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The ‘British Indian Seamen’s Institute’, also referred to more colloquially as the ‘Lascar Club’ opened in 1909 in 313 Victoria Dock Road, E., opposite the Victoria and Albert docks.

The long nineteenth century was a remarkable time to be a mariner in Britain. As Britain’s navy, merchant marine and fishing fleets secured the global dominion of the empire, it also transformed as it drew upon labour from a global workforce.

Joseph Salter was one of the most prolific missionaries and writers to address ‘Asiatics’ in nineteenth-century Britain.

The foundation stone for The Strangers’ Home for Asiatics, Africans and South Sea Islanders was laid by Prince Albert on 31 May 1856.

Duleep Singh was the last Maharaja of the Sikh empire. He lived in England for most of his life and provided financial support for the Stranger's Home for Asiatics, Africans and Soutsea Islanders. 

Throughout the long nineteenth-century London was a key sight for mission activity to Asian sailors. This included London Strangers’ Home for Asiatics, Africans and South Sea Islanders and the Society for the Protection of Asiatic Sailors.

In the nineteenth century, the British Merchant Marine was transformed by the employment of 'Lascars', a term used for seamen predominately from Asia, as well as Africa and the Caribbean. On the outbreak of war in 1914, 30% of merchant crews were born abroad. The majority were lascars, who comprised 1 in 6 of these men.

In 1900, a mission room for lascars was established at Morpeth Docks, liverpool. It was known as 'The Birkenhead Mission to Asiatic Seamen'.