Libraries and leisure

2007: Bicentenary of the Act to Abolish the Slave Trade

"Hidden Histories" project looks at Hertfordshire's links with the slave trade

Hertfordshire’s ‘Hidden Histories’ is a partnership project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and led by Hertfordshire Archives, investigating the links between Hertfordshire people, the slave trade and abolition.

Many African Caribbean people came to Hertfordshire before 1807, and have stories to tell. Hertfordshire people took part in the first mass human rights campaign, and were involved in the fight for freedom in Britain, the West Indies and America. Museums, archives, libraries, and community organisations in Hertfordshire will be working together during 2007 to find out more from primary sources, and give a voice to those whose stories have not been heard:


• Creative workshops with Theatre Is… & writer Catherine Johnson Using historical documents, the stories of Hertfordshire people involved in the slave trade and its abolition are being brought to life through a programme of creative workshops and performances in schools, libraries and community groups across the county, including dance, spoken word and creative writing.
• Volunteer archive research Local volunteers are searching Hertfordshire Parish Registers for evidence of people of African and Caribbean descent living in the county since the 1500’s, producing an online searchable database and adding to the growing number of local histories of black people and their families.
• Talks, events and archive visits raising awareness of Hertfordshire’s historical links with the slave trade and the abolition movement with community groups, local history groups, BME groups, charitable organisations and local festivals across the county.
• Film-making training with young people and production of a DVD telling the ‘Hidden Histories’ and forming the basis of a Touring Exhibition in county-wide venues, such as libraries, museums and community centres.
• A booklist relating to the slave trade and its abolition, to be distributed in libraries and venues throughout the county.
• ENJOY! Hertfordshire Heritage trail booklet highlighting sites in the built environment of Hertfordshire linked to the slave trade and its abolition.
• Restoration of the Thomas Clarkson monument Working closely alongside the Heritage Lottery funded project to restore the Thomas Clarkson monument at Wadesmill, Hertfordshire.