English Heritage has today (11 March) unveiled a blue plaque in honour of Una Marson (1905–1965)—the pioneering Jamaican poet, playwright, broadcaster, and activist—marking her extraordinary contributions to British media and the fight for racial and gender equality.
The plaque has been installed at The Mansions, Mill Lane in West Hampstead, where Marson lived from at least 1939 to 1943. This period was a defining moment in her career, as she became the first Black woman to work as a BBC programme assistant, later breaking further barriers as the organisation’s first Black female producer. It was during her time at The Mansions that she conceived and produced groundbreaking radio programmes, including Calling the West Indies—which connected Caribbean servicemen in Britain with their families back home—and Caribbean Voices, a platform that nurtured emerging Caribbean literary talent and ran until 1958.
Howard Spencer, Senior Historian at English Heritage, described Marson’s impact:
“Una Marson was a true pioneer, breaking barriers, making an important wartime contribution and forging new paths for Black women in Britain and beyond. This blue plaque is a well-deserved recognition of her extraordinary contributions to broadcasting, literature, and social justice. Her legacy serves as an inspiration to all who strive for a more just and inclusive world.”
Marson’s home at The Mansions became a hub for creativity and activism. Biographer Delia Jarrett-Macauley describes it as a warm and welcoming space, where journalists, writers, and West Indian servicemen gathered for intellectual debates, social events, and sing-songs. This vibrant setting was instrumental in shaping her work and influence.
Born in Jamaica in 1905, Marson had already built a successful career in journalism and editing before relocating to London in 1932. She worked as the editor of The Keys, the journal of the League of Coloured Peoples, and became a passionate advocate for racial and gender equality. Her groundbreaking 1933 play At What a Price is considered the first play by a Black woman to be staged in London—a landmark moment in British theatre history.
After the Second World War, Marson returned to Jamaica, but her influence continued to grow internationally. She travelled extensively, spending time in the United States, and left a profound literary legacy through her poetry, plays, and journalism, exploring themes of race, gender, and identity.
The installation of this blue plaque ensures that Una Marson’s contributions to British culture, media, and social justice will be remembered for generations to come.