Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: slave trade

Glasgow - Gallery of Modern Art

13 Feb 2025 1 20
With over 635,000 inhabitants, Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland, ahead of Edinburgh, and the third largest city in the United Kingdom after London and Birmingham. Around 80 AD, the Romans colonised the city, which was probably called Cathures at the time. The Romans later built the Antonine Wall around 140 AD to separate Roman Britain from Celtic and Pictish Caledonia. According to legend, Glasgow itself was founded by the Christian missionary St Mungo in the 6th century. He is said to have built a church on the site of today's cathedral. Construction of St Mungo's Cathedral began in the 12th century. In 1451, the University of Glasgow was founded by papal decree. By the beginning of the 16th century, Glasgow had become an important religious and academic centre. The Gallery of Modern Art is housed in a neoclassical building, built in 1778 as the townhouse of William Cunninghame of Lainshaw, a wealthy Glasgow Tobacco Lord who made his fortune through the triangular slave trade. The building has undergone a series of different uses. It was bought in 1817 by the Royal Bank of Scotland, it then became the Royal Exchange. In 1954 Glasgow District Libraries moved the Stirling's Library into the building. It also housed the Library of Patents and the Commercial Library. The Gallery of Modern Art opened here in 1996. Clay Pit Holes, 1966, Andy Goldsworthy

Glasgow - Gallery of Modern Art

13 Feb 2025 18
With over 635,000 inhabitants, Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland, ahead of Edinburgh, and the third largest city in the United Kingdom after London and Birmingham. Around 80 AD, the Romans colonised the city, which was probably called Cathures at the time. The Romans later built the Antonine Wall around 140 AD to separate Roman Britain from Celtic and Pictish Caledonia. According to legend, Glasgow itself was founded by the Christian missionary St Mungo in the 6th century. He is said to have built a church on the site of today's cathedral. Construction of St Mungo's Cathedral began in the 12th century. In 1451, the University of Glasgow was founded by papal decree. By the beginning of the 16th century, Glasgow had become an important religious and academic centre. The Gallery of Modern Art is housed in a neoclassical building, built in 1778 as the townhouse of William Cunninghame of Lainshaw, a wealthy Glasgow Tobacco Lord who made his fortune through the triangular slave trade. The building has undergone a series of different uses. It was bought in 1817 by the Royal Bank of Scotland, it then became the Royal Exchange. In 1954 Glasgow District Libraries moved the Stirling's Library into the building. It also housed the Library of Patents and the Commercial Library. The Gallery of Modern Art opened here in 1996. Alexander Hamilton of the unemployed, Alasdair Gray, 1977

Glasgow - Gallery of Modern Art

13 Feb 2025 15
With over 635,000 inhabitants, Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland, ahead of Edinburgh, and the third largest city in the United Kingdom after London and Birmingham. Around 80 AD, the Romans colonised the city, which was probably called Cathures at the time. The Romans later built the Antonine Wall around 140 AD to separate Roman Britain from Celtic and Pictish Caledonia. According to legend, Glasgow itself was founded by the Christian missionary St Mungo in the 6th century. He is said to have built a church on the site of today's cathedral. Construction of St Mungo's Cathedral began in the 12th century. In 1451, the University of Glasgow was founded by papal decree. By the beginning of the 16th century, Glasgow had become an important religious and academic centre. The Gallery of Modern Art is housed in a neoclassical building, built in 1778 as the townhouse of William Cunninghame of Lainshaw, a wealthy Glasgow Tobacco Lord who made his fortune through the triangular slave trade. The building has undergone a series of different uses. It was bought in 1817 by the Royal Bank of Scotland, it then became the Royal Exchange. In 1954 Glasgow District Libraries moved the Stirling's Library into the building. It also housed the Library of Patents and the Commercial Library. The Gallery of Modern Art opened here in 1996. In the front od the building is the statue of the Duke of Wellington with traffic cone

