Slave trade on the move

Hereford’s “museum on a bus” will be touring the county with an exciting new exhibition to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery.

The exhibition will explore the role of slavery in human history, as well as the county’s role in the transatlantic slave trade.

Herefordshire was connected to the man responsible for establishing England’s slave trade route from Plymouth to the west coast of Africa and then to the Americas or the “New World”.  

Sir John Hawkins came to Herefordshire to marry his Kington wife, Margaret Vaughan (Lady Hawkins), in the 16th Century (they were possibly married in Eardisley castle).  He undertook three slave-raiding voyages to Africa where he traded goods for slaves, then shipped the slaves to the Americas where they were traded for goods. 

“This exciting new exhibition challenges us to explore slavery today and find out how the contents of our shopping basket play a part in the global economy of slavery and bonded labour,” said Sarah Skelton, Community Heritage Officer.

“The  new displays will explore the causes behind the transatlantic slave trade and show how the trade eventually came to be abolished.

“Many people don’t realise that the slave trade had an impact on Herefordshire’s history.  It is thought that Lady Hawkins’ school in Kington was paid for largely by the fortune Sir John amassed on his slave-raids”.

The Museum on the Move is a museum on a fully accessible bus which will be on tour early next year across the county. 

Schools and community groups can book the exhibition which links to key stage 1-4 History, PSHE, Citizenship, Geography and English, for a nominal fee (just to cover costs).