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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Other Subjects

Alford Gardner

Alford Gardner

Windrush Pioneer. Alford Dalrymple Gardner was a Jamaican-born "Windrush generation" emigrant and co-founder of the first Caribbean cricket club in Britain. Served in the RAF in WW2. The Guardian,...

Person, Race Issues, Sport / Games, Jamaica

1 memorial
Sir Otto Beit

Sir Otto Beit

Financier, philanthropist, and art connoisseur.  Born Berlin.  Younger brother to Alfred and made his fortune the same way: mining diamonds.  Came to London in 1896 and took British citizenship.  G...

Person, Industry, Philanthropy, Race Issues, Germany

1 memorial
Clapham Sect

Clapham Sect

A group of evangelical Christians, who worshipped at Holy Trinity Church in Clapham and centred on William Wilberforce, who campaigned for the abolition of slavery and other religious, philanthropi...

Group, Philanthropy, Race Issues, Religion

4 memorials
Josiah Wedgwood

Josiah Wedgwood

Master potter. Born in Burslem, Stoke, Staffordshire, into a potters family. Married his cousin, Sally. Childhood smallpox left him with a limp. His inability to operate the potters wheel meant he ...

Person, Craft / Design, Industry, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Seriously Famous

4 memorials
Henry Sylvester Williams

Henry Sylvester Williams

Anti-slavery and civil rights campaigner.  Born Trinidad.  After the USA he arrived in London in 1896 to study.  Qualified in law.  Elected in 1906 for Church Street Ward, the first black councillo...

Person, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Caribbean Islands

1 memorial

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Derek Jarman

Derek Jarman

Artist, film director, stage designer, writer, gardener, and queer activist. Born as Michael Derek Elworthy Jarman in Northwood. Had a studio at Butler's Wharf in the 1970s. Died of an AIDS-related...

Person, Art, Cinema, Gender Issues, Seriously Famous

1 memorial