News / slavery
‘Blue plaques’ draw attention to Bristol’s shameful slavery past
Miniature blue plaques have been placed around the Georgian House drawing attention to the fact that a previous occupier of the home was a wealthy slave owner.
The blue plaques are stickers which start with the words ‘Nice here!’
Three stickers have been placed around the museum on Great George Street owned by Bristol City Council which has recently been under threat of closure due to budget cuts.
Stickers have been placed around the Georgian House Museum – photo: Martin Booth
The stickers read: “Nice here! But did you know the Georgian House Museum was home to a slave owner? It built for (sic) and owned by John Pinney, a wealthy sugar plantation owner and merchant.
“In 1783, he brought an enslaved 12-year-old boy named Pero to Bristol to serve his family. Pero lived here, working without pay or freedom. until his death.
“The Georgian House, like much of Bristol’s wealth, was built on the suffering and exploitation of others on plantations such as Pinney’s.
“Who knew? Well now you do.”
The Georgian House allows visitors to discover what a Bristol sugar plantation and slave owner’s home might have looked like around 1790 – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read next:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
