The North: Students remember at Speke Hall, Liverpool

To commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery, a group of 24 year 9 and 10 art students from Shorefields Technical College, Dingle Vale and New Heys Community School, Allerton, have been working with National Trust staff from Speke Hall to explore the issues surrounding the Slave Trade, and the Hall’s historic connection through its former owners, the Watt family.

The Watts owned Speke Hall and its surrounding estate from 1795 - 1921 and were responsible for much of the building’s refurbishment. A substantial portion of their wealth came from sugar plantations on St George’s Plain in the West Indies, where enslaved people worked.

Through a National Trust Arts Partnership Project, the students from Shorefields and New Heys visited Speke Hall on several occasions and took part in a variety of activities. With the help of local artist Faith Bebbington, ideas from these visits were then developed into an exhibition reflecting issues and historic links with slavery.

Jessica Monaghan, Community Learning officer at Speke says: “For the students, this project has provided opportunities for skill development through a creative art process, and for vocational skill development through exhibition planning, working as part of a team, and gaining a sense of achievement - as well as building confidence and self-esteem. It has also provided those students involved with opportunities for increased access to, and an understanding of, their cultural heritage and identity. The project has enabled National Trust staff to explore how to interpret this darker aspect of Speke’s history in a sensitive way, through working with young people.

On 27 and 28 October, Speke’s ‘Big Draw’ event will be based on links with slavery, enabling visitors to learn more about this aspect of the Hall’s history. On 22 October, the National Trust at Speke will be running a course in conjunction with Liverpool University, exploring the historic connections between the Hall and slavery.

For further information visit
www.nationaltrust.org.uk

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