Paganhill slavery arch listing upgraded

I have just had a new year spring clean of emails - my email software was grinding to a halt and crashing periodically - in a couple of clicks I deleted 23,451 emails in my sent folder from the last 3 years!

Photo: Morning over Farmhill just up from the arch

Sadly the email 'in' folder still has a fair few awaiting attention....please bear with me - have been working on a number of projects including the Green party County waste strategy - and of course work - although it was wonderfully quiet still - are people still on holiday?

Anyhow it was good to read this evening re the slavery arch - the Stroud News and Journal reported today that the Minister, Margaret Hodge, has announced new protection for 18 historic buildings and monuments linked to the slave trade, including the anti-slavery arch in Paganhill, Stroud.

Photo: The arch under threat in 1958 - thankfully saved

The arch is Britain's oldest anti-slavery memorial. It was built by Henry Wyatt in 1834, a prosperous businessman and banker and anti-slavery campaigner, who had bought the Farmhill Estate the year before. The arch now stands near one of the entrances to Archway School, but in the nineteenth century it formed the carriage entrance to the Estate with its fine Georgian Mansion. It has been upgraded from Grade 11 to Grade 11* to reflect its historic importance .

The decision on the listings, has been taken following advice from English Heritage, the Government's expert advisors on the built environment. The 1807 Abolition of the Slave Trade Act outlawed the slave trade throughout the British Empire and made it illegal for British ships to be involved in the trade. It followed a long fought campaign by the abolitionists, headed in parliament by William Wilberforce. See more on the special website:
www.anti-slaveryarch.com/

See also previous blog entries on slavery here - scroll down to relevant bits.