The Rebel From Wisbech

Thursday 10 April

Thomas Clarkson, ‘Cabinet of Freedom’, Anti-slave trade campaign chest, 1787—8. Reproduced and used with the permission of the Trustees of the Wisbech and Fenland Museum

In this lunchtime lecture, join Sarah Coleman – former Articles for Change Project Curator at Wisbech & Fenland Museum – as she reveals the fascinating discoveries made whilst researching the contents of prominent British abolitionist Thomas Clarkson’s (1760-1846) travelling chest.

 

Clarkson’s chest of objects – currently on display in our Rise Up exhibition – acted as a ‘travelling museum’, helping him campaign against the slave trade. In collaboration with Coleman and the Museum, late British poet Benjamin Zephaniah wrote a poem all about Clarkson titled ‘The Rebel from Wisbech’.

Thomas Clarkson, ‘Cabinet of Freedom’, Anti-slave trade campaign chest, 1787—8. Reproduced and used with the permission of the Trustees of the Wisbech and Fenland Museum

More Cambridge Listings MORE

Courtesy Kimathi Donkor
Cambridge Tuesday 1 May

Meet the Artist: Kimathi Donkor

Join contemporary British artist Kimathi Donkor for an insightful talk on his work in Rise Up.   Discover…

Joy Labinjo. Courtesy of the artist and Tiwani Contemporary. Photo © Jessica Flavin
Cambridge Tuesday 6 May

Meet the Artist: Joy Labinjo

Join us at the Fitzwilliam Museum for an intimate evening with acclaimed British-Nigerian artist Joy Labinjo, whose vivid,…

Cambridge Thursday 15 May

Lunchtime Lecture: Equiano’s Women

Join exhibition lead curator Victoria Avery, alongside researchers Dawnanna Kreeger and Carol Brown-Leonardi, as they share their latest…

Photo © Lewis Ronald
Cambridge Thursday 22 May

Museum Late: Future Legacies

Join us after-hours at the Museum for a lively evening of art, music, conversation and engaging workshops inspired…

Jahnavi Inniss, Representation: Black British History Quilt, 2020-2024. © Jahnavi Inniss
Cambridge Saturday 24 May

Quilting workshop: Jahnavi Inniss

Immerse yourself in our patchwork and quilting workshop led by exhibition artist Jahnavi Inniss, award-winning textile-based graphic designer…

Cambridge 3 October – 25 January 2026

The Makers of Ancient Egypt

From the gold mask of Tutankhamun to the bust of Nefertiti, ancient Egyptians produced objects that remain iconic…