New walking trail to highlight Island's links to transatlantic slave trade

Launching in Peel on Friday

A new walking trail has been created around Peel to explore the city's links to the transatlantic slave trade.

Manx National Heritage and the One World Centre have collaborated to acknowledge the part the Isle of Man played in the largest forced migration in history.

Some 11 million Africans were transported to the New World – with British slave traders sailing from ports including Glasgow, Liverpool and Bristol to trade people for objects.

The Island's location, in the centre of the Irish Sea, and its low import duties contributed significantly to the slave trade by helping generate profit for those who sold and exchanged enslaved people.

Phil Craine is the chair of the One World Centre and said: "Understanding the significant part the Island played in the transatlantic slave trade - and how events from years ago continue to shape attitudes today - is important. 
 
"The trail will be an eye-opener for some and it also gives us an opportunity to reflect that, whilst more hidden from sight than in the past, modern-day slavery continues to impact the lives of millions of people around the world." 

Wendy Thirkettle is an archivist from Manx National Heritage:

The trail will be launched tomorrow (Friday) on the United Nations International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

Copies of the walking tour will be available at the House of Manannan and the Old Bonded Warehouse in Peel or can be downloaded HERE.