Findings in Tower Hamlets archives shed light on resistance to enslavement likened to Underground Railroad in US

The untold stories of Black Londoners who escaped slavery in the capital and joined free communities in the East End have been uncovered by researchers who draw comparisons with the Underground Railroad in the US.

Findings from Tower Hamlets archives dating back to the 16th century and “runaway notices” from 18th-century newspapers shed new light on historic Black communities – and grassroots resistance to slavery in the capital.