Council reviews slave trader link to Picton street names
A COUNCIL is moving ahead with a review of its street names to determine if they are linked to a slave trader.
Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) is continuing to fund research to find out whether streets in the area were named after 19th-century slave owner General Thomas Picton.
The authority is comissioning the Glamorgan Archives to conduct the research for a maximum fee of £3,000.
The decision was made during a cabinet meeting in June in response to the death of George Floyd in America and the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests held globally earlier this year.
Until recently, many Bridgend residents thought their street names refered to Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Picton Turberville, a former owner of Ewenny Priory, rather than slave trader General Thomas Picton.
Some people thought the men were not related to each other, but research comissioned by the council has proven this theory is incorrect.
The council’s cabinet member for education and regeneration Councillor Charles Smith said: “General Picton is obviously a person we wouldn’t want to be associated with, but that doesn’t necessarily apply to the whole Picton family.”
He also said the archives are an “underpublicised resource”, saying: “You couldn’t go to a better bunch of experts.”
The number of slaves while General Thomas Picton was governor of Trinidad doubled to nearly 20,000.
Born in 1758 in Pembrokeshire, Picton was the highest-ranking general to die at the battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815. He was the governor of Trinidad for five years and became known as the “Tyrant of Trinidad” for his brutal methods.
In 1806 he was convicted of ordering the illegal torture of a 14-year-old girl. This was overturned in 1808 after he argued that Trinidad was under Spanish rule, which allowed torture.
Research funded by the council has found eight streets in Bridgend County Borough containing the name “Picton”, with more than 300 properties affected:
Bridgend:
■ Picton Gardens – 61
■ Picton Avenue – 9
■ Picton Close – 9 Porthcawl:
■ Picton Avenue – 48
■ Middleton Court, Picton Avenue – 60
Kenfig Hill:
Picton Street – 30 Nantyffyllon:
Picton Street – 116
Picton Place – 18
Cardiff County ordered a statue of General Picton in Cardiff City Hall to be boarded up in July. No decision has been made yet as to whether Bridgend’s streets will be renamed. BCBC has previously said it will decide what will happen to its street names following the Welsh Government review and its own research.
In November the Welsh Government released the findings of its review into links between slavery and Welsh landmarks, street names and buildings.
The review found there are 209 streets, buildings, portraits or monuments in Wales that comemorate people who were directly involved with the slave trade or opposed its abolition.
First Minister Mark Drakeford ordered the research to take place following Black Lives Matter protests which occured worldwide earlier this year, including one in Bridgend in July.
The council’s cabinet member for wellbeing and future generations Dhanisha Patel said there may be “an issue around the scope” of the Welsh Government’s research and its impact on Bridgend County Borough.
The council’s early research into its street names found connections between General Picton and the Brogden family, who are credited with much of the expansion and development of Porthcawl.
However, the Welsh Government’s findings do not mention the Brodgens, despite the name Picton being the second-most common name of a controversial figure being commemorated across Wales.
A council report states the Brogdens bought the ironworks and land at Tondu in 1854 and land at Tir Gunter and Park, Bettws and Tywith in the Llynfi valley.
In 1863 they had a railway built from Nantymoel to the Llynvi Valley Railway at Tondu and constructed a new dock at Porthcawl.
Cllr Patel said the Glamorgan Arcives will “hold the information that’s most relevant to Bridgend”, adding: “I really look forward to what they have to say with interest.”
The Glamorgan Archives has also determined the types of buildings with the name “Picton” and found collections of records that may give further details within the archives’ collection.
During a cabinet meeting in August, council leader Huw David said local residents have told him they do not want streets to be renamed.
According to UK law, the council could change the name of any street, or part of a street, or give a name to any street, or part of a street, that doesn’t have a name. Locals should be notified about this at least a month before and there is an appeals process that can be made to a magistrate’s court.
Although it is not legally required, BCBC said it would consult members of the public before changing street names in the county borough.
A final report on Bridgend’s street names will be presented to the council’s cabinet in March 2021.
According to the council’s consultation, engagement and equalities manager Nicola Bunston, the authority will “hopefully” be able to “reach some conclusions” on its street names once the final report has been made.