The Midlands

Here we look at the Midland's part in the British slave trade and the impact left in our historic environment.

Tissington Hall

The Fitzherbert family, has owned Tissington Hall, Tissington, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 1RA since the 17th century. They married into the Perrin family, owners of four plantations in Jamaica producing sugar and coffee from the second half of the 18th century. These plantations were owned and managed from Tissington Hall.

At the same time, reflecting the growing divisions on the slavery issue, John Alleyne, one of the barristers supporting the case of James Somerset who had escaped from slavery was also related to the Fitzherberts by marriage.

Alleyne had turned against his own family's business in Barbados and worked with Granville Sharp on the abolition cause.