St Helena Trans-Atlantic Slavery Interpretation Centre Appeal
A new perspective on St Helena and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
With your help, we aim to create a modern interactive interpretation centre at the site of the former Liberated African Establishment in Rupert’s Valley. Its objectives are to:
- Memorialise the liberated Africans through acknowledgement of the tragedy of slavery;
- Educate future generations about the lingering consequences of the centuries-long enslavement of and trade in Africans supplied to the colonies of the Americas, the Caribbean, and Europe;
- Enshrine the legacy of the liberated Africans whose untold stories, memories and contribution to humanity changed St Helena and the world.
The interpretation centre will be located in ‘No. 1 Building’, originally constructed in 1865 as an accommodation block to house up to 80 former slaves and the only surviving structure from the Liberated African Establishment. It will display 3D reproductions of objects reburied with their owners in 2022, as well as other artefacts relating to the history of slavery on St Helena. It will also be a place to convey historical information and interpretation, not only about St Helena’s positive role in Slave Trade Abolition, but also its darker past as a slave-keeping colony. Alongside the permanent elements, a small temporary exhibition space will facilitate rolling, engaging content. The centre will be an interactive, vibrant place through which to convey this internationally significant history.
The interpretation centre and nearby burial grounds will form a unique resource for raising awareness of this important but relatively unknown chapter in St Helenian, British and world history. It will form an education hub for schools to enhance the curriculum. It will also provide an important resource for St Helenians to learn about their own history - modern St Helenians are, in part, descendants of the more than 500 former slaves who settled permanently on the island - and for tourists and other visitors to explore the complex issues surrounding slavery and abolition, as well as the ongoing fight against slavery in the modern world.
Workplan
The development of ‘No. 1 Building’ as an interpretation centre will be a two-stage process:
In the first stage, restoration work – including replacement of windows and doors, repointing of the stone coursing and repairs to the roof – will be conducted. Drawings, photographs, videos and written records will be made to document the process and inform the restoration work, for example by highlighting key structural elements for preservation and informing the selection of appropriate techniques. This will also provide an opportunity for local people to be trained in heritage restoration and preservation skills.
In Stage II, the outfitting of gallery spaces, including the design, production and installation of interpretation panels and interactive equipment and content, will take place. This will involve commissioning local artists and designers to produce suitable installations, and engaging archaeologists and finds specialists to advise on content, display and interpretation.
We need your help to make the St Helena Trans-Atlantic Slavery Interpretation Centre a reality. Please donate now, and help us restore this unique building and ensure that this important chapter in St Helena, UK and world history is not forgotten.