We’ve launched a new heritage trail in Nottingham exploring places of national significance to Caribbean history and heritage – to celebrate national Windrush Day on 22 June.
Designed for both residents and visitors to Nottingham, the 60-minute ‘From Midland Station to the Meadows’ heritage trail has been created by us and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The heritage trail starts at Nottingham Train Station (also known as Nottingham Midland) and includes seven stop points of interest around The Meadows – inviting people to follow in the footsteps of the Windrush Generation on a journey of discovery through the city suburb where many Caribbeans made their home.
Nottingham was one of the original destinations for the Windrush Generation and many people settled in the city from countries including St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua, Trinidad and Jamaica. Work on offer included jobs in Nottingham’s factories and mines, but many Caribbeans also chose to work for the railways.
Catherine Ross, our Founder and Director, emigrated to the UK from the Caribbean island of St Kitts with her parents and sister in 1958 and the family lived in The Meadows.
Catherine explained:
“The Caribbeans who came to Nottingham added to the culture, creativity and entrepreneurship of the city and beyond. For example, the UK’s first Caribbean Carnival started here. They also impacted Britain’s political and social development – with Caribbean protests in Nottingham paving the way for the landmark Race Relations Act 1968, which made it illegal to refuse housing, employment, or public services on the basis of ethnicity or nationality.
“With the help of the Caribbean community in The Meadows – or “The Medders” as many locals have always pronounced it – we’ve created this unique heritage trail as a “moving” exhibition to help residents and visitors explore the extraordinary national and local history made in Nottingham and the fascinating stories of the Windrush Generation as they settled into life in The Meadows throughout the post-war era and beyond.
“Each stopping-off point explores an interesting person, place or event that has made a significant contribution to our shared Caribbean and British history, including those that are now part of Nottingham folklore.”
The heritage trail’s stop points include The Midland Railway Station, The Grove Inn (now The Vat & Fiddle), Welbeck Infant and Junior School (now Welbeck Primary School), WJ Furse & Co Ltd, Bridgeway Hall Methodist Church (now Bridgeway Hall Mission), Queens Walk Community Centre and The Carnival at Trent Bridge.
The heritage trail is available as
a self-guided walk:
View the map
Buy the trail guide
We are also planning some guided tours of the trail so watch this space for more. Both the self-guided walk and guided tour are fully-accessible and suitable for groups and individuals of all ages.