Welcome to the oldest Black British history website.
Discover the people, stories and events that have shaped Black British history, from Roman times to the present day.
The Black Presence in Britain website brings together an extensive archive about African and Caribbean people in Britain. Choose a topic below to start exploring.
The First Settlers
Who were the first Black people in Britain? Discover when they arrived and why.
Slave Trade
Explore the transatlantic slave trade and its impact on Britain’s Black population.
Black Tudors
Discover the lives of Black people in Tudor Britain and the records that tell their stories.
Caribbean Migrants
Learn about the Windrush generation and the contributions of Caribbean migrants to British society.
African Migrants
Explore migration from African countries and its influence on Black communities in Britain.
Mixed Heritage
Explore the history and experiences of people of mixed heritage in Britain.
Politics
Discover Black people’s contributions to politics, from local councils to national government.
Armed Forces
Learn about African and Caribbean service in the British Armed Forces, from before the First World War to today.
Sports
Discover the Black and mixed-race sportspeople who have helped shape British sport.
The Arts
Explore the work of Black British singers, actors, musicians, poets and other artists.
African Americans
Learn about African Americans who have lived, worked and made an impact in Britain.
Diaspora
Explore more stories and perspectives from across the African diaspora.
Why Black British history?
My interest in Black British history began in the 1990s, whilst studying at university. A history module sparked my curiosity and changed my life. I created the Black Presence in Britain website to share what I discovered with you.
Britain’s Black history reaches back to Roman times.
Black British history has often remained in the background, contributing to the misconception that Black people only arrived in Britain in the latter half of the 20th century. This website brings together stories and evidence that help readers explore a much longer history.
Learn about Black British history
Explore accounts of Black Romans in London, York and along Hadrian’s Wall, as well as accounts of Black captives of the Vikings.
Records also reveal Africans living in Tudor England. One of the best known, John Blanke, worked as a trumpeter for King Henry VIII. Historian and author Miranda Kaufman’s research has helped bring the lives of Africans in Tudor Britain to wider attention.
Warriors, servants and enslaved people
From the 1500s, Africans arrived in Britain through a range of routes, including Spain and Portugal. Their stories form part of the wider history of migration, trade and the transatlantic slave trade.
The lives of Africans in early Britain were varied. Alongside the experiences of enslaved people, records describe free people working as traders, emissaries, interpreters, soldiers, sailors, divers, musicians and servants.
Legal records also shed light on slavery and struggles for freedom. The Somerset case and the Yorke–Talbot opinion are among the subjects explored on this website.
Discover the Black Loyalists who fought for Britain during the American War of Independence. Parish records, particularly in London, Liverpool and Bristol, also document Black lives through records of births, deaths and marriages.
Africans appear in historical artworks too, from portraits of the aristocracy to Hogarth’s etchings.
Multi-ethnic Britain in the 20th and 21st centuries
Black people are part of Britain’s history. Many of their stories have received too little attention, and this archive offers a place to begin exploring them.
If you enjoy learning about history, I hope you will enjoy this website. Share the articles, join the conversation through comments and social media, or link to the archive from your own website.