This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-53011156

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
'Degrading' Dunham Massey Hall statue removed 'Degrading' Dunham Massey Hall statue removed
(about 8 hours later)
A "degrading" statue of a black man has been removed from the grounds of a National Trust-owned stately home.A "degrading" statue of a black man has been removed from the grounds of a National Trust-owned stately home.
Workers removed the figure holding a sundial in front of Dunham Massey Hall, near Altrincham in Greater Manchester. Workers removed the Grade II listed sundial figure from in front of Dunham Massey Hall, near Altrincham in Greater Manchester on Thursday.
The National Trust said the caricature, believed to be almost 300 years old, "caused distress because of the way it depicts a black person". The trust said the early 18th Century sculpture "caused distress because of the way it depicts a black person".
It follows recent Black Lives Matter protests and toppling of a statue to slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol.It follows recent Black Lives Matter protests and toppling of a statue to slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol.
The Dunham Massey Hall statue is a life-size lead figure of a kneeling man holding a horizontal sundial above his head and wearing a feathered skirt. The statue, which is believed to have been created by either Andries Carpentier or Jan Van Nost in the early 1700s, is described in its listing on Historic England as "a kneeling African figure clad in leaves carrying the sundial above his head".
Sculptor Andries Carpentier is thought to have created the statue - which was situated at the front of the Grade I listed hall - and it may have been one of a series representing the continents, said the trust. The National Trust said it may have been one of a series representing the continents.
A trust spokesperson said in a statement: "The statue has caused upset and distress because of the way it depicts a black person and because of its prominence at the front of the house. In a statement, a trust spokesman said the statue had "caused upset and distress because of the way it depicts a black person and because of its prominence at the front of the house".
"We don't want to censor or deny the way colonial histories are woven into the fabric of our buildings." He said the charity "don't want to censor or deny the way colonial histories are woven into the fabric of our buildings", but had taken the decision to "move it safely from its previous location while we make plans to address it in a way that fully acknowledges the appalling histories of slavery and the slave trade".
They added: "For these reasons, we have decided to move it safely from its previous location while we make plans to address it in a way that fully acknowledges the appalling histories of slavery and the slave trade." Historic England said that the removal of a listed structure "would normally require listed building consent".
A spokeswoman said all decisions regarding "contested heritage need to be taken on a case by case basis".
"We welcome conversations with local communities, local authorities and owners to discuss these issues."
Trafford Council have been approached for comment.
Chris Lukey who saw it being dismantled on Thursday while walking in Dunham Park said he was "so pleased" it has been removed as it was "degrading to black people".Chris Lukey who saw it being dismantled on Thursday while walking in Dunham Park said he was "so pleased" it has been removed as it was "degrading to black people".
The National Trust reopened Dunham Massey's deer park and car park on 3 June as the lockdown measures have eased although visitors must book tickets in advance.The National Trust reopened Dunham Massey's deer park and car park on 3 June as the lockdown measures have eased although visitors must book tickets in advance.