Anti-Slavery Arch Stroud — The Anti-Slavery Arch in Stroud is England's oldest memorial to the abolition of slavery. © Historic England DP263454 Grade II* Listed. Read the list entry

The Anti-Slavery Arch in Stroud is England's oldest memorial to the abolition of slavery. © Historic England DP263454 Grade II* Listed. Read the list entry

Slave Trade Memorials

There are a number of memorials around the country to the abolition of slavery. We showcase some of them here.

Anti-Slavery Arch

The oldest memorial to the abolition of slavery is the Anti-Slavery Arch, 3, Wheelers Walk, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 4AX (listed Grade II*). It was erected in 1834 by Henry Wyatt (from 1793 to 1847) to celebrate the passing of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833. Wyatt was a supporter of the Stroud Anti-Slavery Society and he built the arch as an entrance to the drive of his country house. It is Britain’s oldest anti-slavery memorial.

Anti-Slavery Arch, 3, Wheelers Walk, Stroud, Gloucestershire © Al McCaffery

Headstone and footstone, with shaped tops. The freshly painted memorial stands out amongst unpainted stones. Carving includes winged Black cherubs, and flowers. The headstone carries the details of the subject’s life; the footstone carries a verse.

Listed Places Connected to Slavery and Abolition

The National Heritage List for England documents the connections of more than 40 listed places with the slave trade and abolition.

Places Connected to the Slave Trade and Abolition

Captured Africans Sculpture

Unveiled in 2005, the Captured Africans Sculpture on St. Georges Quay is a memorial to the slaves transported on ships originating out of Lancaster. It was created by artist Kevin Dalton-Johnson with support from mosaic artist Ann McArdle.

The Captured Africans Slave Memorial surrounded by a few curious members of the public.

Captured Africans slave memorial sculpture, at St George’s Quay by the River Lune, Lancaster © Alan Rice

Fen Court

In 2008 Archbishop Desmond Tutu unveiled a new sculpture in Fen Court, London EC3M 5BA to commemorate the 2007 Bicentenary of the Act to Abolish the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Created by Michael Visocchi, the City of London Memorial to the Abolition of the Slave Trade is composed of a group of columns in the form of sugar cane placed around a podium. These suggest a pulpit, or slave auctioneer's stance. Inscribed on the podium are the words of Lemn Sissay's poem "The Gilt of Cain", which weave the coded language of the stock exchange trading floor with Old Testament biblical references.

Stone memorial sculpture surrounded by landscaped shrubs and high-rise buildings.

A memorial to the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade by Michael Visocchi stands in Fen Court in the City of London. © Corporation of London

Ending Slavery

The Road to Abolition

Learn about the formation of the Committee for Effecting the Abolition of the African Slave Trade.
Notable Legal Cases

Read about some of the notable legal cases concerning slavery and the transatlantic slave trade.
Slavery After 1807

Find out what happened following the Abolition Act in 1807.
Women Against Slavery

Find out about women abolitionists and listen to our podcasts about women's involvement in the anti-slavery campaign.
1834: The End of the Transatlantic Slave Trade?

Slavery continued in some territories run by the East India Company as not all parts of the British Empire came under the 1833 Slavery Abolition Act.
Legacies of the Transatlantic Slave Trade

When the transatlantic slave trade was abolished, slave owners were compensated, the enslaved received nothing.

Sugar bowl with gold inscription "East India sugar not made by slaves".

The Slave Trade and Abolition

Research into the impact of the transatlantic slave trade and its abolition.

The Transatlantic Slave Trade and Abolition