Asian Seamen in the port of London

This photograph shows Asian seamen on board their ship docked in the port of London. About 20,000 Asian and African sailors shipped in and out of London each year. Those who came principally from East Bengal (Bangladesh), particularly Chittagong and Sylhet, were known as lascars. Lascar seamen were recruited from the port of Calcutta. On arrival in the port of London they could stay for up to several weeks in the local seamen's lodging houses, before boarding a return passage. By 1903 there were over 100 seamen's lodging houses in London’s docklands providing accommodation for up to 2,000 sailors.