January 2008 Heritage Feature: David Alston - Slaves and Highlanders

David Alston has worn many hats; teacher, youth leader, adult education worker, but it is as a museum curator and historian that he is probably best known here. The man behind the innovative Cromarty Courthouse Musuem, he now works as a Councillor and on the board of the NHS. History however, has always been, a major preoccuption.

His book on Ross and Cromarty,  and, more recently his major text, "My little town of Cromarty" have received critical acclaim for both their broad cultural sweep and throughness of research. His recent work, however, has utilised much more disparate sources and has a wider geographical remit.

With last year being the Anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade, there has been much discussion on both culpability and the legacy of the business. The Highlands have traditionally felt blameless in this regard, citing the lack of an indigenous community of those of African heritage, as evidence of clean hands. David Alston looks deeper and demonstrates that the evidence is there,  in terms of documentary text, but also built heritage.  He also speculates that there were more people of colour in the Highlands, in 1850 than there were in 1950.

This is an ongoing work. Recognising that there may be much more evidence buried in local repositories, David would be pleased to hear about any folk of African origin known to local historians. Many became integrated into local communities, possibly leaving a genetic mark long since lost. There may also be evidence of commercial involvement in this heinous trade.

Whilst we can celebrate the legislation that ended the Government's complicit involvement in slavery, the days of economic migrancy are with us again. The spectre of slavery is still about, and our passivity conveys acquiescence.

David Alston can be contacted on David.Alston@highland.gov.uk

Heritage North is pleased to offer readers the chance to hear David Alston deliver a paper on his research.  In addition, to further our multimedia credentials we offer you  a super "self-steering" presentation for you to work through whilst David speaks.

Download the audio file and the Powerpoint presentation below. If you have any problems get in touch with Gordon, by email at gordon@heritagenorth.co.uk.