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Black London: History, Art & Culture in Over 120 Places (Old Pond Books) From the Tudor Period to Today, including the Nelson Mandela Statue, Cleopatra's Needle, the Black Lives Matter Mural, and More
Discover the people, places, and landmarks that make London a truly global, modern city!The story of Black history throughout London, with historical richness and symbolism from the Tudor times to the present dayComplete travel guide to the people, places, events, and landmarks in London that have shaped Black historyOver 120 historical sites all over London, detailing the Nelson Mandela Statue, Cleopatra's Needle, the Black Lives Matter mural, and more5 detailed maps with handy markers for each location to visit, breaking London down into easy areas to explore
London is a city justly proud of its cultural diversity, yet for too long the focus has been on mainstream history. Black London is a complete guide that shines a new and much-needed light on the rich Black history of London's inhabitants and beyond!
London is rich with global and local Black history. Look up, slow down, and discover the work of some remarkable individuals who made London a truly global, modern city! From Cleopatra's Needle carved in Egypt 3,500 years ago, which sits on the Victoria Embankment, the Nelson Mandela Statue in Parliament Square, and the Stuart Hall Library in Westminster to the Memorial Gates in Constitution Hill, the Wayne Marques corbel on the London Bridge, the Black Lives Matter mural in Woolwich, Jamaica Wine House in Cornhill, and so much more, this must-have travel guide showcases over 120 historical sites worth visiting and revisiting.
Co-author Avril Nanton is a qualified London tour guide and Black history historian who offers lectures and tours on Black history in the London area, while co-author Jody Burton is a librarian and bibliophile with a particular interest in Black history and art. Inside this 192-page book, they take you on a journey through the Black history of London, one area at a time! You'll find annotated walking maps for Central and East London, West London, North London, South London, and South-East London, each with helpful numbered markers so you can build your own perfect walk through history!
Here are some of the fascinating locations in this book to visit and explore their Black Central and East
Bronze statue of Mary Seacole in the gardens of St Thomas' Hospital
Johnson Beharry portrait at the National Portrait Gallery
Buxton Memorial Fountain in Victoria Tower Gardens
The home of Jimi Hendrix in Mayfair
West
Cetshwayo kaMpande's English Heritage plaque on Melbury Road
Memorial to the Great Exhibition in South Kensington
Notting Hill Carnival
Bust of Haile Selassie I in Cannizaro Park
North
Alexandra Palace Murals featuring Winifred Atwell, Evelyn Dove, and Una Marson
Steel statue of Jazzie B outside Finsbury Park Station
Bust of Marcus Mosiah Garvey in Tottenham
Tombstone of Cynthia Jarrett in Tottenham
South
The Dark and Light Theatre Company (DLT) in Camberwell
Phoenix sculpture at Oliver Goldsmith Primary School
The Peckham Portraits at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts building
Black Cultural Archives (BCA) in Windrush Square, Brixton
South-East
Nelson's Ship in a Bottle by Yinka Shonibare MBE at the Greenwich Maritime Museum
Blue Earth sculpture at The Horniman Museum in Forest Hill
Steel portrait of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor in Croyden
The Stephen Lawrence Gallery and Project SpaceExplore more than 120 historical sites worth visiting and revisiting, and see this familiar city anew, with Black London!
London is a city justly proud of its cultural diversity, yet for too long the focus has been on mainstream history. Black London is a complete guide that shines a new and much-needed light on the rich Black history of London's inhabitants and beyond!
London is rich with global and local Black history. Look up, slow down, and discover the work of some remarkable individuals who made London a truly global, modern city! From Cleopatra's Needle carved in Egypt 3,500 years ago, which sits on the Victoria Embankment, the Nelson Mandela Statue in Parliament Square, and the Stuart Hall Library in Westminster to the Memorial Gates in Constitution Hill, the Wayne Marques corbel on the London Bridge, the Black Lives Matter mural in Woolwich, Jamaica Wine House in Cornhill, and so much more, this must-have travel guide showcases over 120 historical sites worth visiting and revisiting.
Co-author Avril Nanton is a qualified London tour guide and Black history historian who offers lectures and tours on Black history in the London area, while co-author Jody Burton is a librarian and bibliophile with a particular interest in Black history and art. Inside this 192-page book, they take you on a journey through the Black history of London, one area at a time! You'll find annotated walking maps for Central and East London, West London, North London, South London, and South-East London, each with helpful numbered markers so you can build your own perfect walk through history!
Here are some of the fascinating locations in this book to visit and explore their Black Central and East
Bronze statue of Mary Seacole in the gardens of St Thomas' Hospital
Johnson Beharry portrait at the National Portrait Gallery
Buxton Memorial Fountain in Victoria Tower Gardens
The home of Jimi Hendrix in Mayfair
West
Cetshwayo kaMpande's English Heritage plaque on Melbury Road
Memorial to the Great Exhibition in South Kensington
Notting Hill Carnival
Bust of Haile Selassie I in Cannizaro Park
North
Alexandra Palace Murals featuring Winifred Atwell, Evelyn Dove, and Una Marson
Steel statue of Jazzie B outside Finsbury Park Station
Bust of Marcus Mosiah Garvey in Tottenham
Tombstone of Cynthia Jarrett in Tottenham
South
The Dark and Light Theatre Company (DLT) in Camberwell
Phoenix sculpture at Oliver Goldsmith Primary School
The Peckham Portraits at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts building
Black Cultural Archives (BCA) in Windrush Square, Brixton
South-East
Nelson's Ship in a Bottle by Yinka Shonibare MBE at the Greenwich Maritime Museum
Blue Earth sculpture at The Horniman Museum in Forest Hill
Steel portrait of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor in Croyden
The Stephen Lawrence Gallery and Project SpaceExplore more than 120 historical sites worth visiting and revisiting, and see this familiar city anew, with Black London!
192 pages, Paperback
Published July 26, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 26, 2021
Having attended several walks and talks, presentations, and museum tours organized by Avril Nanton, focusing on Britain's Black presence, I was looking forward to reading this book and was not disappointed. Britain's Black history is too often ignored or overlooked, and this work brings some of that to light.
Including detailed descriptions and maps, it is both a history and tour guide, covering various locations in and around the capital associated with many remarkable individuals who in some way have contributed to British society.
It would be great to see this book sold alongside other London tour guides so providing a greater appreciation of Britain's diverse history. Recommended reading.
Including detailed descriptions and maps, it is both a history and tour guide, covering various locations in and around the capital associated with many remarkable individuals who in some way have contributed to British society.
It would be great to see this book sold alongside other London tour guides so providing a greater appreciation of Britain's diverse history. Recommended reading.
May 19, 2024
Extensive and well mapped with a wide range of people, events and time periods represented, some I knew of and some new to me. Can’t wait to do some of the walks now it’s brightening up.
July 3, 2023
If you want to start your journey on black British history, this is a great start point. It highlights places to visit and provides a starting point for research. If you want to know why Black history is British history this is a good starter
September 17, 2023
Read this all in one sitting, what an amazing piece of work. Really would recommend this if you’re interested in black culture and influence and black history in London & Britain. Really informative and also at the same time incredibly thought provoking. There needs to be more books like this!
July 7, 2025
A great guide to all the monuments that represent black legacy in LDN from the Tudors to Now.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews