The first permanent street plaque to explain Liverpool's links with the transatlantic slave trade was unveiled in the city centre today.
Onlookers gathered in historic William Brown Street to witness the unveiling of the first of a planned 10 plaques to shed light on the history behind the city's street name and their origins with the slave trade. The bronze plaque unveiled today was close to the city's Central Library and World Museum, and explained that both had their origins in wealth accrued through slavery.
William Brown (1784-1864), after whom the street was named for funding the buildings, was one of the main importers of slave-produced cotton into Liverpool. Some of the streets under consideration for future plaques include Falkner Street, Bold Street, Parr Street and Colquitt Street.
READ MORE : Disadvantaged kids helped to get jobs after sailing on tall ship
The locations will be announced in the coming months once the complex process of identifying suitable areas, then obtaining permissions – and in some cases seeking planning approval – is completed. It is hoped they will all be in situ in the next two years.
The "Eric Scott Lynch Slavery Histories" plaques are named in honour of the activist and historian who passed away last year. Eric spent his life drawing attention to Liverpool's links with slavery and through his family, he played a key role in identifying which areas of the city were directly linked with the slave economy and the growth of the city.
Unveiling the first plaque today, Mayor of Liverpool Joanne Anderson said: "This is a milestone moment for Liverpool in its reconciliation with its past. As a city we pledged to be open and transparent about this city's role in the transatlantic slave trade, and the plaques are an important step forward. This understanding of our past is key, and only when we fully acknowledge and accept it, can we move forward."
The partners involved in the project are Liverpool Council, National Museums Liverpool, the family of Eric Lynch, Liverpool Black History Research Group and Kuumba Imani Millennium Centre.
The unveiling comes ahead of the unique Liverpool Against Racism series of events which take place from April 24-30.