Glasgow - Gallery of Modern Art

13 Feb 2025 15
With over 635,000 inhabitants, Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland, ahead of Edinburgh, and the third largest city in the United Kingdom after London and Birmingham. Around 80 AD, the Romans colonised the city, which was probably called Cathures at the time. The Romans later built the Antonine Wall around 140 AD to separate Roman Britain from Celtic and Pictish Caledonia. According to legend, Glasgow itself was founded by the Christian missionary St Mungo in the 6th century. He is said to have built a church on the site of today's cathedral. Construction of St Mungo's Cathedral began in the 12th century. In 1451, the University of Glasgow was founded by papal decree. By the beginning of the 16th century, Glasgow had become an important religious and academic centre. The Gallery of Modern Art is housed in a neoclassical building, built in 1778 as the townhouse of William Cunninghame of Lainshaw, a wealthy Glasgow Tobacco Lord who made his fortune through the triangular slave trade. The building has undergone a series of different uses. It was bought in 1817 by the Royal Bank of Scotland, it then became the Royal Exchange. In 1954 Glasgow District Libraries moved the Stirling's Library into the building. It also housed the Library of Patents and the Commercial Library. The Gallery of Modern Art opened here in 1996. In the front od the building is the statue of the Duke of Wellington with traffic cone

Caernarfon - Black Boy Inn

14 Dec 2024 4 3 39
The Black Boy Inn claims to be one of the oldest inns in Wales. The name of the inn reminds of John Ystumllyn (c. 1738–1786) who was an 18th-century gardener and the first well-recorded black person of North Wales. He was probably a victim of the Atlantic slave trade. As a child he was taken by the Wynn family to its Ystumllyn estate, where he was christened with the name John Ystumllyn. He was taught English and Welsh. He learned horticulture and craftsmanship and worked as a gardener at the estate and began a romance with a local maid, Margaret Gruffydd. John run eventually away from his job as gardener to marry Margaret in 1768. They had seven children, five of whom survived. In recognition of his service Ellis Wynn gave Ystumllyn a large garden and cottage at Y Nhyra Isa. Ystumllyn died in 1786; his wife, Margaret, outlived him by more than forty years. In 2021 a new rose variety was released in honour of him. The John Ystumllyn rose is a golden yellow hybrid tea rose.

Lagos

02 Aug 2024 1 52
The Phoenicians and Greeks had already settled in the bay of Lagos. The Carthaginians introduced wine and olive cultivation in the 4th century BC. The Roman name Lacobriga is the first known name of the settlement. In 716 the Moors conquered Lagos. Under their rule, the city wall was renewed in the 10th century. In 1189, Dom Sancho I conquered Lagos, but three years later the Moors returned. It was not until 1241 that Dom Paio Peres Correia, with military support from German and English knightly orders, was finally able to wrest the city from the Moors. In the 15th century, Lagos' port was the starting point for numerous African expeditions undertaken by Portugal under Henry the Navigator (Dom Henrique o Navegador). He made Lagos an important base for his fleet and had the caravel developed and built here from around 1440. This new type of ship was not only seaworthy, but was also able to sail close to the wind and tack against the prevailing wind direction. From 1433 onwards, Gil Eanes set sail from Lagos several times, finally sailing beyond Cape Bojador for the first time. The cape was considered the border of the world at the time. Another sailor, Rui de Sequeira, conquered a Benin fortress called Eko in what is now Nigeria in 1472. Today Lagos, formerly Eko, is with around 16 million inhabitants much better known worldwide than its godmother in Portugal. The African voyages of Portuguese ships brought black slaves from Guinea and Senegal to Europe for the first time in modern times. In 1444, Lagos received an important slave market. Human trafficking was not banned until 1820. After the earthquake of 1755, a massive tidal wave eleven metres high devastated the city. Lagos was subsequently rebuilt and the city walls from that time still surround large parts of the old town today. Postbox

Lagos

02 Aug 2024 2 49
The Phoenicians and Greeks had already settled in the bay of Lagos. The Carthaginians introduced wine and olive cultivation in the 4th century BC. The Roman name Lacobriga is the first known name of the settlement. In 716 the Moors conquered Lagos. Under their rule, the city wall was renewed in the 10th century. In 1189, Dom Sancho I conquered Lagos, but three years later the Moors returned. It was not until 1241 that Dom Paio Peres Correia, with military support from German and English knightly orders, was finally able to wrest the city from the Moors. In the 15th century, Lagos' port was the starting point for numerous African expeditions undertaken by Portugal under Henry the Navigator (Dom Henrique o Navegador). He made Lagos an important base for his fleet and had the caravel developed and built here from around 1440. This new type of ship was not only seaworthy, but was also able to sail close to the wind and tack against the prevailing wind direction. From 1433 onwards, Gil Eanes set sail from Lagos several times, finally sailing beyond Cape Bojador for the first time. The cape was considered the border of the world at the time. Another sailor, Rui de Sequeira, conquered a Benin fortress called Eko in what is now Nigeria in 1472. Today Lagos, formerly Eko, is with around 16 million inhabitants much better known worldwide than its godmother in Portugal. The African voyages of Portuguese ships brought black slaves from Guinea and Senegal to Europe for the first time in modern times. In 1444, Lagos received an important slave market. Human trafficking was not banned until 1820. After the earthquake of 1755, a massive tidal wave eleven metres high devastated the city. Lagos was subsequently rebuilt and the city walls from that time still surround large parts of the old town today. Giant Snails. Mating.

