Historical Walk: Bristol Abolition
Discover the names and places associated with Bristol’s thousand-year fight to end the city’s involvement in slavery, from Saxon times to the nineteenth century.
From M Shed to the Colston plinth, this two-hour journey will give an insight into the lives of some of the main characters who made this history happen – from African freedom fighters to international campaigners such as Thomas Clarkson, Mary Carpenter and Frederick Douglass.
Image: African American abolitionist Frederick Douglass, superimposed in front of the Victoria Rooms. Douglass came to Bristol a number of times in the late 1840s and was a good friend of leading Bristol abolitionists Mary Carpenter, John Bishop Estlin and his daughter Mary.
Courtesy of the Bristol Radical History Group.
Read more about the Bristol Abolition walk on our blog.
Upcoming dates
- Tuesday 7 May, 11am
- Thursday 27 June, 11am
- Thursday 25 July, 11am
- Thursday 29 August, 11am
- Thursday 26 September, 11am
- Thursday 31 October, 11am
- Thursday 28 November, 11am
Route
M Shed – Colston plinth. Distance approx. 1.5 miles
Additional information
Volunteer guides will meet you 5-10 minutes before the walk is due to begin. There will be breaks at key locations where the volunteers will point out sites of key interest and talk about their significance. The majority of the tour is suitable for wheelchairs but some areas may be difficult to navigate.
Suitable clothing
Although the routes are not strenuous, please be aware that surfaces may be uneven and could be slippery when wet. We strongly recommend that you dress appropriately for the weather with warm/waterproof clothing and comfortable footwear.
For your safety
Please take care when crossing busy roads and always use the designated crossings where indicated. Please be aware of other road users and pedestrians, particularly by leaving space on pavements for people to cross safely.
