Image above, Christmas Steps elevation created by UWE Masters Architecture students
See who has been working with Local Learning on this project
Introducing Carlos Trower
It was on the eve of Abolition, before the American Civil War was won, before the South was defeated, before the Northern victory and freedom for enslaved people that a child escaped along the Underground Railroad, hiding amongst an African circus troupe on a ship bound for Scotland.
This child, Carlos Trower became the ‘African Blondin,’ one of the World’s greatest ever high rope walkers and he used this platform to promote the emancipation of enslaved people. Having fled to this country, Carlos risked his safety and returned to America in 1862 to perform at the Emancipation Day Picnic in Brooklyn, New York. He was 12 years old.
His performances raised money for orphans and widows, hospitals and famine relief. “This wonderful Performer has astonished millions by his Daring and Marvellous Exploits on the High Rope.” But this headline act, this star attraction, this ‘African Blondin’ died in poverty at the age of 39 and little is known about his life away from the limelight.
A birth certificate for his daughter, Celia places Carlos on Christmas Steps in 1876. But Carlos does not appear in any street directory. Their time in Bristol is not captured in the census records.
Local Learning have been working with Masters Architecture students from the University of the West of England and pupils from Willow Park Primary School, just a few minutes’ walk from Carlos’s house. Together with actors and acrobats, academics and archivists we have created this exhibition that allows us to peep into shop window displays of 1870s Christmas Steps, eavesdrop into imagined conversations between Carlos’s neighbours and glimpse behind the scenes into a possibility of circuses past.
An Historic England Blue Plaque Community Research Grant has made it possible to piece together clues about the communities in which Carlos lived and worked.
David Ellington introduces each of the project activity venues in British Sign Language below.
The team began their research journey with a visit to Bristol Archives.
Community research at Bristol Archives
We worked with pupils and staff at Willow Park Primary School where some of Carlos’s neighbours’ children attended.
And explored Carlos’s neighbourhood, visiting Christmas Steps…
with lead researcher Dr Paul Green.
“I would tell people about the history of Christmas Steps and all about Carlos Trower.”
“I enjoyed seeing where Carlos Trower lived.”
“When I walk in Christmas Steps I will show my mum the Carlos picture.”
Then on to Bristol Beacon…
where Carlos once performed about 140 years ago.
“I most enjoyed when we went to Bristol Beacon, as I had never been there before.”
“I will tell my family that Bristol Beacon sign that David taught us.”
This was followed by a visit to the Theatre Collection…
where there was more research, looking together at the history of circus and 1870s Christmas Steps.
“I was surprised by the old book in the collection with the cushion” (reference to 1876 street directory in the Theatre Collection).
“I would tell my dad that it was so wonderful. I loved it 😊Especially the theatre collection.”
Back at Willow Park, the children worked with Ruth Pitter MBE, Carlota Matos, Ruth Myers, David Ellington and BSL interpreter Sherrie Eugene-Hart and used the learning to devise plays about Carlos and his community.
“I enjoyed the drama workshop with David – I was a clown!”
“I enjoyed the acting because it was fun learning about the community.”
“I hope that Carlos will always be remembered.”
“It made me happy and I learnt things I didn’t know before.”
“I would like to learn more about sign language.”
Back to Carlos Trower home page.
