A plaque unveiled on Friday 9 October to mark 230 years since 2,500 African Caribbean men, women and children were brought to Britain as prisoners of war has gone missing – presumably stolen – from Portchester Castle. Castle staff discovered the plaque was missing on Wednesday 14 October, having secured the site the night before; a padlock to one of the castle's gates had been removed.
The partners involved in the commissioning of the plaque including University of Warwick, St Vincent and the Grenadines 2nd Generation (SV2G), and English Heritage have all expressed their dismay at the turn of events and have called for the plaque to be returned.
The plaque commemorates the arrival in Britain of around 2,500 men, women and children who surrendered to British forces during fighting over St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada in 1796. More than 2,000 of the prisoners were subsequently held at Portchester Castle. Their experiences have been reconstructed through surviving prison registers and years of research by Warwick researchers working alongside Caribbean communities and heritage partners.
Professor Katherine Astbury, from the University of Warwick, added: "We are deeply saddened that something created to honour this remarkable group has gone missing almost immediately after installation. This is an important, forgotten part of Caribbean history and so much work has gone into recovering the prisoners' stories. The plaque was meant to ensure that they have a visible and permanent place in the history of the castle. We very much hope that whoever has taken it will understand what it represents and return it."
The plaque was commissioned by SV2G, a UK-based Caribbean arts and heritage organisation, and funded by the University of Warwick, as a permanent memorial to the prisoners, including those who died during the journey to Britain and while imprisoned at Portchester.
Dr Jacqueline Roberts, CEO of SV2G said: "This loss is deeply upsetting for our community. The plaque was not merely a marker, it was a sacred symbol of remembrance, honouring our ancestors who endured captivity, displacement, and unimaginable hardship. It represented their courage, their resistance, and their enduring spirit that continues to guide us today.
"People journeyed from across the UK, the USA and the Caribbean to witness its unveiling and to pay tribute to those who crossed the Atlantic. Its removal is not just an act against an object, but against memory itself. Our ancestors' story will not be silenced. Their spirit remains with us in the earth, sea, and in the hearts of all who remember."
English Heritage cares for Portchester Castle on behalf of the nation. Iona Keen, Head of Learning and Interpretation at the charity, said: "The story of the African Caribbean prisoners of war is an integral part of Porchester Castle's history. Removing the plaque does not change that but we are incredulous and bitterly disappointed at this act of vandalism. We have reported it to the police and together with all our partners, we are considering next steps."
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the plaque is asked to contact Hampshire Constabulary quoting incident numberSD-25140-26-4444-IR.
