A leading historian has told City News that there “ought to be money dedicated to commemorating the slave trade and its abolition” in the historic City of London.
It follows an announcement made earlier this week by the City of London Corporation, confirming it would be investing nearly £35,000 into uncovering its historical ties to slavery.
The proposed study will examine the Corporation’s financial and institutional connections to slavery between 1640 and 1807. The research is scheduled for approval at a Corporation meeting later today.
The work will be undertaken by the University of Lancaster.
Calls for a blue plaque to mark abolition of slavery
However, Dr. Peter Grant, a leading expert in the study of philanthropy in history, wants to see more direct remembrance of the City’s involvement in slavery.
“They could start by putting up some sort of memorial plaque in George Yard, where the abolitionist movement started,” he said.
“At a meeting here on the 22nd of May 1787, the British abolitionist movement was formed, led by Thomas Clarke.”
Despite this fact, the site is now populated by benches and an office building, with no reference to the movement that started here – let alone the horrors that necessitated it.
“It’s one of the most important sites, I think, in British history.
“But if you look around the entire yard and the building, there’s not a single recognition of the fact… It should certainly have a blue plaque, if not a lot more.”
There are no signs or plaques on George Yard, where Britain’s abolitionist movement began
Action on statue of Lord Mayor over his role in slavery
Preliminary findings from the Corporation suggests that the City of London played a significant role in financing and benefiting from slavery, much like other leading institutions.
Recently, the City approved plans to add a plaque underneath the statue of William Beckford, who served two terms as Lord Mayor, based in the Guildhall.
The statue of Beckford, who profited from slaves in Jamaica, is alongside that of John Cass, whose name was removed from a City of London primary school and a City University department in 2020.
Both of the statues were originally to be removed, before the Corporation opted to keep them with plaques instead.
“The project to retain and explain the statues of Beckford and Cass in the Great Hall is ongoing.
“Whilst this project was a first for the Corporation, we do not consider it to be in isolation and are seeking to build out from this starting point,” read the report from earlier this week.
The funding will be made available for academic research into the connections between the City and slavery should it pass a decision making meeting to be held later today.
Submitted Article
Headline
Short Headline
Standfirst
Published Article
HeadlineCity of London ‘should spend more to commemorate horrors of slavery’
Short HeadlineCity of London launches research into its historical slavery links
StandfirstA leading historian has said that its proposed research project is 'at least a starting point'
A leading historian has told City News that there “ought to be money dedicated to commemorating the slave trade and its abolition” in the historic City of London.
It follows an announcement made earlier this week by the City of London Corporation, confirming it would be investing nearly £35,000 into uncovering its historical ties to slavery.
The proposed study will examine the Corporation’s financial and institutional connections to slavery between 1640 and 1807. The research is scheduled for approval at a Corporation meeting later today.
The work will be undertaken by the University of Lancaster.
Calls for a blue plaque to mark abolition of slavery
However, Dr. Peter Grant, a leading expert in the study of philanthropy in history, wants to see more direct remembrance of the City’s involvement in slavery.
“They could start by putting up some sort of memorial plaque in George Yard, where the abolitionist movement started,” he said.
“At a meeting here on the 22nd of May 1787, the British abolitionist movement was formed, led by Thomas Clarke.”
Despite this fact, the site is now populated by benches and an office building, with no reference to the movement that started here – let alone the horrors that necessitated it.
“It’s one of the most important sites, I think, in British history.
“But if you look around the entire yard and the building, there’s not a single recognition of the fact… It should certainly have a blue plaque, if not a lot more.”
There are no signs or plaques on George Yard, where Britain’s abolitionist movement began
Action on statue of Lord Mayor over his role in slavery
Preliminary findings from the Corporation suggests that the City of London played a significant role in financing and benefiting from slavery, much like other leading institutions.
Recently, the City approved plans to add a plaque underneath the statue of William Beckford, who served two terms as Lord Mayor, based in the Guildhall.
The statue of Beckford, who profited from slaves in Jamaica, is alongside that of John Cass, whose name was removed from a City of London primary school and a City University department in 2020.
Both of the statues were originally to be removed, before the Corporation opted to keep them with plaques instead.
“The project to retain and explain the statues of Beckford and Cass in the Great Hall is ongoing.
“Whilst this project was a first for the Corporation, we do not consider it to be in isolation and are seeking to build out from this starting point,” read the report from earlier this week.
The funding will be made available for academic research into the connections between the City and slavery should it pass a decision making meeting to be held later today.
