The Thomas Clarkson Affair!

Thomas Clarkson was born in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire on 28th March 1760
Died in Ipswich on 26 September 1846.

Thomas went to the local grammar school and later Cambridge University (St John’s College) and had intended to join the church.
Friends describe him as a kind, generous and shy man. Clarkson was over six feet tall (6' 2") and always tended to wear black.
In 1785 Clarkson entered an essay-writing competition at Cambridge University.
The subject:- Is it right to make men slaves against their wills? Clarkson, like many people in Britain at the time, knew little about the horrors of the slave trade. He spent the next two months reading up on the subject of slavery. As he read his feelings started to change. ‘It was but one gloomy night… I sometimes never closed my eye-lids for grief.’ His research made him realise how evil the slave trade was. He was shocked and deeply affected by what he discovered about the methods of the slavers in capturing or purchasing slaves in Africa and the conditions and treatment of the slaves on the voyage to the British West Indian Colonies Clarkson made up his mind not to go into the church. Instead he decided to put all his energies into campaigning for the abolition of slavery. Clarkson won first prize for his essay and decided to try and get it published. On his way to London he had what he described as a ‘spiritual experience’.
Clarkson stopped on what is now the A10 at Wadesmill, Hertfordshire, where he claimed he received a ‘direct revelation from God’, ordering him to devote his life to abolishing the slave trade - the rest is history!

A Sonnet, To Thomas Clarkson, On the final passing of the Bill for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, March, 1807.

"Clarkson! it was an obstinate Hill to climb:
How toilsome, nay how dire it was, by Thee
Is known; by none, perhaps, so feelingly:
But Thou, who, starting in thy fervent prime,
Didst first lead forth this pilgrimage sublime,
Hast heard thy constant Voice its charge repeat,
Which, out of thy young heart’s oracular seat,
First roused thee. - O true yoke-fellow of Time,
Duty's intrepid liegeman, see, the palm
Is won, and by all Nations shall be worn!
The blood-stained writing is for ever torn;
And Thou henceforth wilt have a good man’s calm,
A great man’s happiness; thy zeal shall find
Repose at length, firm friend of human kind!"

William Wordsworth

The Bicentenary Memorial Restoration Project 2007

The nationally important monument in Wadesmill dedicated to one of the most significant figures in the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade has been restored and moved after falling into disrepair. The restoration, made possible by a £48,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, was is in partnership with Thundridge Parish Council and coincided with the bicentenary of the 1807 Abolition Act.
Jump down to the 2007 restored Memorial