History trail explores Gladstone family involvement in the slave trade

A new history trail for Gladstone Park will be unveiled this November to mark the International Day for Remembrance of the Abolition of Slavery.

The history trail is in addition to the horticultural commission The Anchor, The Drum, The Ship (2022) which was installed in the park during Black History Month this year. Gladstone Park was named after former British Prime Minister William Gladstone whose family-owned plantations in the Caribbean and whose father received the largest compensation payments made by the Slave Compensation Commission.

The Gladstone family name was identified for review as part of the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm, launched in 2020 by the Mayor of London to review statues, streets names and landmarks to help people have a better understanding of London’s diverse histories.

The history trail will feature 11 panels detailing the history of the park, the Gladstone family involvement in the transatlantic slave trade, the early Black presence in Brent, and the many groundbreaking public figures of African and Caribbean descent with a connection to Brent.

Cllr Fleur Donnelly-Jackson, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, Equalities and Culture, said,

“This project breaks new ground in the conversation over public spaces with links to the transatlantic slave trade.

"It has been so important for us to work with the local community in developing this work to creatively explore Brent’s untold history, respond to historic injustices and celebrate the impact and achievements of Brent’s Black communities. We hope more people will discover the story of our borough and its rich cultural diversity and draw inspiration and resilience from icons with African and Caribbean heritage in Brent”.

The history trail has been delivered by Brent Council in collaboration with Black History Studies, Lin Kam Arts, and Chill Create design company following engagement with the local community.

Visit Untold Stories Brent to discover more and to nominate other Brent icons to be celebrated.