A new exhibition at Gunnersbury Park and Museum is marking the 50th anniversary of the Bogle-L’Ouverture Bookshop, which opened in Chignell Place, West Ealing, and became one of Britain’s most influential Black cultural institutions.
Founded in the early 1970s and named after Haitian and Jamaican revolutionaries Toussaint L’Ouverture and Paul Bogle, the bookshop became a vital hub for Britain’s Black communities during an era of anti-racist and anti-fascist struggle. Through Bogle-L’Ouverture Publications, Jessica and Eric Huntley championed writers including Walter Rodney, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Beryl Gilroy and Valerie Bloom, helping to lay the foundations for Black British publishing.
The exhibition, Radical Roots: The Huntleys’ Story, celebrates the couple’s pioneering work in political education, cultural resistance and community organising.
Organised in partnership with the Friends of the Huntley Archives at LMA Foundation (FHALMA) and Ealing Council, it runs until 23 November 2025. Co-curated by Gunnersbury’s Young Curators, it features artwork from local young people involved in the Ealing/Bradford Cultural Exchange, alongside rare archival materials and bookstalls showcasing the Huntleys’ publishing legacy.
Beverley Mason, chief executive of FHALMA, said: “This anniversary celebrates more than a bookshop – it celebrates a movement. Jessica and Eric Huntley inspired generations to read, to organise and to dream. As we honour their legacy, we recognise the power of archives, memory and community to shape our futures.”
Taking place as Gunnersbury’s acclaimed People’s Unite exhibition on Southall’s activism draws to a close, Radical Roots invites visitors to reflect on past struggles and the ongoing fight for equality and justice.
The 13-day exhibition will culminate on 22 November with a community celebration including intergenerational panel discussions, performances and a cultural close.
Corinne Wan, head of museum services at Gunnersbury, said: “We are honoured to host this milestone event. The Huntleys’ legacy is part of the cultural fabric of Ealing and an important chapter in Britain’s history. This celebration will encourage visitors to reflect on how activism, creativity and solidarity continue to shape our present.”
