The grit in the oyster: Deptford, enslavement, and the challenges of memorialisation
The grit in the oyster: Deptford, enslavement, and the challenges of memorialisation
London was the first slaving port in Britain, although it was subsequently overshadowed by Bristol and Liverpool. It still lags behind the western ports in its attempts to memorialise Britain’s role in the triangular transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans. Arguably the first Englishman to carry out the triangular voyage was John Hawkins, who set sail from Deptford Strand. Deptford is connected to enslavement and to abolition in many different ways but there is little official recognition of these linkages. Local community groups, building on the work of academics such as Joan Anim-Addo, have attempted to increase awareness of Deptford’s historical significance, but this has not been without challenges. Deptford has lost much of its built heritage and is not on the standard tourist routes, unlike neighbouring Greenwich. Locals and visitors alike will find little to memorialise Deptford’s key place in the history of enslavement.
London, Slavery, Memorials, Dockyards, Abolition, Ships, Black Lives Matter, Royal Navy, History from Below
94-112
Paul, Helen
d925e4be-28d4-42f5-824d-aec37750e062
1 May 2025
Paul, Helen
d925e4be-28d4-42f5-824d-aec37750e062
Paul, Helen
(2025)
The grit in the oyster: Deptford, enslavement, and the challenges of memorialisation.
The London Journal, 50 (1), .
(doi:10.1080/03058034.2025.2459988).
Abstract
London was the first slaving port in Britain, although it was subsequently overshadowed by Bristol and Liverpool. It still lags behind the western ports in its attempts to memorialise Britain’s role in the triangular transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans. Arguably the first Englishman to carry out the triangular voyage was John Hawkins, who set sail from Deptford Strand. Deptford is connected to enslavement and to abolition in many different ways but there is little official recognition of these linkages. Local community groups, building on the work of academics such as Joan Anim-Addo, have attempted to increase awareness of Deptford’s historical significance, but this has not been without challenges. Deptford has lost much of its built heritage and is not on the standard tourist routes, unlike neighbouring Greenwich. Locals and visitors alike will find little to memorialise Deptford’s key place in the history of enslavement.
Text
The Grit in the Oyster Deptford Enslavement and the Challenges of Memorialisation
- Version of Record
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 23 January 2025
e-pub ahead of print date: 1 May 2025
Published date: 1 May 2025
Keywords:
London, Slavery, Memorials, Dockyards, Abolition, Ships, Black Lives Matter, Royal Navy, History from Below
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 501665
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/501665
ISSN: 0305-8034
PURE UUID: 0006e74e-a3e2-4e4f-8940-e7bd9e4ee32f
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Date deposited: 05 Jun 2025 16:34
Last modified: 22 Aug 2025 01:57
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