Black Histories Walk in North Acton and Old Park Royal

Join us for this special walking event celebrating past and present people of the Black heritage, and hearing their stories. We will walk in the part of North Acton now referred to as Old Park Royal, the home of the Park Royal Design District in the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Area (OPDC).

The project is made possible owing to collaboration with GOSaD (Golden Opportunities for Skills and Development).( It is the first of our two Black History Month 2025 walks, the second being of West Ealing on October 28th.)

First, after meeting and an introduction at North Acton Station, we will walk through Acton Cemetery where a number of quite important people are buried including Sir Samuel Lewis, son of freed slaves taken back to West Africa. He subsequently became first Mayor of Freetown and was knighted by Queen Victoria. Maybe we will be joined by his descendants, like we have been before?

Then we will 'delve' into the Old Park Royal area which for most of the 1900s was one of the biggest industrial areas in Southern England. There are still many food, garages and other businesses here, but a number of the old warehouses and factories have been converted into studios housing an exciting range of artists, makers and creatives, many of them of Black heritage. Let's hear their stories!

Our main picture features Martin of Martin's Lighting, whom we visited at his studio in Standard Road and recently met during the London Design Festival in Park Royal Design District. In the next pictures, you can see us gathered around the grave of Sir Samuel Lewis , Fashtag Clothing, Cynthia Grafton - Holt at her studio Cynthia Grafton-Holt Couture , and Carlene Bender telling us about the CACE - The Caribbean and African Collective in Ealing on our 2024 Black History Month walk.

Talking and Exploring celebrates the wonderful diversity of London putting in the limelight different groups, areas and causes, especially in the Borough of Ealing where we are based.

A few more things:

Our walks are as much about sharing what we know and making new friends as they are about learning about the places we see, topics we explore, and from the people we visit.

Like after most of our walks, you can stay on at a local cafe/restaurant to have an optional chill and chat.

Pictures are taken during our walks and some of the walk may be recorded so please let us know if you do not want to be included.

You take part in our events at your own risk although we take all the precautions to assess the route prior to the walks.

As it is a walking tour, please make sure you wear suitable footwear and clothing, and be especially careful on this route as there are some uneven surfaces.

If you can no longer attend, please cancel your ticket or notify us so we could offer your place to someone else.

Please email us if you have any questions regarding the walk and check your mailbox before the walk.

You can find Talking and Exploring on social media: website, Facebook, Instagram, Google and join our fanpage to see and share pictures, posts and comments or reviews.

Feel welcome to contact us to arrange a bespoke tour for your group or to sponsor a walk arranged and led by us.

We look forward to seeing you!