vignale were living in Amberly Grove, Croydon in 1911. They were from Trinidad.  

They both joined regiments of the army during the First World War. In July 1915 Ralph joined the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment and his brother Otho joined the Royal Artillery later in 1916. 

Both men survived the First World War. Records tell us that during the war Ralph was sent to fight on the Western Front in 1917 and later re-enlisted with the British West Indies Regiment.  

Initially Britain’s war office had opposed recruitment of West Indian troops during the First World War, but later they agreed to accept volunteers from the West Indies. A new regiment was formed after 1915 which served in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Did you know?

The world renowned performer, World War II spy, and activist Josephine Baker made a flying visit to Croydon airport in 1928. Find out about her visit here!

Windrush

After the Second World War, the British government asked people from other countries in the Commonwealth for help to re-build Britain and fill up important jobs, like nursing and factory work. In 1948, around 500 people from the Caribbean took a ship across the Atlantic Ocean with their families to live in Britain. The first ship to arrive in Britain was called the Empire Windrush.

Windrush Day takes place on the 22nd June, the day when the boat arrived at Tilbury Docks in Essex in 1948. 

The Museum of Croydon was proud to share some of their amazing stories to celebrate the contribution of the Windrush generation and their descendants in the 2019 exhibition.

You can find out more about the amazing women in Croydon from the Windrush generation in our Windrush Day Celebration Page.

Sislin Fay Allen

Sislin Fay Allen was Britain’s first black female police officer. She served in the Metropolitan Police from 1968-72 at Fell Road Police station, which was just around the corner from the Museum. 

Sislin first trained and worked as a nurse at Croydon’s Queen’s hospital in Croydon before she trained to be a police officer. 

Sislin talks about her experiences working in Croydon:  
"On the selection day there were so many people there, the hall was filled with young men. There were ten women and I was the only black person. I can remember one friend said,  'Oh they wouldn't accept you, they don't accept black people in the force,' and so I said, 'Well my dear, I've got news for you,' and I showed her the letter."

Find out more about Sislin and other women from the windrush generation in our Windrush Day Celebration Page.

Did you know?

It was thought that Norwell Roberts was the UK’s very first black police officer in the 1960’s. However, it has been discovered that the first was actually employed much earlier, in 1835. Find out more about John Kent here! 

We welcome any feedback you have for our new digital learning offer! Let us know what you enjoy and tell us of any accessibility needs, ideas or concerns you have by emailing us at museum@croydon.gov.uk

Be sure to check out Croydon Libraries selection of popular BAME authors