Slavery and the Building of Britain

The Atlantic slave trade between Britain, Africa and the Americas transformed the economy of Britain as industry and commerce flourished on the back of its success. The processing and distribution of produce such as tobacco, sugar and cotton produced on plantations resulted in massive investment in British quaysides, warehouses, factories, trading houses and banks.

The profits built fashionable townhouses and rural stately homes for the masters of the trade. British cities such as London, Bristol, Glasgow and Liverpool grew as the slave colonies became more important, while other towns and ports scrambled to reap the benefits of this lucrative trade.

Glasgow and tobacco	Banks and banking	Harewood House	Penrhyn Castle
Cultural institutions	Codrington Library, All Souls College, Oxford	Bristol and sugar	Industry

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