Slavery

From slaves to slave traders, discover the truth behind the people and profits of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, as well as those who fought 200 years ago to bring an end to slavery.

Slavery has existed throughout history in almost every part of the world. Slaving was considered by many to be a respectable business for most of the 18th century and the slave trade became a relatively constant feature of Lancaster’s overseas trade after 1748.

Lancaster was the country’s fourth largest slaving port at the height of the trade in the 18th century. Around 200 journeys of Lancaster slavers carried almost 25,000 Africans to the West Indies and America to be sold as slaves.

For more than three years the Museum Service has been working with a range of partners to raise awareness of this largely hidden history.

Judges' Lodgings

Set within a town landscape refurbished with the wealth of the slave trade, the Judges’ Lodgings displays an impressive collection of Gillow furniture made from exotic woods exchanged as part of the slave trade.

• See portraits of members of some of Lancaster’s prominent slave trading families
• Discover the story of the Gillow furniture makers and their connections to the slave trade
• See an extensive collection of Gillow furniture displayed throughout the house.

More information about Judges' Lodgings

Lancaster Maritime Museum

Housed within the old Custom House and warehouse buildings on St George’s quay, find out about the growth of the Port of Lancaster, the people involved in the slave trade and the effects of overseas trade on the city.

• Discover the story of the slave trade and explore the buildings that would have handled the cargoes returning from the exchange of slaves in the West Indies
• The Custom House is set in a Georgian quayside flanked by buildings owned by merchants involved in the slave trade
• Discover more about key people involved in the slave trade including prosperous Quaker slave trader Dodshon Foster
• Find out more about Lancaster’s Golden Age of trade and the ship building industry.

More information about Lancaster Maritime Museum