Lewisham Heritage

Call Website

Lewisham Heritage Lewisham Heritage is the official archive for the London Borough of Lewisham. Lewisham Heritage is part of Lewisham Council and its library service.

Lewisham Heritage (formerly the Lewisham Local History & Archives) is the place to find out about Lewisham's History.

The focus for Black History Month 2026 is honouring our communities. This 1988 film Step Forward - produced by Albany Vi...
16/10/2026

The focus for Black History Month 2026 is honouring our communities. This 1988 film Step Forward - produced by Albany Video, directed by Carol Jacobs, and available to view for free in full via London Screen Archives - includes discussion with many members of the underground Black British music communities of Lewisham who were active in the late 1980s.

During the film, Lewisham People’s Day veteran Harare Dread explains how roots reggae is intrinsically underground, and how its political nature was not favoured by record companies at the time. “It’s not for the charts, it’s for the people,” he says.

Author and music writer Paul Gilroy also talks about the importance of non-commercialised music and culture in the Black British community, stating, "Pirate radio is about letting a whole culture speak for itself on its own terms."

The film includes clips of live broadcasts from pirate radio station Rock 2 Rock, which broadcast between 1986-1990 from a New Cross high-rise. "The underground status is a part of the music," Gilroy continues. "They’re defending a whole definition of the culture [...], which wants to refine and develop the passion and sensibility of the community itself."

Watch in full at londonscreenarchives.org.uk

Stills from Step Forward (1988):

1) Rock 2 Rock presenters announce a series of talks on the life and times of Marcus Garvey happening in Lewisham in 1988
2) Harare Dread
3) Harare Dread performing live
4) Paul Gilroy
5) The A2 going through South London

Celebrate Black History Month with Lewisham Heritage at our free history talk next Monday evening at Deptford Lounge.Dr ...
09/10/2026

Celebrate Black History Month with Lewisham Heritage at our free history talk next Monday evening at Deptford Lounge.

Dr Aaron Jaffer (Royal Museums Greenwich) guides us through striking visual records which highlight the significant contributions of Black and Asian seafarers who worked aboard British ships from the Tudor period onwards and tell broader histories of colonialism and migration.

Years of curatorial 'detective work', aided by a team of specially recruited volunteers, has been required to find many of these images from within Royal Museums Greenwich’s archives, and they will soon be available in Jaffer’s new book, Black and Asian Seafarers: A Visual History.

Learn about the skilled Krumen of West Africa, Muslim sailors from Bengal (and other ‘lascars’), Hongkongers who served in the Royal Navy, as well as African writer and abolitionist Olaudah Equiano (pictured).

Find out more at:
📍 Deptford Lounge, 9 Giffin Street, SE8 4RJ
🕕 Mon 12 October, 6-7pm
🎟️ Free entry, booking required (see bio)
☕ Refreshments provided.

Images:
1) Frontispiece from Olaudah Equiano’s self-published book ‘The Interesting Narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African’ (London, 1789). National Maritime Museum, London, Michael Graham-Stewart Slavery Collection. Acquired with the assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund

2) Poster including a sketch of an Indian Ocean seafarer ('lascar’) on a passenger liner, 1890s © National Maritime Museum (T5140)

Find out about the many Black and Asian seafarers who worked on board British ships from the Tudor period onwards at our...
22/09/2026

Find out about the many Black and Asian seafarers who worked on board British ships from the Tudor period onwards at our next Lewisham Heritage event.

Dr Aaron Jaffer (Royal Museums Greenwich) brings their stories to life through striking visual records, highlighting their significant contributions, and broader histories of colonialism and migration.

Years of curatorial 'detective work', aided by a team of specially recruited volunteers, has been required to find many of these images from within Royal Museums Greenwich’s archives, and they will soon be available in Jaffer’s new book, Black and Asian Seafarers: A Visual History.

Explore these images, hear about the research behind them, and learn of Lewisham’s own part in these histories.

🎟️ Book your place via the link in the comments

📍 Monday 12 October, 6-7pm. Deptford Lounge, 9 Giffin Street, SE8 4RJ

Images :

1) A Chinese boy photographed on the deck of a Royal Navy ship, 1920s © National Maritime Museum (T5003)

2) Front cover of Black and Asian Seafarers: A Visual history by Dr Aaron Jaffer. Published by Bloomsbury.

