Legacies: Tewkesbury Abbey and the Shadows of the Slave Trade

Like many historic churches, Tewkesbury Abbey holds stories that connect this community to the transatlantic slave trade.

To mark Black History Month, we are delighted to host an exhibition developed from research by the University of Gloucestershire, exploring the histories of three local families whose lives were linked to this global story. The research is also available online here.

📅 29 September – 12 October
📍 Inside Tewkesbury Abbey
💷 Free entry, open to all

As part of the exhibition, join us for a special evening event:

Presentation & Panel Discussion

🗓 Wednesday 8 October, 6:30–8:30pm
🎤 With speakers from the Tewkesbury Historical Society and the University of Gloucestershire
💷 Free entry, donations welcome

This is an opportunity to engage with Tewkesbury’s layered history and reflect on how the past continues to shape our community today.

Heritage Open Day at Tewkesbury Town Hall

On Saturday 20th September 2025, we held a special Heritage Open Day at Tewkesbury Town Hall, where the doors were opened to the public for a rare chance to explore this beautiful 18th-century civic building. Visitors discovered the Council Chamber, viewed the historic Codrington portrait, and learned about the building’s connections to local governance and the transatlantic slave trade. Members of Tewkesbury Voices were on hand to share insights into ongoing work around the Retain and Explain initiative. It was a unique opportunity to engage with Tewkesbury’s layered history, from its architecture to its hidden legacies.

Explaining the Codrington Portrait in the Council Chamber

We are delighted to share that at Full Council in September 2025, Tewkesbury Town Council approved a new freestanding display in the Council Chamber. The display, featuring a QR code, highlights the Codrington family’s links to the transatlantic slave trade.

The full version of the sign, which provides a more detailed historical context, has now been approved for the Tewkesbury Town Council website and is also available here on the Tewkesbury Voices website. Visitors can read the complete information online, and at a later stage we will also share an image of the freestanding display so that both versions can be viewed online.

Abolitionist Exhibition at St. John’s College, Cambridge

In June 2025, Emma from Tewkesbury Voices visited the Old Library at St John’s College, Cambridge, to explore a powerful exhibition featuring rare documents related to British history and the transatlantic slave trade. Her blog highlights key items on display, including the original 1807 bill presented to Parliament by William Wilberforce and the investigative diary of Thomas Clarkson, which played a vital role in the abolition campaign. You can read Emma’s full reflections on this thought-provoking visit here.

Changes in Waves, Windrush 2025

On June 22, 2025, Emma, Chair of Tewkesbury Voices, was honoured to speak at Changes in Waves, Windrush 2025: Belonging, Being, Becoming.

It was truly heartwarming to see communities come together to reflect, remember, and celebrate the enduring legacy of the Windrush generation. The event was filled with powerful storytelling, moving drama, heartfelt poetry, beautiful singing, and unforgettable performances, all paying tribute to the strength and resilience of those who journeyed from the Caribbean to help build and shape Britain.

Tewkesbury Voices was proud to be present and involved. Ola, our Vice Chair, warmly welcomed attendees throughout the day, and Derrick, also representing Tewkesbury Voices, joined in the celebration and reflection.

A huge thank you to all the artists, storytellers, organisers, and attendees who made the day so meaningful. Events like this remind us that our diversity is our strength and that every story shared brings us closer to understanding and unity.

#Windrush2025 #TewkesburyVoices #Community #BelongingBeingBecoming #WindrushLegacy

Early Day Motion

We are grateful to Cameron Thomas MP for submitting an Early Day Motion (EDM 63894) recognising Tewkesbury’s historic links to the transatlantic slave trade. This is a significant step in acknowledging our past and committing to ongoing reflection and dialogue.

The EDM can be read on our website and on the UK Parliament website.

#EDM63894 #TewkesburyVoices #CommunityLeadership #InclusiveHistory #Tewkesbury

Legacies of Slavery in Tewkesbury

We’re proud to share that Legacies of Slavery in Tewkesbury is on display at Tewkesbury Museum for the month of June and is also available on our website. This thought-provoking exhibition explores the often-overlooked connections between Tewkesbury and the broader legacies of transatlantic slavery.

The display features the powerful work of Ella and Morgan, second-year students from the University of Gloucestershire, who have brought fresh perspectives and deep research to this important topic.

