A good number of students participated in the Slave Trade Walk on Wednesday, 16th January led by Elvyn Griffiths. The walk started at Arnolfini where Elvyn explained Bristol’s involvement with the Slave Trade in the 14th Century. He also explained on the origins of Cabot and his involvement in the trade.
The walks highlight what life and living was like at the height of the slave trade in the 16th and 17th century in Bristol. It showed how the culture of slavery had been with Bristol since Saxon times. We visited the places where ships were built, where merchants lived and to Redcliffe caves, whose sand was used in the production of glass and where cargo coming into Bristol was stored. The sand of the cave was also used as ballast on ships going out to Africa. The walk itself started from Cabot statue whose discovery of North American Continent gave the opening of the increase of trade for Bristol.
St Mary Redcliffe Church was also referred to as many slaves’ captains were church wardens. It was the church that rang its bells in civic celebration when news reached Bristol of the defeat of the first bill to attempt to outlaw slavery.
Queen Square was visited, and it was here that a lot of merchants were dealt with - America, West Indies and Africa. And it was also in the square that had America’s first ever consulate established in 1792. The walk ended after visited Kings Street which is an old trading area and most of the buildings were put up by slave merchants including the Theatre Royal.
There are 2 more Slave Trade Walks to be enjoyed coming up in February and March…..why not join us? Our thanks also to Flo for the photos!
