Event    From 25/3/1807  To 1/8/1834

Abolition of slavery

The British abolition of slavery came in two parts: first the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act became law on 25 March 1807, which left slavery itself still permitted until the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 which caused all slaves in the British Empire to be emancipated on 1 August 1834. The slaves in India and Ceylon were not freed until Britain took over from the East India Company in 1843.

Compensation was paid, but to the owners, not the slaves. Meticulous records were kept and have been analysed at Legacies of British Slave-ownership.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Abolition of slavery

Commemorated ati

Aboliton of slavery - SE1

{The statue stands at one end of a long composite stone slab inlaid with a de...

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Bronze Woman

This was the first statue of a black woman to be on permanent display anywher...

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Buxton Memorial Fountain

Due to strong shadows it was only on our fourth visit that we managed to take...

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Gilt of Cain - Slave trade

This sculpture, 'Gilt of Cain', was unveiled by Bishop Tutu in commemoration ...

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Holy Trinity Clapham - Clapham Sect

The damage on this plaque is the result of WW2 bombs.

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Show all 11

Other Subjects

George Arthur Roberts

George Arthur Roberts

Soldier and Fireman. Born in Trinidad, he was one of the first black men to join the British Army. In WW1, he earned a reputation for throwing bombs back over enemy lines and was nicknamed the 'Coc...

Person, Armed Forces, Community / Clubs, Emergency Services, Race Issues, Caribbean Islands, France, Turkey

War served, WW2
1 memorial
Mrs Catherine Smithies

Mrs Catherine Smithies

Born as Catherine Bywater. Founded the Band of Mercy movement in Britain. She also campaigned against slavery but we can find no details. Her home, Earlham Grove House, built c.1865, has also been...

Person, Animals, Philanthropy, Race Issues, Social Welfare

1 memorial
Battle of Lewisham

Battle of Lewisham

In the mid 1970s, New Cross and surrounding areas became the focus of racist activity by neo-Nazis and the National Front (NF). This culminated in an attempted march by 500 members of the NF. Vario...

Event, Politics & Administration, Race Issues

2 memorials
Frank Crichlow

Frank Crichlow

Frank Gilbert Crichlow was a human rights campaigner, community organiser and restauranteur.  Born Trinidad. Came to England in June 1953.  Founded Mangrove Restaurant.  Co-founded Mangrove Steel B...

Person, Community / Clubs, Food & Drink, Race Issues, Social Welfare, Caribbean Islands

1 memorial
Moncure Daniel Conway

Moncure Daniel Conway

Born Stafford County, Virginia, USA. Social reformer and ethical preacher. He abandoned his Methodist ministry because of what he saw as its repression of free thought and became a Unitarian. He ca...

Person, Gender Issues, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Social Welfare, France, USA

3 memorials