The Sierra Leone settlement, 1787

1. The Sierra Leone settlement, 1787 In 1786 Equiano was appointed by the government as a Commissioner in a scheme to resettle poor black people from London in West Africa. The scheme attracted much controversy and Equiano resigned before the expedition set sail in April 1787. It was a disaster. Freetown was founded in a second settlement on the same site in 1792. (Westminster City Archives)

2. Baptism of Mercy Adams, Richard Bird and Joseph Prince, St Margaret's, Westminster, 1762 Thousands of black people came to Britain during the 18th century from Africa, Asia, America and the Caribbean. Many wanted to be baptised because they believed this would make them free. Baptism registers often give people's ages and where they came from. (Westminster City Archives)

3. Execution of the Cato Street Conspirators, 1820 Abolitionists like Equiano inspired other members of the black community to become involved in the wider struggle for human rights. William Davidson was one of five men executed for his part in one of the most audacious political plots in Britain's history - to remove the entire cabinet and declare a People's Parliament.

4. Detail from the execution at Newgate, showing William Davidson, 1820 Born in Jamaica, and educated in Edinburgh before coming to London, Davidson can be identified here by his black face beneath the blindfold. The execution attracted a huge crowd, most of whom regarded the reformers as heroes. A public subscription raised money to provide for Davidson's wife and children, who lived in Marylebone. (Westminster City Archives)

5. Westminster Pit, 1821 Duck Lane, off Old Pye Street, Westminster (now renamed St Matthew's Street) was notorious in Victorian times. The watchman at the door suggests that the dog fight in progress here is not strictly legal. The crowd reflects the multi-ethnic nature of the community at this time. (Westminster City Archive)

6. (Westminster City Archives) Baptism of Samuel Ram-sami, Horseferry Road, 1861 Ram-sami may have arrived in London as a seaman. Lascars, or East Indian seamen, were often left unprovided for once their ship docked in London. 8 died of cold and hunger on London's streets in the winter of 1856-7. The Vicar of St Stephen's, Rochester Row, probably came across this family when visiting door to door, and may have baptised them on the spot.

7. RungoBapogee and the Marylebone Reformers, 1847 On 1 December 1847 a banquet was held in Marylebone. Among guests of honour was an Indian, RungoBapojee, who made the perilous journey by sea to London in 1839 (knowing no English) to fight for justice for the Maharajah of Satara. He lived at 9 Blandford Place, Marylebone for 13 years, looked after by two servants. He worked very hard to win support, and this image suggests that the Marylebone reformers may have been sympathetic to his cause. His status is evident from the convention used by the artist of picturing the most important people facing outwards, while other guests are turned towards them. (Westminster City Archives)

8. Detail from the Piccadilly Nuisance, 1818 The man seen here looks happy and prosperous, a reminder that black people were part of the community at every level of society. Many black people in London in the 18th century built up their own businesses and had their own clubs, many of which centred around music. (Westminster City Archives)

9. The Piccadilly Nuisance, 1818 By 1800 there were an estimated 15,000 black people living in London, making up about 10% of the population. Black faces can be seen in many prints and drawings because they were part of the contemporary scene, like this cartoon protesting about traffic conditions! (Westminster City Archives)

10. Morgan Smith, Marylebone Theatre, 1868 This is part of a playbill advertising the appearance of a celebrated black actor on 26 May. He was to play 'Gambia', in a romantic play set in Surinam. The theatre was in Church Street, and it was a benefit performance for Miss Nellie McEwen, an actress who lived at 11 Cosway Street, and may herself have been of African descent. (Westminster City Archives)

11. Catherine Bengal, 1746 The East India Company set up its first trading post in Bengal in 1633. Many British men and their wives went out to India hoping to make their fortune, and brought Indian girls with them on their return, often as 'ayahs' to look after the children. Catherine was 9 when she arrived in London. Now she is 14 and telling her story to the magistrate. (Westminster City Archives)

12. (Westminster City Archives) Baptism of Nicholas, age 3, St Margaret's Westminster, 1619/20 Nicholas is the first black child known to have been living in London. How did he come to London? Why are his parents unknown? Where are they? In the eighteenth century such baptisms became more frequent, although not usually of such young children.

13. Westminster Tournament, 1511 This is the earliest known image of a person of African descent living in London. 'John Blanc' first appears in the records in 1507 as a musician at the court of Henry VII paid 8d a day. He is seen here at a tournament to celebrate the birth of a son to King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. (reproduced with permission from the College of Arms) (Westminster City Archives)

14. Burial of Margaret, a Moor, St Martin-in-the-Fields, 1571 Parish registers are one of the best sources for tracing black people in London. This burial entry is the earliest known reference to a black woman living in Westminster. (Westminster City Archives)