We've published our report into colonialism and historic slavery

Published:: 15 September 2020

A collage image containing three artworks: a painting of Teresia, Lady Shirley by Van Dyke at Petworth House; an oil painting of a young coachman at Erddig; and a photograph of the Maharaja Jam Sahib of Nawanagar at Polesden Lacey. — L to r: Teresia Khan, Lady Shirley, 1622, by Van Dyck (Petworth); Portrait of an unknown coachboy, late 18th century (Erddig); Ranjitsinhji, the Maharaja Jam Sahib of Nawanagar, 1922 (Polesden Lacey) | © National Trust Images

Today we released our 'Interim Report on the Connections between Colonialism and Properties now in the Care of the National Trust, Including Links with Historic Slavery'. The report, commissioned in 2019, details the connections between 93 of the places in our care and colonialism and historic slavery. It is part of our commitment to ensuring links to colonialism and slavery are properly represented, shared and interpreted as part of a broader narrative.

Background to the report

The data in our report includes the historic sources of wealth behind significant buildings and estates in our care linked to the global slave trade, goods and products of enslaved labour and the East India Company. It also documents the historic houses linked to the abolition of slavery and campaigns against colonial oppression.

Dr Tarnya Cooper, Curatorial and Collections Director, said: 'A significant number of the places in our care have links to the colonisation of different parts of the world, and some to historic slavery.

‘Colonialism and slavery were central to the national economy from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Around a third of the places now in our care have direct connections to wider colonial histories, often in a way that’s reflected in collections, materials and records that are visible at those places.'

The report has been edited by Dr Sally-Anne Huxtable (National Trust Head Curator), Professor Corinne Fowler (University of Leicester), Dr Christo Kefalas (National Trust World Cultures Curator) and Emma Slocombe (National Trust Textiles Curator), with contributions from other National Trust curators and researchers around the country.

'This report is the fullest account to date of the links between places now in the care of the National Trust and colonialism and historic slavery.'

Tarnya Cooper, Curatorial and Collections Director

What's in the report?

Drawing on recent evidence, including the Legacies of British Slave-ownership project as well as our own sources, the report includes sections on the following:

The global trades, goods and products of enslaved labour
Compensation for slave ownership
Abolition and protest
The East India Company
The British Raj
A factual gazetteer listing 93 individual places and collections that have strong links to Britain's colonial past.

View of the north front at Speke Hall under a blue sky — Speke Hall in Liverpool is one of the places in our care whose previous owners were involved with the slave trade | © National Trust Images/Andrew Butler

Why is the report important?

As a heritage charity, it’s our responsibility to make sure we tell inclusive, honest histories about our places and collections. The report provides the basis for a broader approach, to help contextualise the history of the places in our care.

Dr Tarnya Cooper, Curatorial and Collections Director, said: ‘It’s our job to research, interpret and openly share full and up-to-date information about our places. This includes information about colonialism and slavery where it is relevant.

‘This is part of caring for our properties in a historically responsible and academically robust way. The work helps us all understand what's gone before; now and for future generations.'

John Orna-Ornstein, Director of Culture and Engagement, added: 'These histories are sometimes very painful and difficult to consider.

‘They make us question our assumptions about the past, and yet they can also deepen and enrich our understanding of our economic status, our remarkable built heritage and the art, objects, places and spaces we have today and look after for future generations.'

What's next?

Some of the research from the report has already been used to update our digital content and is supporting a review of visitor information and interpretation at relevant properties. Research will continue as part of our commitment to include histories of colonialism and slavery in our interpretation, presentation, digital content and records.

As Tarnya Cooper says: ‘[The report] is not exhaustive and we will be adding to it as we do more work and research. But it is an important foundation to share what we already know to form the basis of our own future research and interpretation at the places and collections that have links to colonialism or slavery and for other researchers. We have much more work to do to explore the wider histories at our places.’

A working group of external specialists, chaired by museums and heritage consultant Rita McLean, will be advising and steering us in this work in the coming months. We'll also be working with other National Trust organisations around the world to connect these histories globally.