A new searchable archive, Depths of Paradise, will bring together the stories of enslaved Africans and over 1,000 British plantation owners who received compensation after abolition. The project, focused on Grenada, is created by Stephen Lewis, a descendant of enslaved survivors, and backed by the British Trevelyan family, who have publicly apologised for their ancestors' role in slavery.
Lewis, 62, said his interest began with a trove of paperwork left by his father, revealing that seven of his eight great-grandparents were enslaved. He retired from the pharmaceutical industry to fill gaps in the Legacies of British Slavery database, documenting over 1,000 British claimants and the enslaved people they owned. The archive aims to serve as a resource for family history, schools, researchers, and those interested in reparative justice.
One notable story is that of Rebecca Ahmuty, enslaved by Maria and John Ahmuty in the 1780s. After John's death, Maria partially freed Rebecca, who later bought her full freedom but maintained close ties, exchanging gifts with Maria's descendants. Laura Trevelyan, a former BBC journalist leading the Trevelyan family's reparative efforts, praised Lewis's work as important for building a portrait of the enslaved.
Trevelyan noted that over 150 families descended from enslavers have contacted her about furthering reparatory justice. The project comes ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth heads of government meeting, where King Charles will speak, amid growing calls for Britain to address its slavery legacy.
