This introduction offers an overview of how the Wells and Transatlantic Slavery Network came together — a partnership of local institutions and individuals committed to uncovering and sharing the city’s links to transatlantic slavery. Formed in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, the group has worked with researchers from the University of Exeter and the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda to explore aspects of Wells’ history that were previously overlooked or hidden.
The speaker outlines a wide range of activities and outcomes, from the 2023 conference and a self-guided heritage trail to an expanding online archive of people, buildings, and stories. We hear about figures such as Reverend John Hothersall Pinder, whose links to both Codrington College in Barbados and Wells Cathedral illustrate how slavery and the Church were historically entwined. The Network’s work extends beyond research — inviting creative responses, hosting events, and developing education programmes for local schools to engage children with these histories in meaningful ways.
This ongoing journey of learning is rooted in remembrance and reconciliation, with the aim of amplifying voices too often left out of history and ensuring these legacies are recognised and understood today.