Why not take this opportunity to engage with local history in a new light? Explore Ella and Morgan’s work and reflect on how the past continues to shape our present.

#TewkesburyVoices #RetainAndExplain #LocalHistory #UniversityOfGloucestershire #TewkesburyMuseum #LegaciesOfSlavery

University of Gloucestershire: History Festival Day 2025

We had the pleasure of attending the University of Gloucestershire’s History Festival Day 2025.

It has been a real delight to partner with Dr. Christian O’Connell, Academic Course Leader in History and Senior Lecturer in American History. It was especially inspiring to see the fantastic work of Ella and Morgan, both second-year students, who have been developing powerful research projects as part of wider work on Black British history and its connections to Tewkesbury, with a particular focus on the transatlantic slave trade. A big shoutout to Sarah, a PhD student at the university, who has been an incredible support to the project.

We’re very proud of the work being done and look forward to seeing their research on display at Tewkesbury Museum in June 2025.

#TewkesburyVoices #RetainAndExplain #BlackBritishHistory #LocalHistory #CommunityHeritage #UniversityOfGloucestershire #TransatlanticSlaveTrade #StudentResearch #InclusiveHistory #TewkesburyTownCouncil #HistoryFestival #HiddenHistories

Talk: Tewkesbury in the Context of the Codrington Family

As part of the Tewkesbury Voices programme, local historian John Dixon delivered a thought-provoking talk on Thursday 27th March 2025, titled Tewkesbury in the Context of the Codrington Family at the Tewkesbury Methodist Church.

The talk explored the life and influence of Sir William Codrington, who represented Tewkesbury in Parliament from 1761 to 1792. Codrington is remembered locally for either donating or loaning the Council funds in 1788 to build Tewkesbury’s Town Hall, an act that helped shape the civic life of Tewkesbury.

However, Mr Dixon also examined the more controversial aspects of Codrington’s legacy. The Codrington family’s wealth was built on enslaved labour in the sugar plantations of Barbados and Antigua, a connection that raises important questions about how we remember historical figures today.

Following Sir William’s death in 1792, a Parliamentary by-election was held. For the first time, the newly formed Anti-Slavery Society backed a candidate in Tewkesbury. Though unsuccessful, it sparked a local movement that would gain momentum in the years ahead.

The talk also referenced Derek Benson’s research, particularly his article Anti-Slavery Activism in Tewkesbury, which details how residents worked to challenge and oppose slavery in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

This Tewkesbury Voices event offered a compelling look at how national and global histories are reflected in our own town’s story, inviting reflection, discussion, and a deeper understanding of the past.

Anti-Slavery Activism in Tewkesbury

Anti-Slavery Activism in Tewkesbury by Derek Benson is now available to read online and download. The article has been published in the Bulletin 34 Magazine by the Tewkesbury Historical Society. You can purchase the Bulletin 34 Magazine here. We also have the article printed as a stand-alone piece and it is available for £4. You can contact us to purchase one.

Abolition Medal

From March 3rd to June 5th, 2025, Tewkesbury Museum hosts a powerful piece of abolition history: a rare 1834 Abolition of Slavery medal, on loan from Bolton Library and Museum Services.

The medal was originally given to around 800 schoolchildren in Tewkesbury to mark the formal end of slavery in the British Empire. Its presence in the museum offers a unique opportunity to reflect on how this global event was experienced and commemorated in our town.

Visitors can also explore the story behind the medal and its wider significance on our dedicated Abolition Medal page. This small object carries a powerful message, one that continues to resonate today.

University Visit to Tewkesbury Abbey

In February 2025, Tewkesbury Voices welcomed Morgan Casley, a second-year student from the University of Gloucestershire, who is beginning an exciting research project with us on the Legacies of Slavery in Tewkesbury.

As part of his introduction to the town’s rich and complex history, Morgan was given a guided tour of Tewkesbury Abbey by Emma Ash, Derek Benson, and John Dixon. The visit offered a valuable opportunity to explore the Abbey’s architecture and heritage while considering how stories of wealth, power, and legacy intersect with the town’s connections to the transatlantic slave trade.

We’re delighted to have Morgan on board and look forward to sharing more about his research as it develops.