People invited into Windrush front room at pub

Tony Fairweather has brought the iconic looking front room from the 1960s to the pub in the Harlow

An exhibition has given people a nostalgic look back at what a typical front room looked like for the Windrush generation and the significance behind it.

The Windrush Front Room, by historian Tony Fairweather, is on display at The Moorhen pub in Harlow, in Essex.

In 1948, HMT Empire Windrush docked in Tilbury, on the Thames estuary, bringing hundreds of passengers from the Caribbean to the UK.

Mr Fairweather explained how families' front rooms were often used to celebrate birthdays, christenings and weddings because many institutions had their doors firmly shut to black people at the time.

"It's been a great joy and privilege to be here," said Mr Fairweather.

"To know that years ago pubs wouldn't allow black people in there, in my lifetime, and things have changed so much.

"And now we have a front room touring."

It was not until 1965 that the Race Relations Act attempted to address the prohibition of black and Asian people from public venues, such as hotels and pubs.

Mr Fairweather said Windrush front rooms often hosted birthdays, funerals and christenings

Mr Fairweather worked with brewing company Greene King to recreate the front room and has been touring England.

Greene King said the room showcased many "family favourites" including the Blue Spot gramophone and an eclectic range of ornaments displayed in glass cabinets.

Mr Fairweather was born in 1958 and grew up living in a real Windrush front room.

"We created [it] to celebrate Black History Month, but to also celebrate how alike our cultures are," he explained.

"These items were purchased for the Windrush front room in England, they didn't come on a ship.

"It's the way black people put things together, it's very colourful and very loud and reflective of where they came from."

He explained how the Windrush generation initially shared houses, and saved money to send back to the Caribbean.

"Sooner or later those people moved out and it freed up space in the house to have a front room."

The exhibition will reach its conclusion later on Wednesday.