Slave trade

A new guidebook to Edinburgh's historic architecture and landscape is set to lift the lid on how the city’s past is inextricably linked with slavery. Exploring Edinburgh highlights the connections between the slave trade and Bute House, the Royal Mile, St Andrew Square, Coates Crescent and Edinburgh University.

Every city, every major town and every stately home in the UK is inextricably linked with slavery. However, that doesn't mean that the residents and/ or visitors support slavery. It doesn't mean that slavery still goes on under the auspices of the residents/visitors to the places concerned. It doesn't mean that the local authorities or owners support or indulge in slavery today. The places concerned are not insults to the memory of the victims of slavery. It's what is known as “history”... You know... The stuff that happened in the past which we can't change because it's happened, but from which we can learn. If the Germans can create museums such as The Topography of Terror in Berlin, and the Poles can retain places such as Auschwitz, both of which depict history, then we can retain our historic buildings and houses.

Alastair Browne

The Topography of Terror (clue in the name) and Auschwitz present historically accurate accounts. Dressing up the family/slavery history and presenting it as philanthropy is totally disingenuous. Sure, have the buildings as visitor attractions but set out the full history – after all, those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

Terry Higgins

This is how it should be, no removing statues, no changing street names, no hiding history, take the people out and show them the real past, show them the devastation (is that a strong enough word) this had on people and their lives, it the best way to help stop what's happening today, with people trafficking and slavery that's still going on, and to stop it from happening in the future.

Iain Brown

Great. That’s the green light for Edinburgh’s snowflake council to demolish the lot.

Ross Ward

Be aware but be proud of our heritage.

Alex Monaghan Removing statues will not erase history. I do hope that revised information will allow those seeking it to acknowledge that many of this prominent figures built cities, hospitals, universities etc. It's not all doom and gloom.

Jbrown JB

Everybody in the Western world was involved in slavery during that period. No developed country today would be where it is without the wealth created by slavery, not forgetting colonisation.

Kenneth Melville

The fact that the slave holders were compensated and not the former slaves themselves strikes me. We still need reparations, and healing this brutality towards others.

Put the abolitionists on pedestals, whose vision and bravery deserve our respect.

Angela Brewer