Devon’s Last Slave Owners | 03.02.2022

Devon’s Last Slave Owners: emancipation & compensation in 1834. 
An illustrated talk by Dr. Todd Gray on Thursday, 3rd February, 2022 at 7pm in The Devon Rural Archive.

How many Devonians owned slaves on 1 August 1834?
This illustrated talk will begin asking this single question about the day of emancipation for enslaved people across the British Empire. The answer starts a process in unravelling a complex history in which the men and women who received compensation money for the loss of their enslaved workers were supplemented by many others who also had financial, legal and social associations with slavery. This is the first such study for any county and reveals who Devon’s slaveholders were, where they lived and what kind of lives they led. It is sombre and thought-provoking history but it also surprises by challenging assumptions about the character of ownership on a community level in one corner of England. 

Dr. Todd Gray has devoted his working career to the study of Devon’s history. His passion for his adopted county is self-evident through his publications and in his lectures. He has written more widely on Devon than any other Devon historian and is at the heart of its historical community.

Tickets are £5 each, and must be purchased in advance. 
A Season Ticket to attend all 11 lectures in our 2022 programme is also available in our online shop.  
Please note that payments are non-refundable. 

Doors open at 6:30pm for complimentary refreshments and a chance to explore the Archive.
Before visiting the Archive, please see our current guidance about attending face-to-face events during the pandemic. 

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