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Introduction

Introduction

Introduction

Liverpool street names have Project and it is through to the palatial splendour of the become a contentious issue in this project that this information private houses and mansions of the recent years due to the fact that sheet is being produced. most prominent slaving dynasties, many commemorate individuals international trade shaped Liverpool who prospered from the slave Our aim is to provide factual for centuries. One important trade. We may not wish to honour information about the individuals aspect of this trade was the these people today, but should we and families which were involved transatlantic slave trade. Even forget their role in the history of in both slaving and abolition in after abolition in 1807, goods our city? The Transatlantic Slave Liverpool – and how it was that they which were grown and produced on Trade was the biggest enforced came to have places and streets plantations using slaves were movement of people that the world named after them. Contrary to being transported through has ever known. The significance what many people now believe, the port of Liverpool. of Liverpool’s role in that trade is streets were not named after one of the reasons why Liverpool, people because they were slavers. Research was Maritime Mercantile City was They were honoured in this way specially inscribed by UNESCO as a World because they were landowners, commissioned by Heritage Site. During 2007, the decision makers, politicians, patrons English Heritage bicentenary of the abolition of the of the arts and powerful business for this brochure slave trade in Britain and the 800th people. Some of these people were and has drawn on a birthday of the City of Liverpool, this prominent slave traders as we will variety of materials, booklet takes a closer look at the see, and others fought the ideas ranging from primary facts behind the naming of places and beliefs prominent at the time to sources at the Liverpool and streets in Liverpool. crush the trade through the abolition Records Office archives, movement. The pamphlet does not private libraries of historical In October 2006, English Heritage intend to be a potted history of documents and books already stated that it would research links Liverpool’s role in the slave trade. known in this field of history. A to the Transatlantic Slave Trade The purpose is to highlight the role bibliography is available at the end and abolition amongst the families that selected individuals played of this information sheet, including associated with sites in its care in the development of the built website addresses and organisations built during the period of the heritage of the city from wealth which may be able to help with trade – a total of approximately accrued through plantation slavery research. 30 buildings throughout . and the slave trade. It is thought that this work will Here, in alphabetical order, are 12 take about 2 years to complete. In From the sophisticated system of of the best known people from the Liverpool English Heritage does warehousing developed to store time of the height of the transatlantic not own any buildings – but it does cotton, tobacco and other goods slave trade, who have had streets have a special partnership project imported from the West Indies, and places named after them in called the Historic Environment of and elsewhere, Liverpool;

