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In Pictures: The pioneering Windrush generation, who arrived 70 years ago

16 April 2018

Pioneers from the Caribbean arrived in Tilbury, Essex, 70 years ago, marking the beginning of large-scale West Indian immigration.

The ex-troopship Empire Windrush arrived at Tilbury Docks, Essex, on 22 June 1948, carrying 482 Jamaicans emigrating to Britain.

Getty Images The ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' arrives at Tilbury Docks, Essex, from Jamaica, with 482 Jamaicans on board, emigrating to Britain. — The ex-troopship Empire Windrush arrived at Tilbury Docks, Essex, on 22 June 1948, carrying 482 Jamaicans emigrating to Britain.

The journey to Britain cost £28 and 10 shillings.

Getty Images Immigrants on board the 'Empire Windrush' reading a newspaper — The journey to Britain cost £28 and 10 shillings.

Those from Jamaica were leaving a country that had a struggling economy and had been devastated by a hurricane.

Getty Images Immigrants on board the 'Empire Windrush' — Those from Jamaica were leaving a country that had a struggling economy and had been devastated by a hurricane.

RAF officials from the Colonial Office welcomed the Jamaican immigrants at Tilbury.

PA RAF officials from the Colonial Office welcomed Jamaican immigrants when HMT 'Empire Windrush' landed at Tilbury. — RAF officials from the Colonial Office welcomed the Jamaican immigrants at Tilbury.

Some of the arrivals stayed in temporary accommodation, like the Jamaican immigrants seen here standing on the streets of Clapham, south London.

Getty Images Immigrants from Jamaica are seen on the streets of Clapham, London — Some of the arrivals stayed in temporary accommodation, like the Jamaican immigrants seen here standing on the streets of Clapham, south London.

Kenneth Murray, Eric Dryndale and Aston Robinson are seen settling in to their temporary bedroom in a former air raid shelter in Clapham in 1948.

Getty Images Immigrants Kenneth Murray, Eric Dryndale and Aston Robinson are seen in an ex-air raid shelter in 1948 — Kenneth Murray, Eric Dryndale and Aston Robinson are seen settling in to their temporary bedroom in a former air raid shelter in Clapham in 1948.

In the decade after the first group of immigrants boarded Empire Windrush, about 250,000 West Indians followed, including this family arriving from Jamaica in about 1950.

Getty Images A family arrives in Britain from Jamaica around 1950 — In the decade after the first group of immigrants boarded Empire Windrush, about 250,000 West Indians followed, including this family arriving from Jamaica in about 1950.

Those who arrived were tasked with finding work and lodgings, like this man in 1955.

Getty Images A man arrives in Birmingham from Jamaica in January 1955 — Those who arrived were tasked with finding work and lodgings, like this man in 1955.

Rue Gordon, seen here in Birmingham in 1955, emigrated from Jamaica in 1953 and became a bus conductor.

Getty Images Rue Gordon, a bus conductor, seen in Birmingham in 1955 — Rue Gordon, seen here in Birmingham in 1955, emigrated from Jamaica in 1953 and became a bus conductor.

Keith Edwards and Queenie Marques posed for a photographer in Britain in 1954 after arriving from Jamaica.

Getty Images Keith Edwards and Queenie Marques, immigrants from Jamaica, are seen in a bedroom in 1954 — Keith Edwards and Queenie Marques posed for a photographer in Britain in 1954 after arriving from Jamaica.

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