From Bradford to Leeds in a box

Simeon Wayne Barclay is hoping to spread the same message

A West Yorkshire artist has repeated a journey in a wooden box which was first made between Bradford and Leeds in 1851.

Simeon Wayne Barclay has re-enacted the unique journey first made by Henry 'Box' Brown - a former American slave.

Simeon recreated Henry's journey on October 30.

After being incarcerated in the box, he was transported in a van from Bradford Central Library before being unveiled in Leeds.

The life of Henry Brown

The fascinating story of Henry 'Box' Brown, an American slave who became famous for posting himself in a box to escape captivity, is inspirational across the world.

It all began in 1849, when Brown's slave master in the state of Virginia refused to buy his wife and children when they were put up for sale. It was this that made Brown hatch a scheme to escape.

After concealing himself in the box, Henry endured 27 hours travelling the 350 miles from Virginia to Philadelphia.

The story of his journey to freedom caught the public's imagination and Henry became well-known, joining the abolitionist lecture circuit and calling himself Henry 'Box' Brown.

He later settled in Britain, where he made a good living, touring with an exhibition called The Mirror of Slavery and lecturing for years about his remarkable story.

Brown was a well known public figure, and it was during this time he was shipped from Bradford to Leeds.

Henry Box Brown in 1851 where he famously was shipped in a box

Simeon Wayne Barclay, an undergraduate at Leeds University explains how he came up with the idea of repeating the journey.

He says: "I attended a lecture in which the name Henry 'Box' Brown was brought up. There was a small and brief explanation of what he did. I decided to research this as it was very interesting to me. I wanted to get the story out to a wider audience.

"This story reaches a wider audience because of the ideas around it. Conformity is something that everyone can relate to in life, as well as dealing with it in a context of race, the inner core ideas can be dealt with in life."

Before the journey, Simeon admitted that being boxed up did slightly unnerve him and added it was a daily occurrence. But he said: "I hope lots of people see this and the story makes waves.

"They've drilled a couple of holes for me in the box and hopefully they will open it in time."

Pete Walker from Bradford Library, from where the journey was re-created, says they're honoured to be part of this event.

He says: "It was part of his project to let people know about slavery.

"He contacted us directly. Simeon has done it off his own back and obviously it did originate in Bradford, so he wanted somewhere to start off from.

"It's to celebrate Black History Month which has been celebrated since 1987. It was Simeon's idea to make people aware of what happened in the past. I think it's very relevant today especially with immigration and things like that."

Look at the gallery of pictures below that show the start of Simeon's journey. Click here