The ‘Naming Pains’ campaign is a focused effort to address the ongoing celebration and memorialisation of British imperialism, particularly as it pertains to the 1924 British Empire Exhibition. This campaign critically examines the practice of commemorating historical events, individuals, or buildings through place-naming, understanding it as a form of honour that inadvertently perpetuates a romanticised and contested narrative in Wembley’s history.
The importance of this initiative is underscored by the diversity of the London Borough of Brent, which houses one of Britain’s most culturally diverse communities. This diversity stands in stark contrast to the painful legacy of British imperialism - a legacy marked by exploitation and suffering. Lord Woolley CBE encapsulates this sentiment, stating:
“For many, including me, there is nothing, absolutely nothing, to revere about the empire. It means slavery, murder, theft, barbaric cruelty and colonialism. We cannot and must not attempt to erase our history, but we can choose which parts we put on a pedestal.”
A central objective of the campaign is to confront and diminish the imperial nostalgia prevalent among urban professionals and stakeholders who have been instrumental in shaping Wembley. By promoting a more critical understanding of historical events, the campaign seeks to challenge prevailing narratives.
A key strategy in this endeavour is the retroactive renaming of streets, open spaces, and buildings that currently honour the 1924 British Empire Exhibition. This renaming process is not just symbolic; it is a vital step in acknowledging the complex layers of history and the far-reaching impact of colonialism.
Summary of Imperial Commemorations:
In summary, the ‘Naming Pains’ campaign is a significant movement that challenges the glorification of empire, advocating for a more informed and critical understanding of the past.
Summary of Commemorations & Landowner:
Naming Pains
It challenges readers to reconsider the implications of imperial nostalgia embedded in Wembley’s streets, buildings, and public spaces, advocating for a post-imperial city that acknowledges and rectifies the oppressive legacies of colonialism.
Digital Copy: Available to read for free
Physical Copy: Please allow for 7 to 10 days for dispatch.
Dimensions A4 (297mm x 210mm), 70pp
Printed Walking Tour of Wembley Park
Through a critical yet accessible route, the guide examines how imperial memory is embedded in place names, public spaces, and architectural choices—even amid one of London’s most ambitious regeneration projects. From former exhibition sites to streets that still bear the names of colonial territories, this walk encourages reflection on what is remembered, what is erased, and how commemoration shapes our understanding of the present.
Whether you’re a local resident, a curious visitor, or someone engaging with questions of history and public space, this guide offers a powerful lens through which to view Wembley Park today.
Press Coverage
“The Brief podcast: London faces a crisis of dullness”, Open City (2023) — https://open.spotify.com/episode/5WprLaI2hPxHlEA5qyJnYo?go=1&sp_cid=4bed3d90cf747d7a6e9efdcb8d52468c&utm_source=embed_player_p&utm_
“An urbanist who ‘decolonises’ London. Until the ‘history of domination’ embedded in place names is unraveled”, IDEAS FOR GOOD JAPAN (2023) — https://ideasforgood.jp/2023/11/24/decolonising-wembley/
“They’re profiting off our problems – Inequality in Brent”, Equality Trust (2024) — https://equalitytrust.org.uk/news/blog/theyre-profiting-off-our-problems-inequality-in-brent/