Detail from ‘The Hunted Slaves’ by Richard Ansdell: International Slavery Museum, National By the 1780’s the Blackburnes had and was one of Liverpool’s most Ashton Street Blackburne Place acquired large tracts of land in and prominent merchants during the John Ashton (1711-1759) John Blackburne, (1693-1786) around Liverpool and John’s son, first half of the eighteenth century. also named John, used some of this He used his influence to get other John Ashton was a salt merchant Originally from Orford near land to build Blackburne House, local merchants to contribute to the who also invested in the slave trade. , John Blackburne was a completed in 1790. Following in his building and upkeep of a new home He used his profits from salt and slave trader who is named on the father’s footsteps, John junior served for the Blue Coat in 1718. Although slavery to subsidise the construction list of merchants as mayor of Liverpool in 1788 and the administration of the school of the , owning 51 out trading with Africa was to become a founder member became one of his chief interests of the 120 shares. His son, Nicholas, in 1752. John of the Athenaeum Club, along with he remained a ship owner into his used the family fortune to purchase Blackburne senior many of Liverpool’s slave traders and seventies and had the slave ship the coalmines in Parr, St Helens; he served as mayor abolitionists. The Blackburnes are Sea Flower built between 1745-48. also acquired Woolton Hall in 1772, of Liverpool in also remembered in Great Orford His sons Jonathan and Richard were inviting Robert Adam to redesign the 1760 and was an Street, named after their estate near both involved in the slave trade, interior, maybe his only completed active member of Warrington where they had a famous as were his grandsons, Bryan and commission in . The the town’s elite. hothouse, thought to be the first Henry. The Blundells also invested Ashton family is also commemorated Blackburne made a in the country to grow pineapples, significantly in the coalmines around with other streets that bear their fortune in Liverpool coffee, tea and sugarcane. St Helens. The Blue Coat Hospital name; Ashton Square in Woolton and used some Blackburne Street in Garston is is the oldest building in Liverpool and Ashton Drive in Hunts Cross. The of his wealth to also named after the family as the city centre and is one of the very Ashtons were not alone in using the refurbish the family Blackburnes moved their salt works few buildings in the city built in the proceeds of slavery to invest in the seat, Orford Hall; he there in 1798. John Blackburne Sr Queen Anne style. The Blue Coat industrial development of Britain. also purchased the was the father of noted American School still exists but moved from Richard Pennant, MP for Liverpool- manor of Warrington ornithologist, Ashton Blackburne. the old building in 1906 to new whom Penrhyn Street is named after- in 1764. In addition to accommodation in Wavertree. It is used the revenue from his Jamaican slave trading he was one of Liverpool’s most prestigious sugar plantations to invest in road a salt merchant who schools and many Liverpool notables and dock building and the slate owned the salt works Blundell Street have been educated there, including industry in . Richard Pennant’s adjacent to Liverpool’s the artist Richard Ansdell RA, who nephew, who inherited the family second wet dock, which opened in Bryan Blundell (1675-1756) painted “The Hunted Slaves”, which estates on the demise of the first 1753. Originally it was named the Bryan Blundell was a tobacco can be seen at the new International Lord Penrhyn, built Penrhyn Castle, South Dock, but due to the proximity merchant, sea captain and slave ship Slavery Museum. The Blue Coat now owned by the National Trust. of Blackburne’s salt works it quickly owner. No less than three members will be celebrating its tercentenary became known as the Salthouse of the Blundell family are listed as during Liverpool’s year as European Dock. Blackburne was also an “Merchants Trading to Africa” in Capital of Culture. The Blue Coat investor in canal building; many 1752. After leaving the sea in 1713 hospital building has been in use Liverpool slave traders diversified he had acquired the sum of £7,500 for many years as The Blue Coat their economic interests to pounds and bequeathed 10% of his Arts Centre, a leading centre for the take advantage of industries annual income until his death for the contemporary arts. springing up around southern upkeep of the Blue Coat Hospital, a Lancashire. These included charity school he had helped found salt manufacture, banking, in 1708. Blundell served twice as shipbuilding, rope-making mayor of Liverpool in 1721 and 1728, and coal mining.

