City square to lose slave trader name

Sir John Hawkins Square was named in the 1980s

A Plymouth square that was named after a former mayor and slave trader is set to be renamed.

The city council has proposed changing Sir John Hawkins Square to Justice Square.

The square, between Higher Lane and Palace Street, was constructed and named in the 1980s when the next door magistrates' court was built.

Anyone can appeal against the move by 29 November and magistrates will have the final say.

Sir John Hawkins is described in the Encyclopaedia Britannica as "the first English slave trader"

The square was named after Elizabethan sailor Hawkins who is described in the Encyclopaedia Britannica as "the first English slave trader".

The council decided to rename the square in 2020 following anti-racism protests during which a statue of slave trader Edward Colston was torn down in Bristol.

Legal wrangles followed with a proposal to name the square after Jack Leslie, a black football pioneer who played for Plymouth Argyle.

That was withdrawn after a road near Home Park, the stadium where Leslie made his name, was named in his honour.

The name of Sir John Hawkins has already been removed and a plaque about his role in the slave trade has been installed

Councillor Chris Penberthy, cabinet member for housing and cooperative development, said: "I'm very pleased to be able to finally move forward with the renaming of the square.

"We think that Justice Square is a fitting name for the area given its obvious proximity to the court but also as a homage to the positive role the justice system plays in our society."

The process of renaming the square has started and a notice will be displayed for 21 days.

Anyone who wishes to appeal against the renaming can do so by contacting Plymouth Magistrates' Court by 16:00 GMT on 29 November 2023.

If any appeals are lodged, the proposed renaming will be decided by magistrates.

Information about the role of Hawkins and others from the city who were involved in the slave trade is on a plaque in the square.

Another plaque about the role of Hawkins' cousin Sir Francis Drake in the slave trade was placed on a statue of Drake on the Hoe.

It followed pressure to remove the statue but the city council said at the time that "rather than remove the statue we feel we have a duty to tell the full story of what he did and use this to help remember those who suffered as a result of the slave trade".