Life on the Roman Frontier

The communities that travelled to Hadrian’s Wall from across the Roman Empire were many and diverse. 

Rome's Empire included areas of northern Africa and some people from these areas eventually settled in Britain. Rome’s African-born Emperor, Septimius Severus (145–211) was born in Leptis Magna (present-day Libya) became Emperor in 193, aged 48. He ordered the refurbishment of Hadrian’s Wall as part of his plan to secure the province.

Septimius Severus travelled to Britain in 208 and ruled the Roman Empire from there for a brief three-year period. During this time, he oversaw a merciless campaign north of Hadrian’s Wall. He divided Britain into two provinces, Britannia Superior (south) and Britannia Inferior (north), with capitals at London and York respectively. Septimius Severus mounted campaigns against the Maeatae and then the Caledonians deep into modern-day Scotland in 209. He died in 211.

Hear more about life on Hadrian’s Wall by listening to the English Heritage Podcast.

James Chappell, servant at Kirby Hall

During the Tudor and Stuart periods an increasing number of black Britons served in wealthy households. At this time, black servants were seen as status symbols, and their experiences and legal statuses varied enormously. Some lived comfortably and others were put on display as living ornaments.

James Chappell was taken into Sir Christopher Hatton's service at Kirby Hall in 1663, aged about 15, and went with Hatton's household to Guernsey where Sir Christopher had been appointed governor. It was during this posting that James saved Hatton and his daughters from an explosion at Castle Cornet, which killed Hatton's wife and mother. James returned to Kirby Hall with Hatton's household after this in 1672. On Sir Christopher’s death in 1706, he provided for James in his will, stating 'And to my servant James Chappell I give one Annuity of twenty pounds a year during the term of his life.' With this gift, James was able to live as a free man with his wife, and set up home in the local area, becoming landlord of a local pub. 

By the 18th century, domestic service was the biggest employment sector for both white and black people in Britain. However, it’s unlikely that the majority of black servants would have been paid or able to leave their employer voluntarily. 

We’re currently undertaking a research project on James Chappell to find out more about his story. Could you be a researcher? Try finding out more about the stories of black figures in your local area. 

Sarah Forbes Bonetta, Queen Victoria's Protégée

Sarah Forbes Bonetta, originally known by the name Omoba Aina, was a member of the Egbado (known today as Yewa) clan of the Yoruba people from West Africa, in what is now south-west Nigeria. She was orphaned and held as a slave by King Gezo of Dahomey from 1848 when she was 5 years old. Aina was offered as a gift to Queen Victoria by King Gezo in 1850 when a British naval captain, Frederick Forbes of HMS Bonetta visited the King on a diplomatic mission to try and persuade him to abandon slaving. She was christened at the Church Mission Society in Badagry along the coast from Dahomey and given the name Sarah Forbes Bonetta after the captain and his ship.

Forbes took Sarah to England where he presented her to Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle later that year. Victoria was impressed by Sarah’s intelligence and arranged to have her brought up as her protégée within the English middle class. By the time she reached adulthood she had taken her place in Victorian high society and become a celebrity – as well as part of the contemporary debate about race, slavery and empire.

In 1862, Sarah was given permission by the queen to marry and later had three children: Victoria, Arthur and Stella. Her daughter Victoria was a goddaughter of Queen Victoria and spent time at Osborne.