Advert for the sale of a ‘negrp boy’ at a coffee shop in Liverpool. the slave trade. Joseph Daltera father of the future Prime Minister. and Bridget. Altogether these four Bold Street advertised for sale in the Williamson’s Gladstone was the owner of more vessels held 1,120 slaves and were Jonas Bold (1745-?) Advertiser on June 17 1757: “To than 2000 slaves on his plantations very profitable for the Cunliffes, be sold 10 pipes of raisin wine, in Jamaica and Demerara. In 1831 allowing them to purchase slave Bold Street was once known as the a parcel of bottled cyder, and a Cropper joined forces with his produce such as tobacco, sugar and “Bond Street of the North”. It is Negro boy….” Many of Liverpool’s son-in-law, Joseph Sturge, to form rum for sale on return to England. named after Jonas Bold, who leased merchants during the 18th century the Young England Abolitionists, When Foster Cunliffe was invited to the land from Liverpool Corporation were slave traders and/or purveyors distinguished from other anti-slavery stand for Parliament, he declined, around 1785-6. He also owned a of slave produced goods such as groups by its outspokenness and but nominated his son, Ellis, instead. plot at the top of the street, which is sugar, coffee, tobacco or cotton. vigorous campaigning. Ellis won unopposed and stood as now the site of St Luke’s Church. Bold MP for Liverpool for twelve years Street was the home of the Lyceum (1755-67); he was also made a Club, built by the famed architect Baronet. Foster died in 1758 and was Thomas Harrison and opened in Cropper Street Cunliffe Street buried in St Peter’s Church, Church 1802. It was built to house the St. Liverpool Library, which is thought James Cropper (1773–1840) Foster Cunliffe (1682-1758) to be the oldest public subscription James Cropper, merchant and Foster Cunliffe was the son of a His grandson, also named Foster library in the country. Many of the philanthropist, came from Winstanley clergyman of high repute who had (1755-1834), used the family’s wealth founder members of the Lyceum to Liverpool at the age of 17 and was acted as chaplain to King Charles to purchase Acton Hall and estate traded in enslaved Africans. Prior to apprenticed to Rathbone Brothers, II, who in turn stood as Godfather near Wrexham. In 1786 he enlarged Bold acquiring the land it had been the first Liverpool merchants to Foster. As a young man he was the Hall and the following year he home to the rope-works of the slave importing cotton from America. Later intended to enter the church. Instead founded the Society of Royal British traders Joseph and Jonathan Brooks, he established his own company— he was apprenticed to Richard Bowmen, archery being a popular whom Brooks Alley is named after. Cropper, Benson & Co. His business Norris, a merchant and politician pastime for the landed gentry during Bold was also a slave trader, sugar proved to be a highly prosperous in Liverpool, who was a partner of the late eighteenth century. merchant, mayor and a partner in one, and the wealth generated Sir Thomas Johnson in one of the the banking firm Staniforth, Ingram, enabled Cropper to engage in a earliest legal slave ships to leave the Bold and Daltera: all four men were number of religious and philanthropic port. Norris and Johnson were also involved in activities. The main focus of his heavily involved in the importation Earle Road/Earle attention was the campaign for of slave-produced tobacco from the abolition of slavery; he wrote Virginia. Sir Thomas Street, off Dale Street/Earlestown pamphlets and sent them to William Street, is named after Johnson. John Earle (1674-1749) Wilberforce at an early stage in the Young Foster had a rapid rise in anti-slavery campaign. His activities business and was soon established The Earle Family of Liverpool were were very unpopular in Liverpool as a slave merchant and civic leader heavily involved in the slave trade and many of the West India in the town. He was elected Mayor over a number of generations as merchants who owned plantations in 1716,1729 and 1735, he was slave ship owners, captains, and in the Caribbean criticized him. also an alderman, and often acted plantation landlords. In 1823–4 he was subject to a as Deputy Mayor. By the middle of John Earle came to Liverpool series of attacks in the eighteenth century Foster and from Warrington in 1688, joining the columns of the his two sons had shares in 26 ships; the house of William Clayton, MP Liverpool newspapers at least four of them were slavers: and a well-known merchant. By by Sir John Gladstone, the Foster, Ellis and