Discover the lives of Black people living in historic Limehouse through parish records documenting baptisms, burials, migration, employment, freedom and connections with Britain’s maritime past.
Presented by Care for St Anne’s in partnership with the Mapping Black London team at Northeastern University London, Black Limehouse Lives explores the Black presence in Limehouse during the 18th and early 19th centuries.
Drawing upon baptism and burial records held by St Anne’s Church, the exhibition uncovers the lives of Black people who lived, worked, worshipped or were laid to rest in the parish between 1730 and 1830.
Among the individuals identified through the records were people employed as servants by ship captains and other Limehouse families.
The exhibition also tells the stories of formerly enslaved people who travelled to Britain from the Caribbean and North America. Some had secured their freedom after supporting the British during the American Revolutionary War and later established new lives on this side of the Atlantic.
Their experiences reveal Limehouse’s longstanding connections with migration, shipping, empire and the movement of people through London’s historic docklands.
The exhibition places these Black lives within the wider history of St Anne’s and the Limehouse parish during the church’s first 100 years.
Visitors can learn about the construction of the church, everyday parish life and the social and economic changes taking place across the area.
In a powerful juxtaposition, the exhibition also examines wealthy and successful people who were buried or memorialised inside the church—including individuals whose fortunes or careers had connections with slavery.
By bringing these histories together, Black Limehouse Lives reveals the different ways that slavery, empire, migration and maritime trade shaped the people and institutions of Limehouse.
The exhibition also explains how the research was undertaken, including the use of parish registers and other historical records to recover lives that have often been overlooked.
Visitors interested in exploring their own family histories will be introduced to research approaches that may help them begin investigating their ancestry.
Care for St Anne’s is the secular charity responsible for supporting restoration projects at the historic church. Admission to the exhibition is free, although donations to the St Anne’s Restoration Fund are warmly welcomed.
Visitors planning to attend during the Christmas or New Year period are advised to check the venue’s website for any seasonal changes to the regular opening hours.
For enquiries, email philipcfsa@gmail.com.
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