Did you know that in the 19th Century, an African Princess got married in St Nicholas Church in Brighton? And do you know that the personal shampooist of George IV was an Indian surgeon who set up the first curry house in England?

Black Brighton and Hove history, which was launched this October at Momma Cherri’s Soul Food restaurant in Brighton, is a brand new web site which helps local people find out about their city’s fascinating but often overlooked black history.

Sarah Forbes Bonetta

Over 100 people attended the launch and watched with interest as they found out how to input their own history onto the web site.

"We want all people (both black and white) to get involved." said project co-ordinator Bert Williams.

" We want kids to send in photos, we want to interview older people so they can tell us what their first day in Brighton was like."

"What do asylum seekers think when they moved to Brighton from another culture? How do people cope with homesickness, loneliness, racism?
We want to hear about their experiences…history is for everyone, and our project is about living history which is happening here and now!"

At the launch

Over the next six months, the group will be visiting various groups and helping the public add their material to the website which will eventually been turned into a booklet which will be distributed in local schools and museums.

For more information about the project or how you can get involved, please visit their website at www.black-history.org.uk.