City of London to research links to slavery to ‘better understand’ its own history

The City of London is planning to commission research into its connections to the transatlantic slave trade.

The Register of British Slave Traders, set to release in 2026, is expected to show links between individuals and institutions from the City of London involved in the slave trade.

A report by the City of London Corporation details funding will be allocated towards further research on the role the City of London played in the enslavement of African peoples.

The Register of British Slave Traders is an unreleased project by Lancaster University which will “highlight how far the financial connections of individuals across the social spectrum benefitted from the trade”, according to the City of London Corporation.

In response to the creation of the register by Lancaster University, £34,400 will be granted to Professor William Pettigrew for another piece of research aiming to “better understand and make transparent the history of the City Corporation”.

The Bank of England and Church of England have also conducted research into their links with the slave trade and in the City of London report, officials suggested “setting out a roadmap for how that history can be addressed, as has been done successfully in cities such as Amsterdam.”

In the report, Emma Markiewicz wrote: “The research will highlight a great many connections with the City of London, its institutions and individuals. It will also highlight how far the financial connections of individuals across the social spectrum benefitted from the trade, and how much of their investments in our key foundational systems and institutions (such as schools) came from financial rewards gained from the trade.

Most Read

Miles Teller to Paris Hilton: Celebrities whose houses burned down in the Los Angeles fires

Wait, is Squid Game based on a true story? All the real life inspiration explained

If you love Squid Game, here are six more Netflix shows to binge that have the same vibe

“We have the opportunity to delve deeper into the University of Lancaster’s research through conducting a bespoke and detailed piece of research specifically into the Corporation’s own connections to the historic trade in enslaved African people. The institutional and individual links between the trade and the Corporation will be significant.”

Despite this report, the City of London Corporation also recently reversed a decision to remove statues of slave traders William Beckford and Sir John Cass.

City of London board member Doug Barrow told MyLondon: “It should be noted that neither statue was erected because of the individual’s involvement in slavery.

“It is impossible to do an effective audit now weighing the good and bad of their lives.”

Featured image via Unsplash