Georgian Bath was built largely due to the British Slave Trade and there is little doubt that some residents of PPB&C would have benefitted directly or indirectly from the slave trade. Equally there could have been other resident’s who would have been involved in the abolition of slavery.
The slave trade was abolished in 1807 and slavery in 1833 so while Prior Park Buildings and Cottages were being built slavery would have been heavily debated.
Ironically prominent Quakers were involved in both the slave trade as well as opposition to it.
Issac Pickering, the father of Ellen Pickering the novelist who lived in no 13 PPB owned 4 plantations and a large number of slaves on the Island of Tortola in the Virgin Islands. So although not a direct slave owner Ellen would have benefited from the slave trade – compensation for the loss of slaves was not paid out until after his death in 1829.
The Pickering family had long standing ties with the Virgin Islands that go back to the early days of slavery on the islands. Issac’s father, John was the first governor general of Tortola but he resigned from the post when he realised that he might have to bear arms against Dutch pirates!
Issac Pickering had this splendid map of Tortola drawn up to show off his wealth! There are 102 plantations on the Island and he owned 4. Members of the Pickering family owned other plantations. Tortola is one of the main islands in the Virgin Islands
Most residents of Bath who benefitted from slavery would have done so through direct ownership of slaves or shares in plantations. However a few people were involved in the numerous mills in the area that profited from the manufacture of the brassware that was used a currency in the slave trade. The were brass mills in western Island in the middle of the river Avon. Again Quakers were prominent in this trade.
David Graham who lived in No 4 Prior Park Buildings owned a number of slaves and received compensation for their loss whilst living in the buildings.
Joseph Young Sturge one of the sons of the prominent abolitionist and Quaker Joseph Sturge VI (1793- 1859), lived in No 2 Prior park Buildings in 1851.