English Heritage in balancing act over slavery links

Charity bosses urge caution when listening to concerns of members of staff and charitable donors

‘The stories we tell at our sites are – and always will be – underpinned by research and evidence’

ENGLISH HERITAGE bosses shared fears that the charity would be “held to ransom” by its members if it pursued plans to address its links to slavery and colonialism.

Emails seen by The Sunday Telegraph show that English Heritage’s senior management team, ahead of its own “thought council”, was cautioned about the backlash faced by the National Trust. The trust faced widespread criticism last year when it added Winston Churchill’s home to a dossier of properties with links to colonialism and slavery, following Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests.

The emails show the difficulties faced by English Heritage’s senior managers, who were trying to balance taking staff concerns seriously, against those of its charitable donors.

One email says bosses were warned: “BAME staff members have expressed interest/concerns in how we respond to this criticism, including concerns that we might be held to ransom by threats of people withdrawing support.”

As of 2019/20, English Heritage received £7.9 million from donations and legacies, and £41million from fees paid by its more than one million members, which made up the largest proportion of its £121million annual income.

During 2020, the charity began reviewing blue plaques in London, adding extra information on colonial figures such as Clive of India and Lord Kitchener, both involved with British imperial expansion. Statues under the care of English Heritage, which in the capital include James II, who founded the Royal African Company following the Restoration, and George Washington, who owned slaves, were also reviewed and given more online information on slavery.

It is understood that a trustee of English Heritage was among those who raised concerns about the perceived direction the charity was taking with regard to slavery and colonialism, following an in-house magazine article on slavery. English Heritage staff raised concerns that such a senior supporter might see the charity as “woke”, according to internal documents, and noted that a small number of complaints had been received.

Emails also highlighted how Oliver Dowden, the Culture Secretary, had warned the National Trust that it should be “preserving and protecting” heritage.

Kate Mavor, the chief executive of English Heritage, stressed in an email in October last year that BLM issues were “tricky territory” and concerns around inclusion and diversity needed to be addressed “while bringing people with us, rather than alienating them”. In November, after a “thought council” of English Heritage leaders, it was noted that senior staff would pursue a strategy on these issues based on “authenticity” and “our charitable purpose”.

Material put out by English Heritage was to “stick to facts, not opinions, and to explain, not judge”, with it being noted that “tone of voice matters”. It is understood that no donors have withdrawn support for the charity.

An English Heritage spokesman said: “We have emphasised that we deal in facts and that the stories we tell at our sites are – and always will be – underpinned by research and evidence.”