The National Trust details 90 of its properties that have ‘connections to slavery and colonialism’

The National Trust has released a report that has detailed how more than 90 of its properties have connections to slavery as well as colonialism. The links which exist at 93 of its properties cited in a report commissioned by the charity itself. 

The charity has said placed on public record that it is committed to sharing the histories of slavery and colonialism. The National Trust’s director of culture and engagement John Orna Orenstein has said: “Just to be really clear, we’re not making judgements about the past, what we’re trying to do is reflect as accurately and comprehensively as we can the histories across a variety of places”.

The report sets out links to plantation owners as well as those who were paid compensation through the abolition process.  

Dr Tarnya Cooper who is the National Trust’s curatorial and collections director has said: “Colonialism and slavery were central to the national economy from the 17th to the 19th Centuries,” she said. This report is the fullest account to date of the links between places now in the care of the National Trust and colonialism and historic slavery”.

The political commentator Darren Grimes has said via Twitter “I hope National Trust members vote with their wallets and cancel their memberships in protest. Where are we at if even the National Trust will not defend the family home of Churchill?”.

The campaign called ‘Save our Statues’ has reacted to this news by saying “The @nationaltrust wants us to feel ashamed of our past. I only feel ashamed of the @nationaltrust”.

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