New Cross Fire Foundation
London Museum Consultation Survey
The new London Museum in Smithfield is due to open in 2026 and it will feature several permanent galleries focussed on the history of London. More information about the museum can be found here: London Museum | Smithfield | Opens 2026 | London Museum
London Museum intends to reflect the 1981 New Cross Fire and the Black People’s Day of Action within the part of the permanent galleries which will look at London in recent history. The museum has commissioned the New Cross Fire Foundation (NCFF) to support this work and assist it with selecting a suitable image to represent the 1981 New Cross Fire.
The seven images below have been shortlisted by the NCFF and agreed with London Museum to go into the consultation process
Image 1: 439 New Cross Road immediately following the fire, Jan 1981
© Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty
Image 3: 439 New Cross Road in the weeks following the fire in 1981
© Mike Abrahams
Image 5: People gathered outside 439 New Cross Road on the first anniversary of the fire, January 1982
© David Hoffman
Image 2: 439 New Cross Road in the aftermath of the fire, Jan 1981
© Geoffrey White/ANL/Shutterstock
Image 4: Floral tributes and messages of support outside 439 New Cross Road in 1981
© Mike Abrahams
Image 6: Floral tributes in the window of 439 New Cross Road on the first anniversary of the fire, January 1982
© David Hoffman
Image 7: Meeting at Deptford Town Hall on the first anniversary of the fire, January 1982
© Julian Stapleton/George Padmore Institute NCM/3/4/2/1
Please select the image that you think should be used to represent the 1981 New Cross Fire in the London’s Story permanent gallery at the new London Museum in Smithfield.
Only one choice per person; duplicate or multiple submissions will be discounted.
Closing date: 27 July 2025.
Consultation data will be collated and used to inform the final selection process and decision on which image to use. Once this has been agreed and finalised with London Museum, the outcome of the process will be shared here.
Thank you for contributing to this vital consultation process to inform an important and long-lasting decision about how the 1981 New Cross Fire is represented to public audiences visiting London Museum.