New report lists North Wales statues, streets and buildings linked to slave trade following ‘urgent audit’

A new report has been published listing the North Wales statues, streets and buildings with links to the slave trade.

First Minister Mark Drakeford ordered an “urgent audit” of Wales’ connections with slavery in July in the wake of the death of George Floyd in the United States and a month of action by the Black Lives Matter movement.

The audit published today shows how the slave trade was embedded in the country’s economy and society and reflected in many places still in existence.

In Denbigh, the future of a a statue of controversial explorer HM Stanley has been the subject of much debate because of his links with Belgian King Leopold II, who committed acts of appalling inhumanity against the population of the Congo Free State.

The statue is one of 209 monuments, buildings or street names to feature in the report, alongside another tribute to him which stands in St Asaph.

The audit, led by Gaynor Legall, found that commemorations of people connected with the slave trade are often shown without any accompanying interpretation to address matters of contention.

Without this, it says the figures are presented solely as role models rather than representatives of challenging aspects of the past.

Mr Drakeford said the aim of the report was not about naming and shaming, but instead to learn from the past.

He said: “While the tragic killing of George Floyd happened almost 4000 miles away, it sparked global action that shone a light on racial inequality in society today.

“That inequality exists in Welsh society too and we must work towards a Wales which is more equal.

“To help us do this, we need a clear understanding of the legacies of the slave trade and the British Empire.

“This audit provides important evidence which helps us establish an honest picture of our history.

“This is not about rewriting our past or naming and shaming. It is about learning from the events of the past.

“It is an opportunity for us to establish a mature relationship with our history and find a heritage which can be shared by us all.

“This is the first stage of a much bigger piece of work which will consider how we move forward with this information as we seek to honour and celebrate our diverse communities.”

Homages to former British prime minister William Ewart Gladstone also appear prominently in the document, including a statue and library in Hawarden, Flintshire.

The Liberal politician spoke out against the abolition of slavery in Parliament because his father John owned plantations in the Caribbean that used slave labour.

However, he would later call slavery the “foulest crime” in UK history.

Meanwhile, Wetherspoons said in June that it would consider renaming Wrexham’s Elihu Yale pub because of its namesake’s role as an official for the East India Company in Madras, which saw him take part in its Indian Ocean slave trading.

The research found there are few Welsh people of black or Asian heritage commemorated across Wales, showing there is a need to consider how we should celebrate the contributions that all parts of our community have made to our country.

The audit also unearthed a more positive strand to Welsh history, highlighting the existence of commemorations to anti-slavery activists across Wales.

Gaynor Legall, leader of the task and finish group who carried out the audit, said: “This a piece of work that I am immensely proud of because it gives a very thorough, factual account of Wales’ involvement in the slave trade and expands our knowledge of the history of Wales.

“It will hopefully lead to children learning the complete history, warts and all.”

The next phase of the audit will determine how the country can move forward and address the concerns that it highlights.