Year 8 Lancaster Slave Trade Walk Poetry Competition, 2022-23
The below is a collection of poems from a poetry competition held at Lancaster Girls Grammar School for Year 8 students. These poems provide insights into the students’ reflections and creative expressions inspired by their educational experiences exploring the historical context of the Slave Trade in Lancaster. The competition was organised following guided walking trips focused on the Slave Trade walk in Lancaster, undertaken by all Year 8 students.
Anshi – 1st
The Quaker meeting houses
Walking past it
You feel small.
Shivering with the thoughts,
Of what was once the reason
For the demise of the enslaved.
The soulless wandering around,
Discussing their plans,
To turn people against each other.
And use them for their own profit.
Secretive, silent and scathing,
They were tortured for being Quakers,
Kept away but somewhat successful.
They brought riches;
Cotton, mahogany, and sugar.
To the small but ‘great’ country of England.
They were the reason for the wealth,
But at what cost?
Lives ruined, families broken.
By being forced to work for the people.
Who don’t care about you,
Only caring about themselves.
Treating you as objects.
As means to an end.
As nothing but theirs.
Lola – 2nd
From Africa to America to Europe,
The Quaker meeting house is where these humans wash up.
They hope that one day.
They will be free.
And Quakers will be put on trial.
On the Norman castle tile.
Because these people are humans too.
They work, cook and care.
Just for their ‘owners’ to not beware.
Of whom they are and what they need
All that matters is the money agreed.
As they watch the ships gather from the priory
They cry to another entry in their diary.
Because these people are humans too.
As things began to get better,
They receive a letter,
Saying they are free.
And they are no longer an adoptee,
So, to today
Were we learn about these humans
Being used like objects
And we celebrate their freedom,
With memorials, built in 2005
As these people are humans too.
Vrinda
In Lancaster, a trade was made
Of human lives, a cruel charade
Slaves were bought and sold like stock
Treated like mere animals, a horrific shock.
Their lives were filled with pain and fear
But still, they held their spirits dear
For in their hearts, they knew the truth
That all men are equal – there’s proof.
Though the Hinde family held the power
Henry’s spirit soared, it did not cower
For in his heat, he held the key
To a future where we could all be free.
Ivy
Whether you are from 200 years ago,
Or whether you are sitting in an air-conditioned office,
You must never forget what they did to them.
They took those innocent people,
Packed them onto small ships,
With barely enough to live
You must never forget what they did to them
The people who were supposed to protect them,
The people that were supposed to abolish this cruel trade,
Some of them, the Quakers,
They were a part of the cruel trade,
You must never forget what they did to them.
Even when they got rid of the cruel trade, in 1807,
The people were divided.
The rich, the ungodly and some others disagreed
So much that it ignited a civil war.
You must never forget what they did to them.
Even in the present day, slavery still seems to be alive,
Wearing different faces,
In different places…
You must never forget what they did to them.
Mae
Quakers prayed,
Forces enslaved.
Built by Normans, court and prison
A marker for ships on the Lune.
Here were the American goods.
Built in 1764
A monument to the poor
A memorial to Henry
Here Fair Trade was declared
The wealthy honoured
Deals decided,
A workshop for Gillows and Co.
And here were sold the slaves.
LANCASTER BLACK HISTORY GROUP 
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