London Deep-level Shelters - Changing The Face of London

Changing The Face of London

The Clapham South shelter changed the face of London in 1948. The MV Empire Windrush arrived in Tilbury in 1948 carrying 492 immigrants from Jamaica. London had a severe labour shortage after the war and the Colonial Office sought to recruit a labour force from Jamaica. An advertisement had appeared in Jamaica's Daily Gleaner on 13 April 1948 offering transport to the UK, for a fare of £28.10s (£28.50), for anyone who wanted to come to work in the UK. At that time, there were no immigration restrictions for citizens of one part of the British Empire moving to another part. The Windrush was quickly filled. As there was no accommodation for the new arrivals, the Colonial Office housed them in the deep-level shelter at Clapham South.

The nearest labour exchange to Clapham South was on Coldharbour Lane, Brixton and so the men sought jobs here. Brixton became the focus for West Indian settlement from that point onwards, with successive arrivals making their way to the nascent community in Brixton. The actual time the shelters were occupied by the immigrants from the Caribbean was relatively short, as all of the men found jobs within three weeks. However, the impact of their arrival on the area was dramatic and long-lasting, the origins of the multi-racial community in South London.

In 1998, an area of public open space in Brixton was renamed Windrush Square to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the arrival of the West Indians.