Guildhall, City of London re-interpretation project
Guildhall, City of London re-interpretation project
We supported the City of London’s reinterpretation project for the statue of former slave owner and Lord Mayor, William Beckford (1709-1770).
Our conservation team coordinated the listed building application for a specially designed plaque to be installed on the Beckford Monument at the Grade I listed Guildhall. The plaque will include an interpretative poem confronting Beckford’s exploitation of slave labour on his plantations in Jamaica.
City Corporation Policy Chairman, Chris Hayward, said:
“This is the next step in our journey in addressing, in an open and honest way, the City of London’s historic involvement in the horrific slave trade. We have been reflecting upon, and recognising, this terrible chapter in our history, and we are united in our commitment to ensuring that people from all backgrounds feel safe and welcome in a modern, inclusive and forward-looking City.”
Client: City of London Corporation