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Uncovering the Steel City's slavery links

[written as a project in the final year of my History Degree at the University of Sheffield].

I have always been fascinated by how history silently exists all around us.

We could walk down the same path every day, and never think to look for the history hidden within that location. However, without that history, the path may not have been there for you to walk on.

This inspired my 'Hunting for History' project, which uncovers history in my local area.

Are you ready to discover the past?

Having lived in Sheffield for almost three years, I can give you a list of all the best coffee shops and cocktail bars. However, I, somewhat embarrassingly, would not be able to tell you half as much about the history of the city.

Sheffield is widely known by its 'Steel City' title, earned from its enormous steel outputs and factories, which played an important role in fuelling the British Industrial Revolution. However, Sheffield has more 'hidden history' than just their industrial legacy.

As a History student, with a specialist interest in the history of American Slavery and the Trans-Atlantic slave trade*, I was interested in seeing how the history of slavery and the history of Sheffield could intersect. Recently, historians Dr. Rosie Knight and Dr. Michael Bennett underwent research into Sheffield's links to slavery, and the research uncovered many links to the international slave trade.[1] This research highlighted how Sheffield has a long history of abolitionism*, but also direct links to the slave-trade itself.

This piqued my interest, and being the history buff that I am, I convinced my flatmate [with the promise of a free coffee] to wander around Sheffield and search for this history. Through my research, I found that there are many pieces of Sheffield's history of slavery and abolition* around the city, and many of these locations are still very much a part of the city today.

* Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade - the transportation of enslaved African people, particularly to the Americas.

** Abolitionism/Abolition - the outlawing of slavery [the trading of enslaved people].

Mural of Frederick Douglass and Mary Anne Rawson

World-renowned abolitionist, Frederick Douglass, was formerly enslaved on a plantation in Maryland, South America.[2] In 1838 he escaped on a train heading to North America, and went on to become one of the most recognisable abolitionist campaigners, touring the globe to give lectures and speeches.[3] Two of these lectures took place in an old Quaker meeting house in Sheffield.

Rawson was born in 1801 into an affluent Sheffield family, and alongside her work fighting for better education for children, she set up the Sheffield Ladies Anti-Slavery Society in 1825.[4] Not only was this one of the few female-run abolitionist groups in the United Kingdom, but it was influential in raising awareness for the abolitionist cause, with their lectures, petitioning, and boycotts of goods brought from plantations, such as sugar and coffee.[5]

Not only was it historically important that Douglass held lectures in Sheffield, and that Rawson set up the Anti-Slavery Society for Sheffield ladies, but Rawson welcomed Douglass into her home whilst he was conducting his lecture circuit. Our local abolitionism directly met with globally influential abolitionism, highlighting how Sheffield was in fact part of a much wider abolitionist conversation.

This mural was commissioned in 2020, the same year which saw the murder of George Floyd, bringing the history of Civil Rights back into conversation. This choice to turn to our history, in times of modern struggle and debate, shows history as a continuum. History is not isolated, but a series of past experiences that have led us to where we are today. We can recognise the past struggles of abolitionism, but it is important to acknowledge that some of the same struggles continue today.

James Montgomery statue

This statue was originally placed in the General Cemetery, until its relocation in 1971.[6] It now stands in the heart of the Sheffield city centre, outside Sheffield Cathedral. This granite and bronze statue remembers James Montgomery for his humanitarian work, and, most notably, his abolitionist campaigning.

The Montgomery

Named after James Montgomery, this building used to be the meeting place of the Sunday School’s Union. The Union was set up by Montgomery, in order to discuss local issues and humanitarian causes. Taking on the name ‘Sheffield Christian Education Council’, the Union continued its work as a charity, and Montgomery's legacy highlights his influence on the city.[7]

Sheffield is incredibly celebratory of its abolitionist history, with the example of Montgomery being the most obvious. However, most of the abolitionists remembered are white, male campaigners. The Cutlery Works' mural shows a wider range of the abolitionists tied to Sheffield. There has been recent encouragement for female abolitionists, such as Mary Anne Rawson, to get a statue in remembrance of her abolitionist campaigning, highlighting how there is a growing interest in broadening the historical figures that we commemorate.

Butcher's Works metalworks

The Butcher's Works operated from this building in the nineteenth century, and was one of Sheffield's main industrial links to the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The cutlery produced from this factory was sold around the world, in line with Sheffield's industrial legacy, and this included the trading of cutlery with African merchants.[8] The Butcher's Works also created and sold tools and other goods that were sent to America, to be used on plantations.[9] The reliance of this factory on the profits gained through the trans-Atlantic slave trade is clear, as when the Civil War in America led to the end of American slavery altogether, the workforce at the Butcher's Works was halved due to their loss of business.[10]

The factory still stands, but as flats and a local gallery. This is another example of the 'hidden history' of Sheffield that exists in plain-sight. By protecting the original building, Sheffield is appreciating the history that built the city.

Theatre Royal

Whilst the theatre no longer remains, the Theatre Royal stood alongside the Crucible and Lyceum Theatres. The Theatre Royal burnt down in 1935, however, before this it saw many plays and shows, acting as a hub of activity and entertainment.

In 1854, the Theatre Royal held the first performance in Britain, of Slavery, or Life Among the Lowly.[11] This performance was inspired by Uncle Tom’s Cabin, a best-selling novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe, which told the story of the enslaved Uncle Tom, and highlights the cruel nature of slavery in Southern America.[12] The performance is another example of Sheffield becoming involved in a more global abolitionist conversation.

Edward Bennet's sugar refinery

You are currently on Cambridge Street, originally known as Coal Pit Lane, and it is home to the most complex point on our tour.

Edward Bennet ran a sugar house [a sugar refinery] along Coal Pit Lane, gaining success and becoming a prominent manufacturer in Sheffield. His success allowed him to open a chapel near the refinery for his staff, and he acted as its pastor until his death in 1788.[13] Not only was Bennet in the sugar industry, but he acquired his sugar from Liverpool, and Liverpool ports imported their sugar from these plantations.[14]

However, this location also marks where Sheffield's links to slavery and abolitionism collide. Coal Pit Lane would go on to become the heart of abolitionism in Sheffield, stemming from Edward Bennet and his business, which may be surprising, considering Edward himself benefitted greatly from slavery.

Upon Edward Bennet's death, his estates passed onto George Bennet, his nephew.[15] George was close friends with local abolitionist James Montgomery, and they both used their influence to fight for abolition. George used his Uncle's money for his abolitionist fight, and was even an early inspiration for Mary Anne Rawson.[16]

But how does this relate to the building at 32 Cambridge Street?

Although the original chapel built next to Bennet's sugar refinery was demolished, the chapel's community migrated to a new building.[17] This new chapel was built to replace the old one on Coal Pit Lane, and this became officially established in 1852 as the Bethel Sunday School. This building marks the oldest-standing link to Bennet's sugar refinery, and highlights how the course of history can change so dramatically in a short space of time. Within a few decades the location went from benefitting from slavery, to actively fighting against it.

Bethel chapel is now part of phase 2 of the Sheffield city development plan, aiming at utilising the old grade II listed buildings again.[18] Situated next to the recent development of the Cambridge Street Collective, which saw new cafes opening, such as the sister café to the incredibly popular Marmadukes on Norfolk Row, Bethel Chapel is currently under restoration and renovation. This highlights how Sheffield aims to, not only recognise their history, but integrate their history within the city today.

The city may change, but the history remains.

Where should we explore next?

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