Placing an advertisement in a suitable newspaper was one way of alerting potential employers to a job-seeker. Often lacking many details, these announcements do reveal the presence of black people in major cities and also in suburban locations and country towns. Three examples follow:

The Leicester Mail of 21 July 1869 (page 1) and the following day carried this advert – “Wanted, by a Middle-aged COLOURED MAN, a situation in an Hotel as BAR-KEEPER, or Gentleman’s SERVANT”. The contact name was J. A. Brooke, the Volunteer Inn, Loughborough.

The London Hour of 8 and 9 May 1874 (page 8) had this – “A Respectable and Intelligent COLOURED MAN, well recommended, speaks English, French, Italian, and understands German, WANTS A SITUATION as TRAVELLING SERVANT and VALET to one or two gentlemen. Well acquainted with the Continent”. The contact address was in fashionable London – T.W., 31 Seymour Street, Portman Square.

The Hour carried an announcement from Sutton, now suburban south London but then a Surrey town. Page 8 of the issue of 1 February 1875 had – “A GENTLEMAN wishes to RECOMMEND a steady, trustworthy, coloured man as BUTLER. Has known him fourteen years. Excellent character. Married: wife English. Age thirty-two. Height five feet six inches. Address A.J.C., 3 Holly-villas, West-street, Sutton, Surrey”.

Three glimpses into the shadows of Victorian England.