The resurrection of Henry Brown

Simeon Barclay re-creates Henry's boxed trip to Leeds

Leeds' place in the ending of slavery has been remembered by a re-enactment of the journey of Henry 'Box' Brown.

An American, Brown was enslaved in the south and escaped to freedom in the north by hiding in a box for a 350-mile journey from Virginia to Philadelphia.

In 1851 Brown made another boxed journey this time from Bradford to Leeds.

In 2009 Leeds Met University student Simeon Barclay recreated that journey.

Brown's freedom led him to campaign for the abolition of the enslavement of people of African descent.

It was in 1851 that Brown made the unusual boxed journey from Bradford to Leeds by train. He was unboxed on a music hall stage in Albion Street, to rapturous applause.

During 2009 Leeds will also commemorate the 150th anniversary of abolitionist, orator and newspaper editor Frederick Douglass' address to Leeds, that appealed to people to support the abolition of slavery.

The events have the support of the US Embassy.

Andy Bowles, Lecturer in History at Leeds Met says: "We are committed to raising public awareness of the contribution made by people in Leeds to the campaign for ending the enslavement of people of African descent in the United States."