New book reflects on Colston statue fallout and heritage in Bath and Bristol
A new book edited by University of Bath’s Dr Christina Horvath reflects on the fallout from the toppling of Bristol’s Colston statue, the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement and the resulting debates on history, heritage and memory.
Breaking the Dead Silence: Engaging with the Legacies of Empire and Slave-Ownership in Bath and Bristol’s Memoryscapes delves into the overlooked legacies of transatlantic slavery and the forgotten heritage of Bristol and Bath. Featuring insights from academics, activists and diverse voices, it offers fresh perspectives and proposals on fostering a more inclusive and truthful approach to heritage.
Dr Christina Hovarth from the dept of politics, languages & international studies said: “For a long time Bath has systematically forgotten its troubling history in favour of an authorised narrative that celebrates the city’s Roman heritage, iconic Georgian architecture, links to the novelist Jane Austen, and its spa and leisure culture.
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“The main aim of this book is to diversify this heritage by bringing forward some of the missing voices and unheard stories—not only those about slavery and abolition but also about Bath’s Caribbean cricket team, the Bristol bus boycott, the Bath workhouse or one of Bath’s most prominent residents, Emperor Haile Selassie."
The book , available for free download, features critical commentaries from 19 authors including academics, artists, activists and heritage professionals, challenging the official heritage narrative of both cities.
Co-editor Dr Richard White, a visiting research fellow at Bath Spa University, added: “Stories of colonial exploitation, forced migration, and looting are hidden in plain sight in Bristol and Bath. From Bath’s UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site and the old port of Bristol to coastal cities across the UK and beyond, public sites of memory have yet to fully acknowledge the atrocities committed in the creation of the wealth they display.”
Authors include, Renée Jacobs, founder of The Belonging Network; social activist and associate lecturer at the University West of England, Roger Griffith MBE; Jill Sutherland, independent researcher of museology and curatorial practice, and Shawn Sobers, Professor of Cultural Interdisciplinary Practice at the University of the West of England, Bristol.
The book will be officially launched in Bath at the Widcombe Social Club on October 15 7pm and on October 16 at 7pm in Bristol at Bristol’s MShed.
A walk from 2.30pm to 5pm followed by a discussion with authors at 7pm to 8.30pm will take place on October 16 at the MShed. Register free attendance here.
The book will also be discussed by the Belonging Network Book Club at Bath’s Toppings Bookshop on Sunday, October 20 7.30pm to 8.45pm. Register free attendance on Eventbrite .