Listing of 18 historic buildings amended to highlight their links to the abolition of slavery

As the bicentenary year of the abolition of the slave trade draws to an end, Margaret Hodge, Culture Minister, today announced new protection for 18 historic buildings and monuments linked to the slave trade. 

Of these buildings, four are new listings in Hornsey, Camden, Stoke Newington and Bishops Castle, Shropshire and the listings of two in Stroud and Westminster have been upgraded.  The 12 other buildings have had their listing descriptions amended to ensure their connection with the slave trade and special historic interest is adequately reflected. 
Margaret Hodge said: 

“The listing of these buildings is a timely reminder of how England’s involvement in the slave trade is reflected in the built environment.

“It is important that we acknowledge all aspects of the slave trade, both the people who campaigned against it and succeeded in bringing about the abolition of slavery, and also the people affected by it, the Africans whose lives were disrupted and destroyed.  I am pleased to say these new listings reflect this diversity, from prominent campaigners like Thomas Fowell Buxton to the unknown ‘native of Africa’ commemorated in the graveyard in Shropshire.”

The decision on the listings, has been taken following advice from English Heritage, the Government's expert advisors on the built environment.  In order to reveal a fuller story of England’s history, English Heritage started a project in 2006 to review listed buildings and acknowledge historic links to transatlantic slavery and the abolitionist movement.  The new information on abolition and the slave trade will help provide guidance on sites where the social historic importance can be even greater than the architectural interest.

The 1807 Abolition of the Slave Trade Act outlawed the slave trade throughout the British Empire and made it illegal for British ships to be involved in the trade.  It followed a long fought campaign by the abolitionists, headed in parliament by William Wilberforce.  Slavery itself was finally made illegal in 1833 with the Slavery Abolition Act. 

While Wilberforce is the best known of the abolitionists, there were many others who campaigned against slavery, and it is often the less well known names that are commemorated in the listed buildings, along with Africans who suffered as a result of the slave trade.

Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage, said: 
 
"This is history on our doorstep. These buildings and monuments are the physical reminders of the extraordinary campaign waged by so many people in England, black and white, to end the slave trade. Some buildings also remind us of the immense wealth that the slave trade created in British cities and ports".

NEW LISTINGS:

The Tomb of Samuel Lucas and Margaret Bright Lucas in Highgate Cemetery

Swain's Lane, Camden, London, Listed at Grade II

The tomb is of special historical interest, having been erected to Samuel Lucas, an anti-slavery campaigner; the inscription celebrates the imminent demise of slavery in America.

The Tomb of James Stephen in the churchyard of the Old St Mary’s Church, Stoke Newington

Churchyard of Old Church of St Mary, Stoke Newington, Church Street, Hackney, London, Listed at Grade II

It has special architectural interest as an early-C19, Neo-Classical form, with fluting and tapered legs.  It has special historic interest for its association with the lawyer and campaigner against slavery, James Stephen, who through his involvement with the Clapham Sect and William Wilberforce, and his legal skill and residence in St. Kitts helped to shape the late-C18 and early-C19 anti-slavery campaign in this country.  He also was a founding member of the African Institution, which promoted proper trade with Africa

The Grave of an Unknown African ‘I.D.’ in St John the Baptist Church, Bishops Castle

 Church of St John, Bishop’s Castle, Shropshire
Listed at Grade II

An intact headstone of 1801, with an elegant and legible inscription and decoration.  The tomb is of particular historical interest, having been erected to 'A Native of Africa', in this place, and at this date.

The Tomb of Harriet Long and Jacob Walker in the churchyard of St Mary’s Church, Hornsey

Listed at Grade II

An intact and legible headstone of 1841.  It is of special historic interest having been erected to commemorate a Virginian, Harriet Long, and her former slave (in America) and servant (in England), Jacob Walker.  The contrast the inscription draws between the relative legal situations in America and England with regard to slavery in the year 1841 gives the tomb extra piquancy and the inscription also suggests a parity between mistress and former slave.

UPGRADED LISTINGS:

 Archway, Farmhill Lane, Stroud

Farmhill Lane, Stroud, Gloucestershire
Upgraded from Grade II to Grade II*

An extremely unusual monument in the form of a private triumphal arch, celebrating a public victory.  The arch is of particular historic interest, having been erected to celebrate the passing of the law emancipating slaves in 1834; it is Britain's oldest anti-slavery memorial.

Buxton Memorial Fountain, Millbank, Westminster

 Victoria Tower Gardens, Millbank, City of Westminster, London

Upgraded from Grade II to Grade II*.

An unusual and exuberant example of the work of S. S. Teulon, in association with Charles Buxton.  The fountain is of particular historic interest having been erected to celebrate the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833.  The significance of the monument is enhanced by its location; it commemorates one of Parliaments most momentous Acts, and its principal dedicatee is the parliamentarian responsible for ensuring the passage of that Act.

Maritime Museum, formerly the Custom House

26 St Georges Quay, Lancaster, Grade II*

It is a notable and complete example of an eighteenth-century custom house, of Palladian design.  It has a strong connection with the slave-trading mercantile community of eighteenth-century Lancaster, which adds to the historical interest of building, and was not previously acknowledged in the list description.
 