Robert, Bulkely, 1700, he had established his own Abolitionist sugar bowl with image of Abolitionist wax seal with the motto ‘Am I not a woman and enslaved African, part of a dinner service a sister’ - loaned by the Cropper family loaned by the Cropper family business and was trading in a range largest being Vreedenhoop, with of commodities including wine, Gladstone Road 430 slaves, acquired in 1826 for tobacco, sugar and iron goods. He Sir John Gladstone (1764–1851), £80,000. Throughout the 1820s John was also responsible for establishing William E Gladstone (1809-1898) Gladstone increased his sugar estate the family interest in the slave trade. holdings, adding estates in Jamaica The Earle family connection with Sir John Gladstone, first baronet and disregarding the growth of the slavery would continue for over a (1764–1851), was born John anti-slavery movement. His wealth century. In 1709, John was elected Gladstones on 11 December 1764 in enabled him to give his sons the start Mayor of Liverpool. At his death Leith, Scotland. Gladstone left school in life that he never had and thus aged thirteen and after serving an in 1749, three of his four surviving William was dispatched to Eton in that it was carrying apprenticeship entered his father’s children - Ralph (1715-1790), Thomas 1821 for his education. His schooling gunpowder to exchange for enslaved corn-chandling business in 1781. In (1719-1781) and William (1721- was to provide a springboard for his Africans. By 1805 Thomas Parr had 1786 he moved to Liverpool to work 1788) - were trading in beads, one political career, which culminated sold his Liverpool house and used with Edgar Corrie. The partnership of a variety of commodities used in in him serving four terms as Prime his wealth to purchase Lythwood Hall with Corrie was very successful and slave trading on the African coast. Minister. Although William Gladstone and estate in Shropshire. In 1822 they quickly diversified into Virginian Ralph became mayor in 1769. John’s is renowned as a great Liberal Prime the Colquitt Street house became tobacco, and it was on a combination youngest son, William, captained a Minister who defended Home Rule the home of the Liverpool Royal of American grain and tobacco that slave ship and was also a part owner for the Irish, in his maiden speech in Institution, established by Liverpool Gladstone’s fortune was founded. of many slaving vessels. the House of Commons he argued merchants in 1814 and founded However, it was not until Gladstone After William died in 1788, his sons against the immediate emancipation for “The promotion of Literature, invested in West Indian plantations Thomas (1754-1822) and William of slaves. He was also a supporter Science and the Arts”. Many of and their produce that his fortune (1760-1839) took over the family of the Confederacy during the the men who helped establish really skyrocketed. By June 1799John business. Thomas served as mayor American Civil War. When the British the institution had links to slavery, Gladstone was worth £40,000; by in 1787 and by this time had used finally abolished slavery in the 1830s either as slave traders or owners of 1812, £145,600; by 1820, £333,600; the family wealth to purchase the the Gladstone family received over West Indian plantations that used by 1828, £502,550. Gladstone began Spekeland estate; in 1805 he built £90,000 in compensation for the slave labour. It was not uncommon sugar and cotton trading in the Spekeland House close to the site of slaves they had to free. for merchants who made fortunes West Indies in 1803, that year also Earle Road. In the 1830s the Earle’s through the slave trade to use purchasing the Belmont estate in acquired a plantation in Berbice, their wealth to establish or support Demerara, the first of several, the British Guiana (now Guyana), which Parr St philanthropic organisations such as they acquired as part of a bad debt. the Liverpool Dispensary for the Sick, Thomas’s son, Sir Hardman Earle, 1st Thomas Parr (1769-1847) which was responsible for providing Baronet (1792-1877), commissioned medicine to the poor. Harvey Lonsdale Elmes Parr Street is named after Thomas to build Allerton Towers Parr who in 1799 built the fine house in 1847. Sir Hardman that still stands on the corner of Parr was the Director of Street and Colquitt Street. Thomas the & North was a slave trader and banker in Western Railway Liverpool; he owned the massive and Earlestown ship “Parr” which had berths for near Newton le 700 slaves. The vessel is reported to Willows is named have exploded off the west coast of

