Ilfracombe project highlights Black History Month

October marks Black History Month and in Ilfracombe, the launch of this month has highlighted a significant local initiative focused on uncovering hidden stories of diversity and inclusion within the town's history. 

This year’s theme, Reclaiming Narratives, aligns with the aims of Telling Our Stories, Finding Our Roots, a multicultural history project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and run by Devon Development Education.

The Telling Our Stories, Finding Our Roots project began in July 2023 and will take 18 months to complete, finishing at the end of 2024. It is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

It continues two previous Telling Our Stories projects in Exeter, Tiverton, Bideford and Okehampton.

For the past 15 months, volunteers and Community Heritage Coordinators have been exploring untold narratives in Ilfracombe, bringing to light stories often overlooked by traditional history lessons.

The project focuses on important themes, including the transatlantic slave trade and the experiences of enslaved peoples.

One noteworthy story uncovered is that of Thornton Thomas, a half African-American and half White footballer who was a star player for the Ilfracombe football team. 

Thomas played a key role in bringing electricity to North Devon and is the father of Ann Thomas, who still resides in the town.

Another poignant finding relates to the sinking of the HMS London in 1796 off the coast of Rapparee Cove. 

Nearly 100 people perished in the disaster, with some suggesting that many were slaves chained below deck, while others believe they were prisoners of war. 

Hilda Kalap Project Coordinator said: “The ‘winning side’ is the one that gets to record history. That history up to recent times has often been one-sided and speaks of how, for example, colonisation led to the ‘civilisation of native people’. The vast majority of history that is taught in schools and appears in exhibitions doesn’t speak of the experience of those who were colonised – the loss of land, of a richness of culture, of language, extreme exploitation, the millions of deaths and how that legacy affects people to this day.”