Seven historic Yorkshire buildings with links to the slave trade – Yorkshire Live

Great Britain has done much for the world but sadly its links with slavery cannot be ignored. The Black Lives Matter movement is shining a bright light on this chapter in the country's history - the toppling of slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol is arguably the most memorable image of 2020 so far.

But what of Yorkshire's connections to slavery?

British merchants were among the largest participants in the Atlantic slave trade that saw Africans forcibly sent to work in the Caribbean. A campaign for the abolition of slavery, led most notably by Yorkshireman William Wilberforce, saw the Slave Trade Act enacted in 1807, effectively banning the practice.

Wilberforce, who was from the Hull area, became an MP for the county and the leading force in a 20-year-long campaign to get slavery abolished.

But despite the steps taken to get rid of slavery, the lasting legacy of slavery can still be seen stamped up and down the country - even though you might not have realised it until the Black Lives Matters protests began.

Yorkshire is no exception with a large number of historic buildings and country estates paid for by noblemen and women with ties to plantation profits harvested by slaves.

While we cannot re-write history, experts from the University College London have created a database that shows the mark left by former slave-owners on the physical fabric of Britain was "considerable".

It reveals a list of prominent buildings and monuments that were built by, dedicated to or developed by people who owned slaves or inherited money from slave owners.

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Below is a list of some of the prominent buildings in Yorkshire that have links to the slave trade:

Harewood Housenear Leeds

Records show that Henry Lascelles, the Earl of Harewood, made his fortune from the slave trade. The Lascelles family who own Harewood House had interests in 47 sugar plantations and owned thousands of slaves in Barbados and across the West Indies. They werent unique most merchants of the period were involved in the slave trade. Chair of its trustees David Lascelles issued a statement in response to the Black Lives Matter movement and Harewoods connections to slavery.

Shibden Hall, Halifax

Most famous as home for the lesbian diarist Anne Lister, Shibden Hall later became home to Louisa Ann Grant, wife of John Lister who inherited the hall from Anne Lister. Louisa's father Major Charles Grant was involved with the Adelphi estate on St Vincent where 485 were enslaved.

Duncombe Park, Helmsley

Now a tourist attraction and wedding venue, it was owned by Charles Duncombe, a Conservative MP from 1790 to 1826. He was associated with the Morning Star Estate on the island of Nevis where 111 were enslaved.

Scruton Hall, Bedale

Its owner in the early 18th century was Foster Lechmere Coore, who came from a family of merchants in Liverpool. After attending Eton and Cambridge he and his brother Frederick were involved with the sugar plantation at St James, Jamaica, were 293 slaves were held.

Hellaby Hall, Rotherham

Now an upmarket hotel, it was once the home of Quaker sugar merchant and slave owner Ralph Fretwell. He returned from Barbados to Rotherham circa 1690 to build Hellaby Hall, which at one time was owned by the Eden family, whose descendant Anthony Eden went on to be Prime Minister in 1955.

Thirkleby Park, North Yorkshire

The records show owner Sir William Payne Gallwey was a British Army officer and slave owner. 137 were enslaved at the Pond and Fancy Estates on St Kitts where Thirkleby Park owner Sir William had an interest. He was a Deputy Lieutenant and J.P. for the North Riding of Yorkshire. The Payne family were wealthy West India planters. Thirkleby Hall was demolished in 1927 and the site is now used as a holiday caravan park.

The Mount Royale Hotel, York

Owned by attorney and slave owner George Kirlew. Kirlew was linked to nine estates in Jamaica, with approximately 300 people enslaved across the island. Kirlew was living at the Mount, York in 1841, ironically with his wife Ann Bruce of mixed heritage who was born in Jamaica.

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Seven historic Yorkshire buildings with links to the slave trade - Yorkshire Live