On Saturday 19 October, St John's Society presented and celebrated their London Borough of Lewisham Maroon Plaque commem...
21/09/2026

On Saturday 19 October, St John's Society presented and celebrated their London Borough of Lewisham Maroon Plaque commemorating the St John's Rail Crash of 4 December 1957.

The plaque pays tribute to the 90 people who lost their lives in the incident, the many more injured, and the rescue efforts of local services and residents.

Vicky Foxcroft MP unveiled the plaque following a performance from the Deptford Community Choir, speeches from St John's Society member Stephen Penfold, historian Dr Tony Redding (who was written a book on the crash, which will be published in December), and a poetry reading by Cllr Rotimi Skyers. After the plaque's reveal, trumpeter Josie Ashdown gave a short solo performance, drawing the event to a close.

Images:
1) The new Maroon Plaque outside St John's station
2) Deptford Community Choir singing Thina Simunye and Vicky Foxcroft MP unveiling the plaque
3) Cllr Rotimi Skyers (right) and Dr Tony Redding
4) Stephen Penfold
5) Josie Ashdown

Find out about the many Black and Asian seafarers who worked on board British ships from the Tudor period onwards at our...
15/09/2026

Find out about the many Black and Asian seafarers who worked on board British ships from the Tudor period onwards at our next Lewisham Heritage event. Dr Aaron Jaffer (Royal Museums Greenwich) brings their stories to life through striking visual records, highlighting their significant contributions, and broader histories of colonialism and migration.

Meet Black Britons who lived in Georgian London, the skilled Krumen of West Africa, Muslim sailors from Bengal (and other ‘lascars’), and Hongkongers who served in the Royal Navy.

Other important groups covered by this talk will include Asian nannies who looked after the children of colonial families (ayahs and amahs), the Church of England's first Black bishop, a famous Chinese performer ('Chang Woo Gow', allegedly 8ft tall, now buried in Bournemouth), and Indian convicts transported to the Andaman Islands.

All appear in Dr Jaffer's new book Black & Asian Seafarers: A Visual History (2026), published in October.

📍 Monday 12 October, 6-7pm
Deptford Lounge, 9 Giffin Street, SE8 4RJ

🎟️ Free entry, booking required. Book via the link in our bio

☕ Refreshments provided

Images :

1) Poster including a sketch of an Indian Ocean seafarer ('lascar’) on a passenger liner, 1890s © National Maritime Museum (T5140)

2) A portrait believed to be the Black seafarer-turned-performer Billy Waters, about 1815 © National Maritime Museum

3) Frontispiece from Olaudah Equiano’s self-published book ‘The Interesting Narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African’ (London, 1789). National Maritime Museum, London, Michael Graham-Stewart Slavery Collection. Acquired with the assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund.

4) A Chinese boy photographed on the deck of a Royal Navy ship, 1920s © National Maritime Museum (T5003)

Visit Lewisham Heritage at Catford Library today as part of Open House Festival 2026. Browse our ‘Collecting Stories’ di...
12/09/2026

Visit Lewisham Heritage at Catford Library today as part of Open House Festival 2026. Browse our ‘Collecting Stories’ display and join us for a tour of our Reading Room, on the hour, every hour, until 4pm.

1) Millennium photo survey, 2000
2) Exhibition view showing phone and street directories; and the George Holiday collection (A2026/3)
3) Sample of material from the Young Mayors’ Archives (A2024/6)
4) Large photos of Deptford
5) Sample of books form our Local Studies Collection
6) London Borough of Lewisham Council Minutes, 1986-7. Pages show Lewisham’s actions against apartheid in South Africa
7) May Danks Collection (A2022/2)
8) George Holiday collection (A2026/3)
9) Pamphlets from the Local Studies Collection

On this day (7 September) in 1986, Desmond Tutu was ordained as the Archbishop of Cape Town, becoming the first Black le...
07/09/2026

On this day (7 September) in 1986, Desmond Tutu was ordained as the Archbishop of Cape Town, becoming the first Black leader of the Anglican Church in South Africa.

