Councillors vote to remove 'racist' Stroud statue
Concerns have been raised about the 18th century figure following Black Lives Matter protests
Last updated 29th Apr 2022
Council leaders have backed plans to explore the removal of a “racist” 18th century clock and figurine of a black slave boy from Blackboy House in Stroud.
The District Council set up a review following the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 where more than 1,600 people responded to the review which has put forward proposals to consider renaming Blackboy House, remove the statue and offer it to The Museum in the Park collection and review the street name ‘Blackboys’ in Dursley.
Councillors voted to back the suggestions from the review during a full council meeting last night.
The recommendations could start a process leading to the removal of the Blackboy clock and statue from its current location in Stroud.
However, the process is not straightforward as the clock is in private ownership and listed building planning consent would be needed should they be minded to remove it.
Other recommendations include the council progressing plans to restore the Anti-Slavery Arch, Paganhill, a task force established to contextualise the statue and oversee the installation of an information plaque outside Blackboy House, and the development of a community project for the commemoration of an individual, group of individuals or event suggested in the survey responses.
The council’s street naming protocol could be reviewed so that names will not be considered that may be construed as discriminatory or offensive under the Equality Act 2010; or ‘not in the spirit’ of the act.
The recommendations also say the council’s culture strategy, which is currently in development, should empower communities and individuals to celebrate and share their history, heritage, culture and identity.
Councillor Natalie Bennett, chaired the Review Panel and proposed the council should take on the recommendations. She said she was delighted and proud to present the report. She said: "The worldwide Black Lives Matter protests in June 2020 rightly highlighted the ongoing injustice and discrimination experienced by people across the world.
"One important issue that arose was the appropriateness of commemoration of people and events from history and their relevance today.
"This council committed to consult with our communities and undertake a review of any street and building name, statues and architectural features in the district which may be considered offensive."
She said it was around that time that the council was specifically asked by members of the public to review the blackboy clock and statue on Black Boy House, Castle Street Stroud.
And that the panel concluded that the statute should not be on display in the public realm but also not hidden away.
"It should be redisplayed with detailed interpretation in a place that provides learning and education. So that we can continue to challenge what is not acceptable."
However, some councillors questioned the need to remove the clock and statue and suggested it was akin to erasing history. They said keeping it in situ with a plaque may be more appropriate.
Others also raised concerns over the estimated total cost of the recommendations which adds to £50,685 in total, some £33,500 of which would be the cost to remove the clock. And questions were also raised over the validity of the consultation as some 600 people who took part do not live in the district.
In the end, a total of 25 councillors voted for the recommendations, while 12 abstained and a couple voted against. Council leader Doina Cornell (L, Dursley), who seconded the motion, said the council should be commended for such a respectful debate.
She echoed the thanks for the panel and the cross-party commitment to tackle these issues. She said: "What I really value in this is that it was prompted by the community. This is very much our place to take this forward.
"We have to recognise that statues or figurines are quite important but also very problematic for us all. It’s important we take a stand.
"This black boy figurine isn’t a specific individual but it serves as a monument to the commodification and later exotification of black bodies that emerged as a consequence of slavery.
"This statue is symbolic of the systemic racism that has been with us since the slave trade which continues to affect black, Asian and minority people ethnic people in the present day. The statue on public display is still an affront to black people who live and work in the Stroud area and sends the wrong message to anybody who visits the town."
This strategy is intended to focus on increasing representation of black, Asian and ethnically diverse communities as well as those from a range of social and economic backgrounds, celebrate aspects of the district’s cultural and community diversity, and support the creation of work that demonstrates collaboration across a wide range of diverse backgrounds
The day after the Edward Colston statue was toppled into Bristol Harbour on June 7, 2020, all four Stroud District Council political group leaders issued a joint statement reaffirming the council’s commitment to promoting equality and tackling discrimination, then actions were outlined including consulting on any street and building names, statues and architectural features that may be considered offensive.
Subsequently, district residents raised concerns about the Blackboy Statue and Blackboy House in Stroud’s Castle Street, and called on the council to consider its removal. Stroud District Council established a review panel to undertake a public consultation and review of streets, statues and monuments across the district with the Blackboy Statue included.
Academics and historians were invited to be part of a review panel and three community representatives were recruited through an open application process. The council says the review panel carefully researched, analysed and debated evidence on the origins of the Blackboy Clock and Statue.
As well as this, the panel received and considered more than 1,600 responses to a public consultation which ran from July 7, 2021, to September 1, 2021.
The clock is dated 1774 and is an unusual example of a Jacquemart clock, designed by John Miles and originally set on the front of his shop in Kendrick Street, Stroud before being moved to the Duke of York pub in Nelson Street, then bought by subscription and finally installed on the front of the National School for Girls – now known as Blackboy House.
Since 1974, Blackboy House has been listed as a Grade II building and the freehold is owned by Blackboy House Management Company Limited. However, the statue and clock belong to The Blackboy Clock Trust. The trust applied for funding in the early 2000s to Stroud Town Council for funding for restoration works.
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The key findings from the survey were that 79% of respondents felt the statue should be removed, 59% that the statue should be placed in a museum and 22% that it should stay where it is.
The survey responses made clear that the statue causes pain and offence but it should not be hidden from the public, instead put in a place where an interpretation can be provided, providing learning and education so that we can continue to challenge what is no longer acceptable, provoke thinking and to demonstrate that change is needed.
Most Blackboy House residents supported the removal of the statue, though some wanted to keep the clock.
The review panel is consulting with a family member of the trustees of the Blackboy Clock Trust, who are unable to comment.
Any removal would need listed building consent, and under new national regulations if a council intends to grant listed building consent and Historic England objects, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will make a final decision.
Any artefact offered to a museum must fit its collecting policy in order to be accepted into the collections.
The review panel also considered that, regardless of the origins, the street name of Blackboys in Dursley causes offence.
Other reviews have taken place for similar names across the country which have resulted in name changes.
There are eight properties on this street with a ‘Blackboys’ address and the review panel recommended that the council consults with the residents of Blackboys to consider renaming the street.