Just to put
up a few pictures of places with traces of Bristol’s involvement in slave trade
and its abolition at the end of the ‘Fair Trade Fortnight’.
Former
residence of Henry Cruger, a British American merchant and a defender of slave
trade, a Member of Parliament for Bristol and a New York State senator. A
wealthy businessman who made a fortune by seizing collaterals from loan
borrowers who could not repay their debts on time, he petitioned for those who
supported the continuance of slave trade amid the abolitionist movement.
Why
Superdry Store? Nothing to do with fashion. This is the historic site of the
girls’ school set up by abolitionist Hannah Moore, the most prominent female
campaigner against slavery and a key activist pushing forward the sugar boycott
in 1791-2.
Pero’s
Bridge, named after Pero (aka William Jones), a slave of the powerful Pinney
family. He was bought by John Pinney in 1765 at the age of 12. John’s son Charles
later became Mayor of Bristol in 1831. When slavery ended in 1834, Charles
Pinney received compensation of £36,000 (estimated to be about £1.8
million today) from the British government for the slaves he freed.
Farrs Lane,
named after Thomas Farr, who made a fortune with his slave ships. The lane is
ironically located right across Pero’s Bridge.
The harbour
from where slave ships sailed.
Abolitionists
broke away from the Church of England, which was involved in slave trade.
Members of the abolitionist church were buried here after their death.
Cambridge
University student Thomas Clarkson arrived in Bristol in 1787 and conducted his
investigation of slave trade with his base in the Seven Stars pub, with the
support of landlord Mr. Thompson. Clarkson played an important role in the
abolitionist campaign by presenting the evidences he had collected and
gathering petitions to lobby MPs to outlaw slavery. This pub is still running
on the old site!
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