There are links and references to the slave trade wherever you look in Bristol. The city became one of the biggest centres of the transatlantic slave trade in the early part of the 19th century and the profits formed the basis of Bristol's first banks. Money made from slaves laid the foundations for some of the city's most noticeable and exquisite architecture.
Many buildings and institutions in Bristol, such as schools, were named after their slave trading benefactors. Colston's School in Stapleton was founded by Edward Colston in 1710 and was originally an an all-boys boarding school. In 1991 it merged with the Collegiate School, a girls' school in Winterbourne, and was named Colston's Collegiate School until 2005, when it became Colston's School.
Now many cities are starting to face up to their dark pasts. In 2017, Colston Hall announced it would be shaking off connections with the slave trader, who donated great sums of money to the city, after years of being targeted by activists.
Colston's School is the latest to announce a name change. The historic building will now be known as Collegiate School, from this September. This idea surfaced following the Black Lives Matters protests in June 2020. However, for years many residents of Bristol have been unhappy with the idea that Edward Colston represents the city.
Edward Colston was an English merchant, slave trader and Tory Member of Parliament. Colston visited Bristol and joined the Society of Merchant Venturers in 1683. He supported schools, hospitals, churches and houses for the poor in Bristol but, he was renowned for being a huge slave trade governor. Other Bristol buildings named after Colston, like the Bristol Beacon, formally known as Colston Hall, decided to change their name not long after the international protests occurred.
We want to know your thoughts on Colston's School's new name. If you would like share your thoughts and feelings, then add it in the comments and we'll get the debate rolling. BristolLive will be discussing this topic with you below in the comments section.
