On Friday 4th June 2026, I joined the Global Thread Team who in partnership with The Portico Library have published a series of original research case studies, tracing the Trans-Atlantic connections of the library’s foundation in 1806 and the activities of some of its key proprietors in the first two decades of its existence.
I was impressed to hear that the Research Team have traced direct links between the Portico’s prominent members to slave trading voyages, transatlantic slavery and colonial economies across the globe from Haiti to Jamaica, Grenada, St. Lucia, the United States of America and beyond.
This is a transatlantic history of the Portico Library and Manchester.
With a new Portico Reunited project aim of “reading the past to build the future” the library was aiming to put the new research findings and transatlantic connections at the service of visitors, community members and artists for reflection, response and discussion about how they can help shape the future direction and programming of the institution.
Bringing those human experiences to the forefront, it is hoped that the research could provide crucial context for ongoing reparative justice agenda.
There were Talks and Round table Discussions with Global Threads and the Researchers behind case studies of the Portico Library’s founders.
I was given a little booklet “The Portico’s Global Threads” From Manchester to Haiti, Jamaica, Grenada, St. Lucia and Peterloo by Dr. Matthew Stallard. A little booklet but to me, it weighed very heavy in historical information.
The team plans a larger project and is seeking funding from Heritage Fund to continue this important work.
The Research Team consisted of:
- Antonia Canal – Activity Planner, Portico Reunited Project
- Jeevan Kaur Sanghera – Global Threads Researcher
- Ella Sinclair – Global Threads Researcher
- Dr. Matthew Stallard – Global Threads Co-Lead, Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slavery, UCL.
My pride is that both Antonia Canal and Dr. Matthew Stallard are members of Roving Museum’s Pilot Project Steering Group.
Agnes Fough, Chair of Trustees, Roving Museum CIO