Bristol's Colston Tower Has Name of 17th-Century Slave Trader Removed From Building

Colston Tower, an office building in the center of Bristol, England, removed the name from its facade on June 11, as people worked to eliminate the name of Edward Colston, a 17th-century slave trader, from structures across the city.

According to local media, tenants in the former Colston Tower will be asked to vote for what they think is the most appropriate new name from a shortlist of 10 suggestions.

The tower’s owners decided to take down the signage “to reduce and remove any immediate security threat to the building," Bristol24/7 reported.

According to reports, a statue of Colston was removed by protesters and was thrown in the River Avon on Sunday, June 7. The statue was later recovered by officials.

Concert venue Colston Hall, which can also be seen in this video, has vowed to change its name by fall, local reports said. Both the hall and the tower are located on Colston Street. Credit: Kane Sullivan via Storyful