Report published exploring our history: Independent research into Bridge House Estates and the transatlantic traffic in enslaved African people

Just over a year since our November 2024 announcement, City Bridge Foundation is publishing an independent report by Professor William Pettigrew. The report examines historical links between Bridge House Estates (our charity’s historic and legal name) and the transatlantic traffic in enslaved African people.

Understanding our history is essential to shaping our future. This research is an important step in our ongoing commitment to transparency, equity and social justice.

We commissioned Professor Pettigrew to:

1. Support City Bridge Foundation’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion by assessing any historical connections between Bridge House Estates and the transatlantic traffic in enslaved African people.
2. Promote responsible and transparent practices by identifying and communicating any such links.

The research was independent, rigorous, and evidence based. Professor Pettigrew worked between July and December 2024, using documentary and archival sources. This included primary records such as Bridgemaster’s account books and tenancy records, cross-referenced with known lists of investors, officials, and traders involved in the transatlantic traffic in enslaved African people.

The report makes clear that links to the transatlantic traffic in enslaved African people were limited and did not transform the charity’s finances or directly shape its long-term purpose. However, the research does shows that some individuals who governed us were involved in creating and expanding these practices, but this was independent from the charity’s investments or activities. 

The report acknowledges the profound and lasting harm caused by the transatlantic traffic in enslaved African people and the legacy of inequality and harm that continues to affect communities in London and globally.

We will not shy away from the gravity of these findings. This work is an essential part of our commitment to transparency, equity and social justice, and it strengthens our resolve to advance racial justice.

Read the full report here: Report assessing the connections between the transatlantic traffic in enslaved African people and the Bridge House Estates

Publishing this report reflects the objectives we set out at the start: to share findings transparently and sensitively; to prioritise accuracy; to model ethical leadership; and to foster trust through honest, reliable communication.

We condemn the role that London and the wider UK played in this period of history, and we recognise the continuing impact on racial injustice today. Our commitment to racial justice is a direct response to this legacy.

While this research was not the catalyst for our Racial Justice programme, its findings reinforce the importance of the work we are already doing. In response, we will:

• Continue to develop and resource our Racial Justice programme, informed by this research and by ongoing engagement with affected communities.
• Share the report openly and invite discussion with community partners, researchers, and the wider public so that we can learn and be held accountable.
• Embed lessons from this research into our governance, grant-making and outreach, ensuring our future work is firmly rooted in equity and inclusion.

We hope this research contributes to wider conversations about history, responsibility and reparative practice. We welcome dialogue and partnership, whether through reading the full report, revisiting our November 2024 announcement, or engaging with us on the findings and our racial justice work.

We are grateful to Professor William Pettigrew for his careful research and to everyone who has taken part in this process. We will continue to listen, learn and act in ways that reflect our values, our duty to London and Londoners, and our commitment to a fairer future. 

These London based groups provide education, community, and support for those historically affected by the transatlantic traffic in enslaved African people:

• The World Reimagined
• Healing Justice LDN
• Centre for the Study of Legacies of British Slavery
• Sarah Parker Redmond Centre
• Black Cultural Archives