Lagos - Igreja de Santo António

02 Aug 2024 60
The Phoenicians and Greeks had already settled in the bay of Lagos. The Carthaginians introduced wine and olive cultivation in the 4th century BC. The Roman name Lacobriga is the first known name of the settlement. In 716 the Moors conquered Lagos. Under their rule, the city wall was renewed in the 10th century. In 1189, Dom Sancho I conquered Lagos, but three years later the Moors returned. It was not until 1241 that Dom Paio Peres Correia, with military support from German and English knightly orders, was finally able to wrest the city from the Moors. In the 15th century, Lagos' port was the starting point for numerous African expeditions undertaken by Portugal under Henry the Navigator (Dom Henrique o Navegador). He made Lagos an important base for his fleet and had the caravel developed and built here from around 1440. This new type of ship was not only seaworthy, but was also able to sail close to the wind and tack against the prevailing wind direction. From 1433 onwards, Gil Eanes set sail from Lagos several times, finally sailing beyond Cape Bojador for the first time. The cape was considered the border of the world at the time. Another sailor, Rui de Sequeira, conquered a Benin fortress called Eko in what is now Nigeria in 1472. Today Lagos, formerly Eko, is with around 16 million inhabitants much better known worldwide than its godmother in Portugal. The African voyages of Portuguese ships brought black slaves from Guinea and Senegal to Europe for the first time in modern times. In 1444, Lagos received an important slave market. Human trafficking was not banned until 1820. After the earthquake of 1755, a massive tidal wave eleven metres high devastated the city. Lagos was subsequently rebuilt and the city walls from that time still surround large parts of the old town today. The church was originally called the "Church of Santo António dos Militares", as it was commissioned by the military. It was completed in 1707, destroyed in the earthquake of 1755 and rebuilt in 1769.

Bristol

30 Apr 2024 2 69
The town of Brycgstow already existed at the beginning of the 11th century and was given one of the strongest castles in southern England under Norman rule. In the 12th century it became an important harbour town, especially for trade with Ireland. A new bridge was built in 1247 and the town expanded considerably. It became a county in 1373. Bristol developed into the centre of shipbuilding. Until its dissolution in England under Edward I, the Knights Templar used Bristol as the main harbour for pilgrimages and for exporting wool to the continent. In the 14th century, shortly before the arrival of the plague in 1348, Bristol was the third largest city in England after London and York, with a population of around 15,000 to 20,000. The plague caused a long-lasting population decline. However, the population remained stable in the 15th and 16th centuries and totalled between 10,000 and 12,000 inhabitants. In 1497, Bristol was the starting point of John Cabot's voyage of exploration to North America. In 1542, Bristol was granted city rights and the former Abbey of St Augustine became a cathedral. During the Civil War from 1643 to 1645, Bristol was occupied and devastated by royal troops. With the establishment of the English colonies in America in the 17th century and the slave trade in the 18th century, Bristol grew again. Alongside Liverpool, Bristol became the centre of the slave trade. From 1700 to 1807, over 2000 slave ships called at the harbour, transporting over half a million people from Africa to America. A rainy evening