in his honour. Africa in 1798, which may indicate Memorial to Plaque to Thomas Parr, W.E. Gladstone, Lythwood, Rodney Street Shropshire his enthusiasm for public office. Roscoe Street/ Although reluctantly nominated in Sir Thomas Street Tarleton Street Roscoe Gardens/ 1807, Roscoe was not re-elected. Sir Thomas Johnson (1664-1728-9) (1754 - 1833) The Tarleton family produced Roscoe’s former home, Allerton Hall, Sir Thomas Johnson is known as three generations of slave traders. Roscoe Lane still stands and is now the Pub in the “The founder of modern Liverpool”. He served as mayor in 1695 and The most famous member of the (1753-1831) Park at Clarke Gardens. was one of Liverpool’s earliest family was Banastre Tarleton (1754- Roscoe Street is named after recorded slave traders, financing 1833) who fought famously for the William Roscoe, who is considered the second documented slave ship British during the American War of one of Liverpool’s greatest sons. to leave the port. In 1700, along Independence and fought just as Roscoe was an attorney, author, with Robert Norris of Speke Hall, valiantly in the House of Commons banker, poet, botanist, politician, art Johnson financed the voyage of The to prevent the end of the slave collector and abolitionist. He was Blessing to the Gold Coast (West trade. Banastre’s grandfather was one of the founder proprietors of the Africa) and then on to Barbados, the first Tarleton to trade in enslaved Athenaeum Club in 1797 and was where the enslaved Africans were Africans, his father was also involved, instrumental in the establishment of to be exchanged for cotton, ginger as were his three brothers, John, The Liverpool Botanic Gardens in and sugar. Johnson was also Clayton and Thomas. General 1802, which opened to the public involved in the “Virginia Trade”, Banastre Tarleton used his fame as 38 years before Kew Gardens in which saw Liverpool merchants a colonial war hero to ensure he London. In 1822 his influence led to deal in slave-produced tobacco. became MP for Liverpool in the 1790 the opening of the Royal Institution Mount Pleasant Memorial In 1708, whilst serving as MP for parliamentary elections, although with plaque to William it was probably a dispute over in Colquitt Street and Roscoe Liverpool, he pushed for the building his collection of early of Liverpool’s, and arguably the beer that was the main factor in his Florentine paintings, world’s, first commercial wet dock, success. Once elected he utilised of world importance, which opened in 1715. This feat was his position as MP to protect his can be seen in the greatly responsible for the increase in family’s business interests, fighting . Liverpool’s overseas trade and many vociferously to ensure that the slave slave ships were to dock here during trade was preserved by the British After winning the eighteenth century. In 1717 Government. He had a vested election to he offered to purchase the French interest in parliament in 1806 section of the Caribbean island of the continuation as MP for Liverpool, he voted St Kitts for £61000, presumably for of the slave trade, in support of Wilberforce’s motion the continued production of slave- although as an to end British involvement in the grown sugar, but the offer was not MP for Liverpool slave trade. His efforts to end the accepted. He invested heavily in the his stance on the slave trade were not appreciated South Sea Company, whose main African trade was in Liverpool and on his return from interest was the transportation of the norm. With Parliament he was accosted by a slaves to the Spanish colonies in the the exception of mob on Castle Street. Later that Americas. In 1720 the company went William Roscoe, night one of his party, Edward into freefall due to massive over- all of the town’s Spencer, was murdered during speculation. Johnson found himself MPs during a brawl which, it is thought, was in financial difficulties and lived out the late 18th sparked by the incident earlier in the his final years on a small pension. and early 19th day. This event is said to have soured his opinion of politics and he lost Banastre Tarleton by unknown artist Banastre Tarleton after Sir , National Portrait Gallery century, were opposed http://landing.ancestry.co.uk/intl/ http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/ to the abolition of the Bibliography and uk/barbados.aspx?o_iid=31428&o_ server/show/nav.17483 - up to date slave trade. lid=31428 – useful; website for information about the work which A portrait of Banastre a selection of those trying to trace ancestors who English Heritage is doing nationally Tarleton after Sir were enslaved in the West Indies in to research the evidence of the slave Joshua Reynolds now websites with particular. trade in the historic environment of hangs in the National England. Useful, printable resources. Gallery in London. information related http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org. uk/maritime/slavery/liverpool.asp http://www.channel4.com/history/ Interestingly, the to this topic; - background information about microsites/H/history/a-b/britains_ abolitionist Zachary transatlantic slave trade. slave_trade.html Macaulay travelled Earle Family and Business Archive: as a passenger Maritime Museum http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org. http://www.visitliverpool.com/ from Sierra Leone Cropper Family Archive: uk/ism/ - information about the new blackheritage/slavery-trail - site which to England via Merseyside Maritime Museum International Slavery Museum in gives information about guided tours the West Indies on a Tarleton The Rise of the Port of Liverpool: Liverpool. which cover the history of the slave Brothers slave ship, the Ann Phillipa. C. Northcote Parkinson trade in Liverpool. During the voyage he kept a diary A Merseyside Town in the Industrial http://archive.liverpool.gov.uk – the describing the terrible events he Revolution St Helens 1750-1900: home page of the Liverpool Records http://www.liv.ac.uk/history/research/ witnessed on board. In order to Barker & Harris Office. Very valuable resource which CSIS.htm University of Liverpool, disguise the contents of the journal Williamson’s Advertiser: tells you how to use the services and School of History describing current from the ship’s crew he wrote his Liverpool Records Office where they are based. research on this topic. entries using Greek letters. Memorials of Liverpool: J.A. Picton The Family of Blackburne of http://www.blackhistory4schools. http://www.nypl.org/research/sc/ Liverpool is going through rapid Hale Hall: Charlotte Blackburne co.uk/slavetrade/ - generic site with sc.html Site focussing on Black change of the like not seen since Bury the Chains teaching resources about the history American culture and history with the city’s Victorian heyday. Buildings Adam Hochschild of the slave trade. some interesting links to and images are being demolished and some Gore’s Liverpool Directories of Liverpool. streets are disappearing, but new Shropshire Records Office http://bbc.co.uk/abolition - articles, developments are creating new The Life and Times of William films and information about issues http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/ streets. This may Ewart Gladstone: J Ewing Ritchie relating to the abolition of the localhistory/history_howtodo.shtml allow the city to Liverpool Banks and Bankers 1760- transatlantic slave trade and its some useful hints and tips on how to discuss naming 1837: John Hughes legacy. do simple historical research some of these Grayson’s of Liverpool: Colin Brooks thoroughfares Enfield’s Liverpool: William Enfield http://www.stjamestoxteth.co.uk http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl after men and History of the Liverpool Privateers – fascinating site based on work =en&q=street+names+slavery&me women, both and Letters of Marque with an done by Churches Conservation Trust ta=cr%3DcountryUK%7CcountryG black and white, Account of the Liverpool Slave on the church records at St James B message board on debate about who fought to Trade: Gomer Williams – University Church showing free Black people street names and slavery. end the inhumane of Liverpool Press living and working in Liverpool system of slavery Staying Power: Peter Fryer during the 1700’s. http://www.thebluecoat.org.uk at home and Hansard’s Parliamentary Debates - site of the Bluecoat Arts Centre abroad. (1833)

