Journeys to Hope: archives of the Windrush generation
Between 1948 and 1971, hundreds of people from Commonwealth countries in the Caribbean came to the UK on HMT Empire Windrush to address post-war labour shortages. They, along with their descendants, are often referred to as the Windrush generation.
Autograph is sharing the portfolio of 37 photographs from the Topfoto archives, some of which are on display for the first time. The images show the journeys of people before, onboard and after arriving in the UK 75 years after the first ship docked. The free outdoor display is on until September 2023, accompanied by a permanent online gallery.
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Hundreds of people from the Caribbean came to the UK to address post-war labour shortages, some disembarking from the liner Begona at Southampton in 1962
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People who arrived in the UK, and their descendants, are referred to as the Windrush generation
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From 1948 to 1971, thousands of people arrived in the UK, sometimes with their children in the hope of starting a new life
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Terence, three, and Maureen, four, with their mother Eileen Johnson, 24, onboard the HMT Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks
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Some of the thousands arriving into Southampton in 1954
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Many people arrived wearing light clothing after coming to the UK to live and work
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A woman and child arrive in Southampton docks from the Spanish passenger vessel Montserrat in October 1961
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More than 200 Jamaicans from the West Indies arrived on the Spanish liner Montserrat, including this young girl in November 1961
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Wearing a towel to keep his shoulders dry from the rain, this child steps ashore at Southampton docks
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Men disembark the Empire Windrush, Port of Tilbury, on 22 June 1948
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A RAF recruiting officer speaks to a group of men about joining the airforce as they prepare to disembark at the Port of Tilbury on 22 June 1948
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People found root in London at Brixton, Paddington, Camden Town and Stepney, and in Birmingham, Liverpool and Sheffield. The picture shows a divorcee riding to London with his sister and nine-year-old son Michael on 1 May 1954
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People discuss their work and qualifications at the Labour exchange, almost 40 metres underground at the Clapham South air raid shelter.
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The shelter was used to house Caribbean migrants including passengers arriving on the Empire Windrush in 1948. Many eventually settled in nearby Brixton, the site of the nearest labour exchange
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Men queuing at Clapham South shelter and employment exchange in London on 23 June 1948
