A major new exhibition celebrates the teachers, nurses and social workers who shaped our borough but never made the history books.
Fulham Stories: Threads of Community displays films, photographs and personal treasures shared by Black residents from across Fulham.
The free exhibition runs until Wednesday 19 November at Fulham Palace's Bishop Terrick rooms.
Each object tells a story – personal treasures that crossed oceans, everyday items that witnessed extraordinary lives and memories that have shaped the borough's cultural fabric.
"As a daughter of the Windrush generation and lifelong H&F resident, this project is incredibly important to me," said H&F Mayor Cllr Sharon Holder.
We want to tell the stories of ordinary people who made extraordinary contributions to their local area, the wider borough and the country. The nurses who kept our hospitals running. The teachers who educated generations. Please help us make their names known and voices heard."
The exhibition launches H&F's 18-month project to uncover Black histories across the borough. After Fulham, the project will move to Hammersmith, then Shepherds Bush.
You asked, we did
H&F celebrates its rich and diverse history year-round through our Black History 365 work, with blue plaques for local trailblazers like Eartha Kitt and Island Records, heritage trails revealing how Shepherds Bush shaped British Black music, and our annual October celebrations to mark Black History Month.
But residents told us they wanted more. When we spoke to local people last year, 94% said promoting our cultural history and heritage matters.
So, we set out to capture the stories that have shaped our borough. We've spent six months speaking to schools and community groups across Fulham, including students at West London College and our new resident-led Black History and Heritage Steering Group.
The result: Visitors of the new Fulham Stories exhibition can now hear oral history recordings of our Black communities as they enter the room. See these stories come to life through film, photography and personal belongings that crossed oceans and decades to make their home in Fulham.
Siân Harrington, CEO of Fulham Palace Trust, said: "We are proud to welcome the Fulham Stories exhibition to Fulham Palace as part of our Black History 365 programme.
These objects, photographs and personal memories give a powerful glimpse into the lives of Black residents who shaped our local area. Hosting this exhibition is part of our commitment to celebrating local voices and ensuring that these everyday heroes are recognised and remembered for generations to come."
Stories that matter, all year round
The exhibition is just the beginning. Here are three ways to get involved in this growing project:
See the exhibition
Visit Fulham Stories: Threads of Community in Bishop's Avenue, SW6, until 19 November. Check the Fulham Palace opening times ahead of your visit to avoid disappointment.
Share your story
We're collecting Black histories from across H&F. Whether it's your journey to the borough, your family's contributions, or memories of Black community life in the 60s, 70s and 80s – we want to hear from you. Email heritage@lbhf.gov.uk.
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