In the 18th century, Belfast merchants exported linen clothing, leather shoes and food to the slave plantations in North America and the Caribbean and many prospered from slave labour.

From the 1780s, enlightened Belfast residents were activists for the elimination of the slave trade. The focus was firstly on abolition in the British Empire and then the Caribbean and the US.

The ANTISLAVERY BELFAST TOUR reveals the story of Belfast’s involvement in this shameful transatlantic trade and the inspiring role of anti-slavery campaigners who ensured Belfast never profited from the trade in the same way as cities such as London, Liverpool, Glasgow or Bristol.

It is brought to life by local historians and trained tour guides, Dr Tom Thorpe and Mark Doherty.