Black gardeners in West London

Black gardeners in West London: the life and times of Tobias Eccho & Marina Dellap

Step into the world of eighteenth-century West London, where market gardens, orchards and plant nurseries once filled the landscape. In this fascinating talk, researcher Nadege Forde-Vidal brings to light the lives of two remarkable Black gardeners, Tobias Eccho and Marina Dellap, whose stories have long been hidden in the archives.

Through careful research, Nadege uncovers the skills, knowledge and influence these individuals brought to both formal and domestic gardens across London. Discover how their work shaped the horticultural life of the city, and what their stories reveal about the broader Black presence in Georgian London.

‘The London of Johnson, Reynolds, Hogarth and Pope – that elegant, feisty, intellectual and earthy place of neoclassicism and city chaos occupied by a parallel world of Africans, and their descendants, working and living alongside the English.’ – Gretchen Gerzina, Black London 1995

This talk is part of the Fulham Palace Black History 365 event series where we re-examine historical narratives and bring to the forefront the voices of those who have been marginalised.

About the speaker

Nadege Forde-Vidal is a London based social historian with a degree in ancient history, and a masters in both Egyptian Archaeology and Museum Studies. Nadege has worked at Chiswick House since 2019 but also collaborates on a number of local history projects with heritage sites, archives and local secondary schools.

Event details:

• This talk is part of the Black History talk series.
• This event is suitable for ages 16+.
• This is a free talk. Donations are gladly accepted.