EDINBURGH City Council has voted to replace a plaque addressing legacies of slavery and colonialism previously removed by a descendant of Henry Melville.
It was revealed in The Herald that the A3 brass panel on the base of the Melville Monument in St Andrew Square had been taken away in what City of Edinburgh Council leader Cammy Day deemed an “improper removal” in September.
The plaque in question sparked debate as it accused Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, of being “instrumental in deferring the abolition of the Atlantic slave trade”.
It went on to say that as a “result of this delay, more than half a million enslaved crossed the Atlantic”.
The descendant of the 18th-century politician, Bobby Dundas, previously claimed responsibility for removing the plaque.
Councillors in the city have now voted to replace the plaque " within one month" following refusals by the Melville Monument Committee to return the panel.
Council Leader, Cammy Day said: “The plaque does not belong to the Melville Monument Committee and they had no right to remove it. Following the refusal of our request to return the plaque, we filed an official report with Police Scotland in October and will leave them to investigate fully.
“Yesterday, elected members passed a motion which calls for a replacement plaque to be installed within two months. Work will now begin on this and the other actions of the motion, including the updating of members and the Policy and Sustainability Committee. Our legal team will continue to monitor the situation closely.
“We’re rightly proud of the steps we’ve taken to properly address the legacies of slavery and colonialism here in Edinburgh. From conducting an independent review chaired by Sir Geoff Palmer, to carrying out the recommendations through the Edinburgh Slavery and Colonialism Legacy Review Implementation Group (ESCLRIG) under the leadership of Irene Mosota, we’re committed to being a modern, inclusive and welcoming capital city.
“We must be under no illusions that these historical legacies continue to impact the lives of Black and Minority Ethnic people who live in and visit Edinburgh. This is completely unacceptable, and I’m clear that the ESCLRIG has my full support in their work going forward.”
The plaque was crafted by a committee comprising of city councillors, Scotland’s first black professor Sir Geoff Palmer (below) and another academic.
The motion passed states: "Council reiterates its belief that reparative action which contributes to our ongoing decolonisation work are important ways in which we create a safe, welcoming and inclusive city."
It adds: "Council additionally calls for a replacement plaque to be installed within one month, so that the original decision of Council will continue to be honoured, and for officers to seek recovery of the original plaque.”
Earlier this year, the Melville Monument Committee, which includes descendants of the politician, applied for and received listed building consent to have the plaque removed.
They said the description was “cartoonishly inaccurate”.
This meant the panel could be removed, although the final decision was for the landlords of the buildings around St Andrew Square, who are the owners of the monument.
At the time, councillors suggested that was unlikely, however, the Melville Monument Committee contacted the owners and their lawyers and received no objection when asked if they could remove the plaque.
