The National Trust for Scotland are running a project, called Facing Our Past, acknowledging their properties which have links to Scotland’s role in the slave trade. Malleny Garden, in Balerno, is one such property which has links to Jamaica.
The National Trust for Scotland are running a project, called Facing Our Past, acknowledging their properties which have links to Scotland’s role in the slave trade. Malleny Garden, in Balerno, is one such property which has links to Jamaica.
I’ll follow this with interest.
Am a Jamaican who lived in Scotland for many years.
That’s great Deborah. It’s always good to hear from Jamaicans living in Scotland. We’re always looking for people to get involved if that’s something that would interest you.
Hi Adrian
Yes, just let me know how.
We could add you to the distribution list of our steering group if you like and then you’d be able to see where you could become more involved if you’d be interested in that.
The connection between Scotland and the slave trade is interesting to me because my 3 times great grandmother was an African slave in Jamaica. My 3 times great grandfather was her owner who sent their oldest son (of 5 children) back to Edinburgh where he became established as a tailor.
Hi Laurie, that sounds like an interesting story indeed. What was the son’s name?
Thomas Gilzean, born 1811. He died in Edinburgh in 1868. One of his grandsons, Andrew Gilzean, (my great-uncle) became Labour MP for Edinburgh Central in the 1945 election.
That’s interesting to know. I just did a search for him and there’s certainly some material online about him. Very interesting indeed.
I hope by drawing attention to this that Malleny Garden is not going to be a target for destruction enough is enough
Hi Susan, I think the NTS are doing the right thing by highlighting this aspect of the history of some of their properties. I think it’s a healthy thing to do and in the almost 6 weeks since the NTS published the article I believe the garden has remained unscathed. I anticipate that it will continue to be so.