Bristol - St Mary Redcliffe

30 Apr 2024 3 85
The town of Brycgstow already existed at the beginning of the 11th century and was given one of the strongest castles in southern England under Norman rule. In the 12th century it became an important harbour town, especially for trade with Ireland. A new bridge was built in 1247 and the town expanded considerably. It became a county in 1373. Bristol developed into the centre of shipbuilding. Until its dissolution in England under Edward I, the Knights Templar used Bristol as the main harbour for pilgrimages and for exporting wool to the continent. In the 14th century, shortly before the arrival of the plague in 1348, Bristol was the third largest city in England after London and York, with a population of around 15,000 to 20,000. The plague caused a long-lasting population decline. However, the population remained stable in the 15th and 16th centuries and totalled between 10,000 and 12,000 inhabitants. In 1497, Bristol was the starting point of John Cabot's voyage of exploration to North America. In 1542, Bristol was granted city rights and the former Abbey of St Augustine became a cathedral. During the Civil War from 1643 to 1645, Bristol was occupied and devastated by royal troops. With the establishment of the English colonies in America in the 17th century and the slave trade in the 18th century, Bristol grew again. Alongside Liverpool, Bristol became the centre of the slave trade. From 1700 to 1807, over 2000 slave ships called at the harbour, transporting over half a million people from Africa to America. St Mary Redcliffe is located on an island on the River Avon in the Redcliffe district. Smaller predecessor buildings from Anglo-Saxon and Norman times already existed on the site of the present church. The present church was built largely on the initiative and with the financial support of the town's merchants and traders between 1292 and 1370. In 1446, lightning struck the stone spire, causing considerable damage to the building when it collapsed. The building suffered considerable damage during the English Civil War (1642-1649). The church, built on a Latin cross plan, has three naves and a transept with three portals. The lack of a crossing tower is unusual; instead, the tower rises above the western bay of the side aisle, making it part of the façade. Both Decorated Style and Perpendicular Style elements can be found, particularly on the windows and the vaults of the church, which are stabilised on the outside by buttresses. The vaulting of the Lady Chapel

Bristol - St Mary Redcliffe

30 Apr 2024 2 92
The town of Brycgstow already existed at the beginning of the 11th century and was given one of the strongest castles in southern England under Norman rule. In the 12th century it became an important harbour town, especially for trade with Ireland. A new bridge was built in 1247 and the town expanded considerably. It became a county in 1373. Bristol developed into the centre of shipbuilding. Until its dissolution in England under Edward I, the Knights Templar used Bristol as the main harbour for pilgrimages and for exporting wool to the continent. In the 14th century, shortly before the arrival of the plague in 1348, Bristol was the third largest city in England after London and York, with a population of around 15,000 to 20,000. The plague caused a long-lasting population decline. However, the population remained stable in the 15th and 16th centuries and totalled between 10,000 and 12,000 inhabitants. In 1497, Bristol was the starting point of John Cabot's voyage of exploration to North America. In 1542, Bristol was granted city rights and the former Abbey of St Augustine became a cathedral. During the Civil War from 1643 to 1645, Bristol was occupied and devastated by royal troops. With the establishment of the English colonies in America in the 17th century and the slave trade in the 18th century, Bristol grew again. Alongside Liverpool, Bristol became the centre of the slave trade. From 1700 to 1807, over 2000 slave ships called at the harbour, transporting over half a million people from Africa to America. St Mary Redcliffe is located on an island on the River Avon in the Redcliffe district. Smaller predecessor buildings from Anglo-Saxon and Norman times already existed on the site of the present church. The present church was built largely on the initiative and with the financial support of the town's merchants and traders between 1292 and 1370. In 1446, lightning struck the stone spire, causing considerable damage to the building when it collapsed. The building suffered considerable damage during the English Civil War (1642-1649). The church, built on a Latin cross plan, has three naves and a transept with three portals. The lack of a crossing tower is unusual; instead, the tower rises above the western bay of the side aisle, making it part of the façade. Both Decorated Style and Perpendicular Style elements can be found, particularly on the windows and the vaults of the church, which are stabilised on the outside by buttresses.

Bristol - St Mary Redcliffe

30 Apr 2024 2 72
The town of Brycgstow already existed at the beginning of the 11th century and was given one of the strongest castles in southern England under Norman rule. In the 12th century it became an important harbour town, especially for trade with Ireland. A new bridge was built in 1247 and the town expanded considerably. It became a county in 1373. Bristol developed into the centre of shipbuilding. Until its dissolution in England under Edward I, the Knights Templar used Bristol as the main harbour for pilgrimages and for exporting wool to the continent. In the 14th century, shortly before the arrival of the plague in 1348, Bristol was the third largest city in England after London and York, with a population of around 15,000 to 20,000. The plague caused a long-lasting population decline. However, the population remained stable in the 15th and 16th centuries and totalled between 10,000 and 12,000 inhabitants. In 1497, Bristol was the starting point of John Cabot's voyage of exploration to North America. In 1542, Bristol was granted city rights and the former Abbey of St Augustine became a cathedral. During the Civil War from 1643 to 1645, Bristol was occupied and devastated by royal troops. With the establishment of the English colonies in America in the 17th century and the slave trade in the 18th century, Bristol grew again. Alongside Liverpool, Bristol became the centre of the slave trade. From 1700 to 1807, over 2000 slave ships called at the harbour, transporting over half a million people from Africa to America. St Mary Redcliffe is located on an island on the River Avon in the Redcliffe district. Smaller predecessor buildings from Anglo-Saxon and Norman times already existed on the site of the present church. The present church was built largely on the initiative and with the financial support of the town's merchants and traders between 1292 and 1370. In 1446, lightning struck the stone spire, causing considerable damage to the building when it collapsed. The building suffered considerable damage during the English Civil War (1642-1649). The church, built on a Latin cross plan, has three naves and a transept with three portals. The lack of a crossing tower is unusual; instead, the tower rises above the western bay of the side aisle, making it part of the façade. Both Decorated Style and Perpendicular Style elements can be found, particularly on the windows and the vaults of the church, which are stabilised on the outside by buttresses.

