Advocating abolition: Plymouth's links project

With funding from Renaissance in the Regions and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Strategic Commissioning Fund, our colleagues at Plymouth and West Devon Record Office (PWDRO) worked with children from two different primary schools on a special project to mark the abolition of the slave trade in 1807 and the abolition of slavery in 1833.

PWDRO’s Learning Officer worked alongside drama, dance and music teachers on a range of activities inspired by a number of 19th century abolition posters, which invited inhabitants of the town of Plymouth to sign petitions for Parliament demanding the gradual abolition of slavery.

The project culminated at Plymouth’s 2007 Respect Festival – a two-day celebration of the city’s multi-culture. Children who had been involved in the project re-enacted a public abolition meeting, a procession and the signing of a petition. Visitors to the Respect Festival were then able to sign modern versions of the historic petitions. The children then performed on stage with a Ghanaian Rhythm Band and took part in an African dance street performance.

Following the end of the project and the Respect Festival, the posters and signed petitions were displayed at Plymouth’s Guildhall during November 2007.