Let’s not weaponise history: let’s talk about shared histories across generations, cultures and political divides
Telling history is not a response to current affairs. Thousands of historians have researched it painstakingly across generations
7 February 2021 • 7:00am
For years now, the 8th Earl of Harewood has talked about the fact that Harewood House was purchased with the profits of the slavery business. He recently told Radio 4’s
Front Row: "This is something we have been investigating for 20 years or more", and added, "the stories about all of these houses are really interesting."
He is right that the history is interesting. The Welsh historian, Marian Gwyn, researched the history of Penrhyn Castle for even longer. The Pennants of Penrhyn financed their estate, local roads and Bangor port with wealth from Denbigh sugar plantations.