Bristol - St Mary Redcliffe

30 Apr 2024 1 99
The town of Brycgstow already existed at the beginning of the 11th century and was given one of the strongest castles in southern England under Norman rule. In the 12th century it became an important harbour town, especially for trade with Ireland. A new bridge was built in 1247 and the town expanded considerably. It became a county in 1373. Bristol developed into the centre of shipbuilding. Until its dissolution in England under Edward I, the Knights Templar used Bristol as the main harbour for pilgrimages and for exporting wool to the continent. In the 14th century, shortly before the arrival of the plague in 1348, Bristol was the third largest city in England after London and York, with a population of around 15,000 to 20,000. The plague caused a long-lasting population decline. However, the population remained stable in the 15th and 16th centuries and totalled between 10,000 and 12,000 inhabitants. In 1497, Bristol was the starting point of John Cabot's voyage of exploration to North America. In 1542, Bristol was granted city rights and the former Abbey of St Augustine became a cathedral. During the Civil War from 1643 to 1645, Bristol was occupied and devastated by royal troops. With the establishment of the English colonies in America in the 17th century and the slave trade in the 18th century, Bristol grew again. Alongside Liverpool, Bristol became the centre of the slave trade. From 1700 to 1807, over 2000 slave ships called at the harbour, transporting over half a million people from Africa to America. St Mary Redcliffe is located on an island on the River Avon in the Redcliffe district. Smaller predecessor buildings from Anglo-Saxon and Norman times already existed on the site of the present church. The present church was built largely on the initiative and with the financial support of the town's merchants and traders between 1292 and 1370. In 1446, lightning struck the stone spire, causing considerable damage to the building when it collapsed. The building suffered considerable damage during the English Civil War (1642-1649). The church, built on a Latin cross plan, has three naves and a transept with three portals. The lack of a crossing tower is unusual; instead, the tower rises above the western bay of the side aisle, making it part of the façade. Both Decorated Style and Perpendicular Style elements can be found, particularly on the windows and the vaults of the church, which are stabilised on the outside by buttresses. Bristol was an important harbour for a long time, so to find a church-ship is no surprise.

Bristol - St Mary Redcliffe

29 Apr 2024 3 89
The town of Brycgstow already existed at the beginning of the 11th century and was given one of the strongest castles in southern England under Norman rule. In the 12th century it became an important harbour town, especially for trade with Ireland. A new bridge was built in 1247 and the town expanded considerably. It became a county in 1373. Bristol developed into the centre of shipbuilding. Until its dissolution in England under Edward I, the Knights Templar used Bristol as the main harbour for pilgrimages and for exporting wool to the continent. In the 14th century, shortly before the arrival of the plague in 1348, Bristol was the third largest city in England after London and York, with a population of around 15,000 to 20,000. The plague caused a long-lasting population decline. However, the population remained stable in the 15th and 16th centuries and totalled between 10,000 and 12,000 inhabitants. In 1497, Bristol was the starting point of John Cabot's voyage of exploration to North America. In 1542, Bristol was granted city rights and the former Abbey of St Augustine became a cathedral. During the Civil War from 1643 to 1645, Bristol was occupied and devastated by royal troops. With the establishment of the English colonies in America in the 17th century and the slave trade in the 18th century, Bristol grew again. Alongside Liverpool, Bristol became the centre of the slave trade. From 1700 to 1807, over 2000 slave ships called at the harbour, transporting over half a million people from Africa to America. St Mary Redcliffe is located on an island on the River Avon in the Redcliffe district. Smaller predecessor buildings from Anglo-Saxon and Norman times already existed on the site of the present church. The present church was built largely on the initiative and with the financial support of the town's merchants and traders between 1292 and 1370. In 1446, lightning struck the stone spire, causing considerable damage to the building when it collapsed. The building suffered considerable damage during the English Civil War (1642-1649). The church, built on a Latin cross plan, has three naves and a transept with three portals. The lack of a crossing tower is unusual; instead, the tower rises above the western bay of the side aisle, making it part of the façade. Both Decorated Style and Perpendicular Style elements can be found, particularly on the windows and the vaults of the church, which are stabilised on the outside by buttresses. Reading about "Jonah and the Whale" may be thre reason that whale bones sometimes are on display in old churches.