Barclay’s Bank

4 and 6 Water Street, Liverpool, Grade II*

It is a masterpiece of Herbert J. Rowse; one of the best interwar classical buildings in the country.  Sculptural decorations, referring to Africa's contribution to Liverpool's economy, in combination with the bank's connection with slavery, add to historical interest of building, and were not previously acknowledged in the list description.
 
57 Parr Street

Liverpool, Grade II

It is a rare surviving warehouse of c.1799; its elegant and functional design can still be appreciated despite alterations.  The association with Thomas Parr, a prominent Liverpool merchant connected with the slave trade, adds to historical interest of building and was not previously acknowledged in the list description.
 
The church of Holy Trinity

Clapham Common North Side, Clapham, London, Grade II*

A plain classical church of 1774-6, exemplifying the characteristics of the 'preaching box', with original galleries.  The strong connection with the Clapham Sect, a group active in campaigning for the abolition of the slave trade, adds to the historical interest of building.
  
The Georgian House

7 Great George Street, Bristol, Avon, Grade II*

Fine example of a substantial merchant's town house in Bristol, of particular interest for having remarkably well-preserved interiors, with some original fittings.  The strong connection with John Pinney, plantation owner and sugar merchant, and his former slaves, Pero, and Fanny Coker, adds to historical interest of building.
           
The Exchange

Corn Street, Bristol, Avon, Grade I

Widely regarded as Wood's outstanding public building, and as being amongst the finest civic structures of the eighteenth century.  Strong connection with the slave-dependent mercantile community of 18th-century Bristol adds to historical interest of building.
 
Dobroyd Castle

Dobroyd Road, Todmorden, West Yorkshire, Grade II*

It is an impressive country house of 1866-9 in local materials and a distinctive castellated style, occupying a prominent position in this milling town, having been built a major local mill-owning family.  The series of four Caen stone carved tympana have particular historic interest for the way they represent the entire process of cotton production.  These panels artistically and subtly reflect the views that this reforming mid-19th century cotton family held on slavery in the New World and the production of cotton in England, and this was not acknowledged in the previous list description.
 
Harewood House

Harewood, Leeds, West Yorkshire, Grade I

It is an outstanding country house, displaying the talents of three architects of stature: John Carr, Robert Adam, and Sir Charles Barry, along with decoration and furnishings by Antonio Zucci, Angelica Kauffmann, Biagio Rebecca and Thomas Chippendale.  The house is of particular historical interest, partly in view of its well-documented connection with the slave trade; its existence is due largely to the fortune amassed by the Lascelles family in the West Indies, and this was not previously acknowledged in the list description.
 
Church of St Andrew

Church Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, Grade I

It is a large church of mainly 14th and 15th century date.  Through a plaque commemorating his daughter, there is historical association with Olaudah Equiano, former slave and prominent anti-slavery campaigner.
 
Wilberforce Monument

Wilberforce Avenue, Kingston Upon Hull, Grade II

It is a handsome and unusual monument, being an early use of the commemorative column in England.  The monument is of particular historical interest, having been erected to commemorate William Wilberforce, England's most celebrated abolitionist, in the town of his birth, the significance of which is not properly acknowledged in the current list description.
 
Clarkson Monument on High Cross Hill

High Street, Thundridge, Hertfordshire, Grade II

It is a dignified monument in the form of an obelisk.  It is of particular historical interest, having been erected to commemorate Thomas Clarkson, one of the foremost heroes of the abolition movement, and to mark a spot of great significance for that movement.
 
Warehouses and General Offices at Western End of North Quay

West India Road, Poplar, London, Grade I

Fine Georgian warehouses and offices; No. 2 Warehouse is the earliest remaining multi-storey warehouse in the Port of London.  Strong connection with the British slave trade adds to historical interest of buildings, the warehouses having been built for the express purpose of receiving goods produced by slaves on West Indian plantations.

NOTES

1. A full list of the buildings is attached.

2. Free images are available from the English Heritage folder on the Press Association’s website at www.papicselect.com under ‘Abolition Listings’.

3. The main purpose of listing a building is to ensure that care will be taken over decisions affecting its future, that any alterations respect the particular character and interest of the building, and that the case for its preservation is taken fully into account in considering the merits of any redevelopment proposals.

4. English Heritage, statutory adviser on the historic environment, protects and provides advice on this country's unique legacy of historic buildings, landscapes and archaeological sites. It also manages over 400 sites and welcomes more than 11 million visitors to these each year.

5. English Heritage started a project in 2006 to review listed buildings and acknowledge historic links to transatlantic slavery and the abolitionist movement.  Simultaneously, several previously unknown sites were discovered during research for English Heritage’s Sites of Memory project, and more were being suggested by interested members of the public.  The Sites of Memory leaflet and web micro-site, www.english-heritage.org.uk/sitesofmemory, was the first research by English Heritage to provide an overview for the public of the buildings and memorials across England that reflects the role of the slave trade and resistance to it.

6. The project was just one of those undertaken by English Heritage to help mark the bicentenary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade in a way that extends far beyond the general activities for 2007.

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