Wells Cathedral has announced the launch of a new Wells and Transatlantic Slavery self-guided trail telling the story of treasured items such as paintings, stained-glass windows, and chandeliers connected to slavery.

A number of institutions and individuals from the City of Wells – including Wells Cathedral, the Cathedral School, the museum, St Cuthbert's Parish Church, City Archives and the Somerset African Caribbean Network, local historians and interested individuals – have come together to research the history of connections between Wells, the transatlantic slave trade and British slavery in the Caribbean.

The Cathedral's proximity to Bristol, one of Britain's major transatlantic slave-trading ports and a hub for commercial activity, meant that it sat physically surrounded by propertied families who had generated their wealth from transatlantic slavery.

"Many historic landmarks in Wells were built or rebuilt with slavery-derived wealth from the plantations in the West Indies," said, the Professor of History at Exeter University, Dr James Clar.

"But, until now, these have been hidden histories, and what this project has done is draw back the curtain on what some might see as challenging territory, telling this story for the first time."

The trail is part of the Wells and Transatlantic Slavery Project, which has been examining the history of the city in relation to slavery, and among the places on the trail are the Cathedral and the Bishop's Palace.

Key research links Wells and Transatlantic Slavery

"The research clearly indicates that Wells Cathedral has benefited from slavery-derived wealth from both the slave trade and the enslavement of people in the Caribbean," the Acting Dean, the Ven. Anne Gell, said "We are profoundly sorry for the effects of these historic failings, and aim to scrutinise and respond to any financial, social, spiritual, and other legacies from this time, in order that it may do better in the present."

Though research is still ongoing and more remains to be uncovered, several details piecing together the Cathedral's complex relationship to slavery are starting to emerge.

Families such as the Tudways in Wells, the Dickinsons in Kingweston, and the Pretor-Pinneys in Somerton all lived in close proximity to the Cathedral and commanded significant wealth and influence in local politics and public affairs.

From 1839 onwards, the canonry of Wells and the archdeaconry of Bath were held by William Thomas Parr Brymer, whose father, Alexander Brymer, had been a North American colonial administrator involved in the shipping of enslaved-produced commodities from the Caribbean to Halifax in Canada . The politician Francis H. Dickinson, whose family had owned enslaved people in Jamaica for centuries, also emerged on the scene as the Cathedral's leading patron and sponsor of restoration works.

Joining them was the Reverend John Hothersall Pinder, a slave-owner from Barbados and a previous chaplain to enslaved Africans on the SPG's Codrington plantations, and Principal of Codrington College, who had returned from the Caribbean in the mid-1830s.

The Chapter of Wells say they hope the research will help others to understand this part of the Cathedral's history, which is always in danger of being hidden or denied,.

Jessica Witchell, Wells Cathedral Learning Manager and convenor of the Project Group, said: "This is a piece of our history that has been long-ignored and which it is important to tell alongside the rest of the Cathedral's story and the story of the city. 

"Across the whole project we have tried to engage with all sides and perspectives of these challenging histories. A very rich and intricate story has emerged including Canons at the Cathedral whose wealth came from slave ownership, the relationship between the Wells Theological College that was based in Vicars Close and the Codrington Theological College and sugar plantation in Barbados, and the City's historical links with the Tudway family who owned sugar plantations in Parham, Antigua. 

"To try to understand more, we have been in touch with historians in Antigua and Barbados and learnt of stories of enslaved resistance on the plantations & the current discussions about reparations.  We have also learnt of the active involvement of two bishops of Bath and Wells in the abolition movement, as well as the visits of formerly enslaved African American abolitionists to the local area.

"Unlike Bristol, this side of the history of Wells is not widely known and this city-wide trail map and a dedicated website is aimed at raising awareness of it."