ABOUT HERITAGE CORNER:
The Heritage Corner Walk is an African history trail in the centre of Leeds, it takes place entirely on the central campus site of Leeds University. Architecture, monuments and historic narratives reveal rich stories hidden from initial view. In 1848 Leeds manufacturer Wilson Armistead, in his book 'A Tribute To The Negro' agreed that education was as important in ancient Nubia as it is here today. Heritage Corner engages with such narratives to create partnerships and creative projects for public engagement.
Historical connections help us to tell the diverse stories of the African presence in Britain today.
The invisibility of African humanity in taught history inspired the forming of the Diasporian Stories Research Group (DSRG), in 1994. Members include Audrey Dewjee, Allison Edwards, David Hamilton, Dr. Carl Hylton, Chris Power, Carol Sorhaindo and Joe Williams.
The African Heritage Walk evolved out of the work of DSRG and was first launched in 2009, the inauguration year of the first African American President of the United States. The walk also formed part of events commemorating the 150th anniversary of the visit to Leeds by the eminent African American abolitionist Frederick Douglass, in 1859; the city-wide activities were organized by a special partnership of Leeds Metropolitan University (now Leeds Beckett University), Leeds Museums and Chapeltown based Leeds Bi-Centenary Transformation Project.
Over many years we have successfully combined historic research disciplines with creative practice through strong partnerships. Each project also explores contemporary themes and styles of story-telling. The new Heritage Corner Walk creates an ideal ongoing focus for this work as understanding deepens through discourse and engagement.