James Clark Nov 2023

Wells Civic Society Members Meeting: 8 November 2023

An unusually full house reflected the considerable interest in the subject of the Wells Civic Society’s November meeting: Wells and the legacy of slavery in the West Indies.

Together with the Wells & Transatlantic Slavery project leader Jessica Witchell of Wells Cathedral, Professor Clark of Exeter University talked about the City’s connections to the trade in enslaved people and the plantation economy.

First, professor of history at Exeter university, James Clark, explained Wells cathedral’s complex historical links with slavery between 1750 and 1900. He showed how slavery-derived wealth helped fund the cathedral’s repairs to and maintenance of its medieval architecture, this being beyond the cathedral’s own finances. The cathedral did this by reaching out to the plantation owners who were settling in this part of the country, wishing to be close enough to the port of Bristol but to live in pleasant and prestigious areas, such as Wells. The cathedral might offer them leases on cathedral land or sell this land, or simply write what were little short of begging letters.

In fact, it could be that cathedral clergy themselves might be from such families. John Hothersall Pinder, for instance, was actually born in Barbados into a white plantation owning family. But he became the cathedral precentor and the first principal of Wells Theological College from 1840, and actively spoke and wrote in favour of slavery. On the other hand, Bishops Beadon and Law were vocal supporters of abolition in the House of Lords and from the pulpit.

The second speaker was Jessica Witchell, Wells cathedral learning manager, who explained how, largely provoked by the Black Lives Matter initiative, a group of institutions and individuals from, or linked to, the city have come together to explore how Wells is connected to slavery. The aim of their project, Wells and Transatlantic Slavery, is to make these histories visible across the city and to consider the enduring legacies of slavery in Britain and the Caribbean. Institutions involved so far are the cathedral, the museum, St Cuthbert’s church, the Bishop’s Palace, the city archives, Somerset African Caribbean Network and Wells Cathedral School. A number of individuals are also members, and James is one of the mentors to the group.

The group has produced a free trail leaflet illustrating historic local sites which had links to slavery. They have held a successful one-day conference and organised workshops. They plan to show the film After The Flood: The Church, Slavery and Reconciliation, and, among other things, to run education initiatives showing the story of slavery as it was connected to the Bishop’s Palace, the museum, the cathedral, and other local buildings. James made the point that their job is to uncover history and represent it, not to sit in judgement. Much more can be found at www.wellstransatlantic slavery.com

James and Jessica’s expositions had been clear and well organised. The audience was rapt. A subject which may have seemed remote had been put into a current context and a potentially delicate topic had been explained in a sensitive way. As the chair, Chris Winter, said in her summing up, we had all learnt so much and had had an amazing evening.

The next Civic Society event at 7pm on Wednesday, December 13 in the Wells and Mendip museum, Cathedral Green is the annual Seasonal Celebration, when members and guests can enjoy festive food and drink. For further details of this or the work of the society, please contact Chris on chris.f.winter@btinternet.com or ring her on 01749 673610.

Richard Hanks