Today, children reflected on their own understanding of black British history by thinking about their initial views of the arrival of black people in Britain.
After an initial reflection and discussion, children learnt about a range of significant figures that challenged their initial views:
1. The Beachy Head Woman was the name given to the remains of a woman discovered near Beachy Head, East Sussex, England, in 1953. She lived around 1,800 years ago, during the Roman period in Britain (3rd or 4th century AD) and is believed to have been of Sub-Saharan African descent.
This discovery highlights that people from diverse backgrounds lived in Britain much earlier than previously thought. Her story has helped broaden our understanding of migration and diversity in ancient Britain.
2. John Blanke was a Black musician, specifically a trumpeter, who served in the courts of both Henry VII and Henry VIII in early 16th-century England. He is one of the earliest documented Black people in Tudor England and an exceptional figure portrayed in the 1511 Westminster Tournament Roll. He played at major royal events, including the 1511 tournament held to celebrate the birth of Henry VIII's son.
John Blanke’s presence provides a glimpse into the multicultural aspects of Tudor society.
3. Jacques Francis was a skilled African diver in the 16th century, known for his work recovering valuable cargo from shipwrecks in Tudor England. He was originally from Guinea in West Africa, and he gained recognition in Europe for his expertise in underwater salvage operations. Jacques Francis led a team tasked with recovering guns and other valuables from the wreck of the Mary Rose which was Henry VIII’s warship that sank in 1545 near Portsmouth.
He also became the first recorded Black person to give testimony in an English court.
Can you research another black significant figure from British history who may have had their story lost over time?
