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

Granville Sharp

Granville Sharp

Anti-slavery campaigner.  Born Durham.  1757 became Clerk in the Ordnance Office.  Became involved with the anti-slavery campaign by a personal involvement with an injured slave, Jonathan Strong, a...

Person, Law, Race Issues

1 memorial
Bishop Beilby Porteus

Bishop Beilby Porteus

Born York. Bishop of London 1787 - 1809. The first senior church official to support the abolition of slavery. Died at Fulham Palace.

Person, Race Issues, Religion

1 memorial
Bank of England

Bank of England

Londonist have an interesting post about animals at the Bank of England. The Guardian, 16 April 2022, reporting on an exhibition at the Bank of England, informed that the Bank once owned 599 slave...

Group, Commerce, Politics & Administration, Race Issues

1 memorial
Thomas Clarkson

Thomas Clarkson

Leading campaigner against the slave trade. A founding member of The Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, in 1787, whose work was later taken over by the Anti-Slavery Society. A report of...

Person, Race Issues

1 memorial
Altab Ali

Altab Ali

24-year-old Bengali murdered in Adler Street, junction Whitechapel High Street, in a racist attack by three teenage boys. Altab Ali was on his way home to Wapping from a small factory just off Bric...

Person, Race Issues, Tragedy, Pakistan

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Winston Churchill - Caxton Hall

Winston Churchill - Caxton Hall

SW1, Caxton Street, 10, Caxton Hall

The foundation stone is low down at the right hand side of the building. Above each of the two statues is a bust, both of the Greek god v...

2 subjects commemorated, 2 creators