Bristol - St Mary Redcliffe

29 Apr 2024 2 75
The town of Brycgstow already existed at the beginning of the 11th century and was given one of the strongest castles in southern England under Norman rule. In the 12th century it became an important harbour town, especially for trade with Ireland. A new bridge was built in 1247 and the town expanded considerably. It became a county in 1373. Bristol developed into the centre of shipbuilding. Until its dissolution in England under Edward I, the Knights Templar used Bristol as the main harbour for pilgrimages and for exporting wool to the continent. In the 14th century, shortly before the arrival of the plague in 1348, Bristol was the third largest city in England after London and York, with a population of around 15,000 to 20,000. The plague caused a long-lasting population decline. However, the population remained stable in the 15th and 16th centuries and totalled between 10,000 and 12,000 inhabitants. In 1497, Bristol was the starting point of John Cabot's voyage of exploration to North America. In 1542, Bristol was granted city rights and the former Abbey of St Augustine became a cathedral. During the Civil War from 1643 to 1645, Bristol was occupied and devastated by royal troops. With the establishment of the English colonies in America in the 17th century and the slave trade in the 18th century, Bristol grew again. Alongside Liverpool, Bristol became the centre of the slave trade. From 1700 to 1807, over 2000 slave ships called at the harbour, transporting over half a million people from Africa to America. St Mary Redcliffe is located on an island on the River Avon in the Redcliffe district. Smaller predecessor buildings from Anglo-Saxon and Norman times already existed on the site of the present church. The present church was built largely on the initiative and with the financial support of the town's merchants and traders between 1292 and 1370. In 1446, lightning struck the stone spire, causing considerable damage to the building when it collapsed. The building suffered considerable damage during the English Civil War (1642-1649). The church, built on a Latin cross plan, has three naves and a transept with three portals. The lack of a crossing tower is unusual; instead, the tower rises above the western bay of the side aisle, making it part of the façade. Both Decorated Style and Perpendicular Style elements can be found, particularly on the windows and the vaults of the church, which are stabilised on the outside by buttresses.

Bristol - St Mary Redcliffe

29 Apr 2024 2 116
The town of Brycgstow already existed at the beginning of the 11th century and was given one of the strongest castles in southern England under Norman rule. In the 12th century it became an important harbour town, especially for trade with Ireland. A new bridge was built in 1247 and the town expanded considerably. It became a county in 1373. Bristol developed into the centre of shipbuilding. Until its dissolution in England under Edward I, the Knights Templar used Bristol as the main harbour for pilgrimages and for exporting wool to the continent. In the 14th century, shortly before the arrival of the plague in 1348, Bristol was the third largest city in England after London and York, with a population of around 15,000 to 20,000. The plague caused a long-lasting population decline. However, the population remained stable in the 15th and 16th centuries and totalled between 10,000 and 12,000 inhabitants. In 1497, Bristol was the starting point of John Cabot's voyage of exploration to North America. In 1542, Bristol was granted city rights and the former Abbey of St Augustine became a cathedral. During the Civil War from 1643 to 1645, Bristol was occupied and devastated by royal troops. With the establishment of the English colonies in America in the 17th century and the slave trade in the 18th century, Bristol grew again. Alongside Liverpool, Bristol became the centre of the slave trade. From 1700 to 1807, over 2000 slave ships called at the harbour, transporting over half a million people from Africa to America. St Mary Redcliffe is located on an island on the River Avon in the Redcliffe district. Smaller predecessor buildings from Anglo-Saxon and Norman times already existed on the site of the present church. The present church was built largely on the initiative and with the financial support of the town's merchants and traders between 1292 and 1370. In 1446, lightning struck the stone spire, causing considerable damage to the building when it collapsed. The building suffered considerable damage during the English Civil War (1642-1649). The church, built on a Latin cross plan, has three naves and a transept with three portals. The lack of a crossing tower is unusual; instead, the tower rises above the western bay of the side aisle, making it part of the façade. Both Decorated Style and Perpendicular Style elements can be found, particularly on the windows and the vaults of the church, which are stabilised on the outside by buttresses.