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Exploring Bristol's Black Ancestry

Press release issued: 1 March 2006

Members of the public will be offered the chance to take a step back in time at Bristol University next week, [Tuesday 7 March] when it launches a series of talks, entitled “Black Bristolians”, set to reveal some of the mysteries surrounding Bristol’s Black ancestry.

Members of the public will be offered the chance to take a step back in time at Bristol University next week, [Tuesday 7 March] when it launches a series of talks, entitled “Black Bristolians”, set to reveal some of the mysteries surrounding Bristol’s Black ancestry.

The talks will explore the history behind Bristol’s small but significant Black population, slave and free. They will give a fascinating insight into their lives starting in the late 16 th century. These include some inspiring accounts of local characters such as Pero, Quaco and Bridgetower.

Mrs D P Lindegaard, lecturer, said: “This is a great opportunity for people to learn more about their city and its local Black history. I have uncovered lots of interesting facts about some of Bristol’s ancestry through extensive research in registers, ships’ manifests and court records and hope to provide people with some descriptive and intriguing accounts of what life was like in Bristol back then.”

The six weekly meetings, organised by the University’s Public Programmes Office, will take place every Tuesday, from 7 March, from 9.45 to 11.15 am.

Tickets are priced at  £28.  For further information please contact Jo Emslie, Public Programmes Office, 8-10 Berkeley Square, Bristol or tel 0117 928 7165.

 

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