New Book
Hidden Chains: The Slavery Business and North East England 1600-1865
Reviewed by Kathleen Pears
This is a book full of surprises, given that our area seems not to be in the obvious slave trade routes, but John Charlton’s meticulously researched work reveals that two things were happening at the same time. The anti-slavery movement was most vigorously supported in the North East by members of the political establishment and religious leaders, as well as women’s movements, at a time when women were not generally involved in politics. At the same time many of the local families were importing and employing slaves to work in their various enterprises. The links with events in the rest of the country, with European politics and with happenings in those countries whose people were sent here as slaves are all detailed, whilst locally the roll-call of well-known names on either side makes for interesting reading.
The second half of the book looks at the opposing point of view, with details of the use of slaves here in the area, which seemed to be accepted or ignored by its opponents. Migrants from the North East were among those who made the trip westwards either to work in, or establish, businesses in North America and the Caribbean, or to work the ships used for the transport of the slaves eastwards.
The author has sought and quoted from a vast array of sources and archives in support of his findings, and in so doing has provided superb illustrations of all kinds, from documents and prominent figures in the movement to beautiful items of porcelain and silver; the visual pleasure of this scholarly work is a really vital element in the reader’s enjoyment and enlightenment.
City and County
February 2009
