Description:

Historic site, St. Mary Redcliffe Church, Bristol. Local myth has it that this famous parish church held slaves in the caves below before they were sold, but there is no written evidence for this. It is said that in 1791 the bells of St. Mary’s were rung in celebration when a law to end slavery was defeated in Parliament. The bells were rung out whilst the citizens of the city celebrated. This was true of many Bristol curches. In fact, a traveller coming to the city from Wales was so disgusted by the noise of celebrations that he supposedly turned around and went home rather than enter the city. There are no records in the church accounts which might support this myth.

With thanks to the authors of the Slave Trade Trail around Central Bristol, Madge Dresser, Caletta Jordan, Doreen Taylor.

Creator: BCC Museum

Date: 2003

Copyright: Copyright BCC Museum