South African social rights activist Desmond Tutu trained as a teacher and was ordained as an Anglican priest in 1960. In 1962 he travelled to the UK to study theology at King's College London. He returned to South Africa again in 1966, and in 1972 travelled back to London, taking up the position of the Theological Education Fund's director for Africa. During this period in London, Tutu was a curate at St Augustine’s Church in Grove Park, Lewisham, living on Chinbrook Road, and he remained connected to the Borough in the years to follow.

In 1975, the Tutu family returned to South Africa; Tutu became Dean of Johannesburg and in due course Bishop of Lesotho, General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches, Bishop of Johannesburg and Archbishop of Cape Town. His outspoken but peaceful calls for social justice and an end to apartheid were very unpopular with the government, and he was arrested several times. He was awarded the Nobel peace prize in 1984.

In 1990, Tutu was awarded Lewisham’s ‘Freedom of the Borough’. The Council paid tribute to his: 'Courageous non-violent struggle against apartheid and the inspiration he has given to oppressed peoples everywhere. Above all we are recognising his human qualities: his courage and enthusiasm, his intellectual vigour and wit, his gentle care and compassion, and his resilience in the face of adversity.'

In 2009, 150 yards away from his former residence in Grove Park, Tutu returned to Lewisham to open the Chinbrook Meadows Peace Garden, designed and created in his honour, to be of educational value and promote social interaction and harmony in the community.

Images:

1) Stills from TV footage of Desmond Tutu opening Lewisham Hospital's Riverside health centre, May 2007
2) Peace Garden, Chinbrook Meadows, 2026

Visit Lewisham Heritage as part of the Open House Festival 2026 programme.While Lewisham Library is being refurbished, o...
21/08/2026

Visit Lewisham Heritage as part of the Open House Festival 2026 programme.

While Lewisham Library is being refurbished, our Heritage Reading Room is currently located at Catford Library on Winslade Way. Drop in on Saturday 12 September to explore a display of material from Lewisham’s Archive Collections in Meeting Room 2 and take a tour of the Heritage Reading Room.

📍 Drop in: Collecting Lewisham's Stories exhibition, Sat 12 September, 10:30am-4pm

📍 Drop in: Heritage Reading Room tours, Sat 12 September, 11am-4pm Hourly on the hour lasting approximately 15-20 minutes. Groups will be limited to six per a tour.

Accessibility notes:
The exhibition is open and has level access. The Heritage Reading Room is only accessible by three flights of stairs and there is no lift.

Address:
23-24 Winslade Way, Catford, London SE6 4JU

See you there!

A lovely evening was had at The Catford House last week, where our audience learnt about the life and work of Lewisham's...
21/08/2026

A lovely evening was had at The Catford House last week, where our audience learnt about the life and work of Lewisham's self-styled 'Angry Young Man', Leslie Paul.

Professor Annebella Pollen's in-depth presentation on Paul described his founding of the Woodcraft Folk movement, showcased his commitment to writing, his exploration of various subjects, and explained how world events and critical thinking led to many unexpected twists and turns throughout his life.

Thanks to Professor Annebella Pollen and The Catford House for the opportunity to highlight Paul's multidimensional life story, shaped here in Lewisham.

Visit Lewisham Heritage as part of the Open House Festival 2026 programme.While Lewisham Library is being refurbished, o...
06/08/2026

Visit Lewisham Heritage as part of the Open House Festival 2026 programme.

While Lewisham Library is being refurbished, our Heritage Reading Room is currently located at Catford Library on Winslade Way. Drop in on Saturday 12 September to explore a display of material from Lewisham’s Archive Collections in Meeting Room 2 and take a tour of the Heritage Reading Room.

📍 Drop in: Collecting Lewisham's Stories exhibition, Sat 12 September, 10:30am-4pm

📍 Drop in: Heritage Reading Room tours, Sat 12 September, 11am-4pm Hourly on the hour lasting approximately 15-20 minutes. Groups will be limited to six per a tour.

Accessibility notes:
The exhibition is open and has level access. The Heritage Reading Room is only accessible by three flights of stairs and there is no lift.

Address:
23-24 Winslade Way, Catford, London SE6 4JU

Images:
1) Open House website
2) Winslade Way, Catford, 2000 © Lewisham Heritage, Lewisham Council
3) Lewisham Heritage Reading Room at Catford Library

Address

London

Telephone

+442083148501

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Lewisham Heritage posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category