Wyatt’s Legacy
Pupils from Archway School, July 2003
On the corner of the Paganhill estate in Stroud, Gloucestershire stands an arch, the only memorial of its type left in Britain, to the Abolition of Slavery in the British Colonies. It was built in 1834 as the grand entrance to a Georgian Mansion, Farmhill Park, by its new owner Henry Wyatt. The house, carriage drive and gates are gone, leaving the classical arch with its diminutive lodge house.
Human Trade
Between the 15th and 19th centuries millions of Africans were transported across the Atalntic Ocean to a life of slavery. It was a triangular trade. Goods, often cheap and shoddy but most commonly cloth, were sent out from Britain and exchanged for slaves in Africa. The slaves worked, for example, on cotton and sugar plantations in the Americas. The money from the sale of them was used to buy these products for return to Britain.
Human Cargo
A further view of the Arch
Conditions on the slaveships were appalling. For up to twelve weeks the captives were crowded together below decks, only occasionally allowed into the fresh air. Many died on the way. Sharks would follow the ships to feed on those thrown overboard.
Henry Wyatt
Henry Wyatt, 1793-1847, was born in Stroud and began his working life as a clothier in Slad. He became a wealthy local businessman and magistrate with banking and brewing interests. He was associated with the Stroud Anti-Slavery Society which in 1832 put pressure on the newly elected MP for Stroud, Mr W H Hyett, who had promised to support the abolition of slavery in Parliament.
Stroud Protests
The lengthy battle to reform the system of slavery saw numerous petitions from all over the country sent in 1830 and 1831 to the Houses of Parliament, including Randwick Church and France Chapel at Chalford Hill. Other local Stroud groups also sent petitions to show their opposition to slavery.
Abolition
The first organised anti-slavery societies appeared in Britain in the 1780s. In 1807 the British slave trade was abolished by Parliament and it became illegal to buy and sell slaves, although people could still own them. In 1833 Parliament finally abolished slavery itself, both in Britain and throughout the British Empire. The British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society formed in 1839, gave inspiration to the abolitionist movement in the USA and Brazil.
A grand design
Described by David Verey in Pevsner as a “Stone Arch, flanked by coupled pilasters and crowned with an entablature and a dentilled cornice”, it is listed as Grade II. It has two inscriptions,
ERECTED TO COMMEMORATE THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY IN THE BRITISH COLONIES, THE FIRST OF AUGUST A.D. MDCCCXXXIV
and
DEDIT DEUS LIBERTATEM DETUR DEO GLORIA
which translates as “God gave freedom. May glory be given to God”. The original wrought iron gates are now at Doddington Hall.
Restoration
Archway School, named after the arch, was built in the 1960s on the site of the mansion, Farmhill Park. Stroud Urban District Council spent over £1000 on repairs raised from voluntary donations, following a campaign to save it from demolition. By 2000 the arch was again in need of repair. A local group “The Anti-Slavery Arch Group” raised funds of £25,000 for a community project. This included major stone repairs to the arch and works to the footpath, a bronze plaque, a leaflet, website and a community play.
Archway School is committed to highlighting the plight of modern slaves and using the Arch to bring the issue to public attention.
Material
The arch is built of a local Oolitic limestone with the top constructed in a durable fossiliferous limestone. In 2001 stone repairs and cleaning were carried out by Nichola Quayle of Tetbury using specialist conservation architect Anne Page of Andrew Townsend Architects of Faringdon.
Location
New plaque by Clive Soord, 2003
From Stroud take the A46 signed Gloucester. Turn left to Whiteshill, continue past the Leisure Centre and Stroud College. Turn right at the next roundabout to Whiteshill and the Arch is on the corner of the second road on the left named Farmhill Estate.
Memorial plaque sculpted by Clive Soord, Canterbury. Cast in bronze at Pangolin Foundry, Chalford.