Black History In Spelthorne

For centuries, people moved to Spelthorne from all over the world. Some would be merchants, others economic migrants, some slaves. However they arrived, black people stayed here and became part of the Borough's amazing diversity.

The Spelthorne Museum notes the below two points in history:

In the 18th Century there was a pub at the edge of Market Square Staines called the Black Boy. It was demolished in the 19th Century but the name for the adjacent path Black Boy Lane still exists.

In 1934 a film called Sanders of the River was made at Shepperton with the River Ash being used as a substitute for Nigeria. One of the extras was Jomo Kenyatta, who was studying in London at the time and who was later instrumental in Kenya becoming independent, serving as President between 1964 and 1978.

If you have further documents or artefacts you would be willing to share with the community through this webpage, please contact communications.marketing@spelthorne.gov.uk.

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