Sir Banastre Tarleton by James Gilray, National Portrait Gallery Ashton Street John Ashton (1711-1759)

Blackburne Place CU N John Blackburne, (1693-1786) LIF FE ST . Blundell Street 6 Bryan Blundell (1675-1756) SIR 8 TH OMAS ST Bold Street 15

Jonas Bold (1745-?) .

Cropper Street 1 James Cropper (1773–1840)

Cunliffe Street 9 Foster Cunliffe (1682-1758)

Earle Road/Earle Street/Earlestown 16 John Earle (1674-1749) CR O PPER ST5 Gladstone Road . 13 Sir John Gladstone (1764–1851), William E 4 Gladstone (1809-1898)

Parr St Thomas Parr (1769-1847)

Roscoe Street/Roscoe Gardens/Roscoe Lane William Roscoe (1753-1831) 11PA 12 RR ST. Sir Thomas Street 14 Sir Thomas Johnson (1664-1728-9)

Tarleton Street KEY 2 1 Ashton Street 2 Blackburne Place 3 Blundell Street 4 Bold Street 5 Cropper Street 6 Cunliffe Street 7 Earle Road (Wavertree) 8 Earle Street 7 (off Old Hall Street) 9 Earlestown (Newton le Willows) 10 Gladstone Road (Garston) 11 Parr St 12 Roscoe Street 13 Roscoe Gardens 14 Roscoe Lane 10 15 Sir Thomas Street © Crown copyright. All rights reserved 100018351 2007 16 Tarleton Street REET 3 BLUNDELL ST The publication is dedicated to Alex Robinson, a history teacher who was prepared to talk about transatlantic slavery and its legacy when others remained silent, and Ivy Jenkins-Darby for being an inspiration.

Special thanks to: Louise O’Brien, English Heritage Henry Owen-John, English Heritage Karl Creaser, English Heritage Colum Giles, English Heritage Rachel Hasted, English Heritage Susan Skedd, English Heritage Claire Dove, Blackburne House Bryan Biggs, Bluecoat Arts Peter O’Brien, Liverpool City Council James Cropper Richard Benjamin, International Slavery Museum, National Museums Liverpool Eddie Roberts Dr Ray Costello Tony Tibbles, National Museums Liverpool Liverpool Records Office

Researched and written by Laurence Westgaph

READ THE SIGNS Street names with a connection to the If you would like information in another language or format, transatlantic slave trade and abolition in Liverpool please ask us tel: 0151 233 3007 minicom: 0151 225 3275 ‘Read the Signs’ email: [email protected] © Liverpool City Council, All rights reserved. 070414 MS/TM/0907

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