Who Was Frederick Douglass?
•Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in the USA in 1817.
•He escaped slavery and became a very important abolitionist campaigner in the USA.
•In 1845 he came to Britain and gave speeches in dozens of towns and cities.
•He gave many speeches in Scotland about the horrors of slavery.
•He campaigned for many years for enslaved people to gain their freedom.
•He also argued strongly against a new church group in Scotland called the Free Church of Scotland.
•The new Free Church had accepted money from slaveholders in the southern USA.
•The abolitionists argued the church should send the money back.
•His speeches were hugely popular and he spoke at least 8 times in Paisley during 1846.
Walking Tour Information
Above: 3 images showing Frederick Douglass throughout his life
The tour is a 3 km loop and takes approximately 45 minutes to 1hour to complete.
The tour includes 5 different locations where Frederick Douglas, the very important abolitionist gave speeches in Paisley.
The tour route is Wheelchair Accessible and stroller friendly.
Please note the tour route includes locations within the busy town centre of Paisley, we advise using pedestrian crossings at all times when crossing busy streets following the tour route.
Free toilets are available inside the Paisley Piazza Shopping Centre, located near to the Exchange Rooms, Moss Street.
The tour route includes locations around the busy town centre of Paisley, where there are a variety of cafe's and shops.
There is also pay per hour parking available at both the Piazza Shopping Centre, Sat Nav: PA1 1DY and the Paisley Centre Multi-Storey Car Park on Storie Street, Paisley, PA1 1AG.
Please also note that the West Relief Church is currently undergoing a major refurbishment and is best viewed from Canal Street.
Click on the Walking Tour Map button below to access the Frederick Douglass Walking Tour Google Map and explore some of the places Frederick Douglass spoke in Paisley.
Image Credits
Frederick Douglass c1840's- Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=55480150
Frederick Douglass c1860's - Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frederick_Douglass_c1860s.jpg
Frederick Douglass c1865-80 - Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frederick_Douglass_LOC_collodion_c1865-80.jpg