Black History: Clapham Shelter receives Windrush Migrants
The Windrush migrants are iconic as marking the start, 75 years ago, of the post-war Afro-Caribbean immigration. As a contribution to local Black History, this article highlights the role of Clapham South Underground shelter in receiving some of them as a staging post to their new lives.
The newcomers quickly contributed to the local economy. Amongst other things, it was the start of Brixton’s connection with black culture,
Background to the Clapham South Underground Shelter
The Underground shelter was built as a response to the Blitz. It is a deep-level shelter with over a mile of subterranean passageways. It was completed in 1942, along with seven other deep-level shelters in London. It was initially used by government but opened to the public in July 1944.
Temporary accommodation for the Windrush passengers
In 1948, it was used to house 236 of the first immigrants from the West Indies who had arrived on HMT Empire Windrush. The use of the tunnel was proposed by what was then known as the Colonial Office. Most people on the boat had sorted out their accommodation before disembarking but for those that hadn’t, this was the proposal. The records suggest that only men stayed in the tunnel.
The tunnels had been converted so they now were furnished with bunk beds and washing facilities. They were pretty uncomfortable though, with no natural light and trains rattling overhead. And the migrants who had been invited to come to the UK were charged for the accommodation, they were offered a bed and food for six shillings and sixpence a week. Those who were unable to pay for their meals were issued with meal tickets and a hole was punched through the appropriate square for every meal.
A report from the Daily Express at that time says "All of them sat down to their first meal on English soil: roast beef, potatoes, vegetables, Yorkshire pudding, suet pudding with currants and custard" so it doesn’t seem like anyone at that time thought about culturally appropriate food.
The Colonial Office provided welfare support and the records suggest the different sources suggest that many went on to work in transport but also a variety of jobs including 2 working as musicians in Brighton.
The nearest labour exchange was Brixton so many went on to live there, beginning the area’s connection with Carribbean culture.
We can imagine how dark it must have seemed to be living in a tunnel after the sunshine in Jamaica but it seems the people arriving were very resourceful and were on their way within 3 weeks,all but 17 had found a job.
Sources for the article
You can book a visit to the tunnels: London Transport Museum (ltmuseum.co.uk)
You can find out more about the story at Going underground: The Windrush arrivals' subterranean dormitories - BBC News
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