You can remove a plaque, but you cannot erase our history

Help us raise £4,000 to restore the Caribbean memorial at Portchester Castle.

On the 9th of October 2026, Caribbean communities, historians and campaigners gathered at Portchester Castle in Hampshire to unveil a historic memorial.

The plaque honoured approximately over 2,500 African Caribbean men, women and children brought to Britain as prisoners of war in 1796, of whom were held at Portchester Castle.

For generations, their stories had received little recognition. This memorial was a long-overdue tribute to their lives, suffering, resilience and those who never returned home.

Less than a week later, the plaque was gone.

On 14 October, staff discovered that the newly unveiled plaque had disappeared. The incident was reported to Hampshire Constabulary, and there are concerns that its removal may have been racially motivated.

For the communities who worked so hard to make this memorial possible, its disappearance has been deeply upsetting.

But we will not allow this history to be forgotten.

Why this matters

The plaque was commissioned by St Vincent and the Grenadines 2nd Generation (SV2G), led by Dr Jacqueline Roberts, working alongside the University of Warwick, English Heritage and Caribbean communities.

Years of research, dedication and community effort went into bringing this forgotten chapter of British and Caribbean history into public view.

As Dr Jacqueline Roberts explained:

"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."

This is about more than replacing a plaque. It's about protecting our shared history and ensuring future generations know these stories.

Help us restore the memorial

I was honoured to attend the original unveiling, and I'm now leading this appeal to help restore the memorial and support the work of SV2G.

Our goal is to raise £4,000, which will help cover:

All donations will support SV2G, with restoration arrangements agreed with the relevant partners.

If the original plaque is recovered, donations will instead support its secure reinstatement and related heritage and educational work.

Stand with us

We're asking everyone who believes in preserving our shared history to help us restore this important memorial.

Every donation, no matter the size, brings us closer to our £4,000 goal.

If you can't donate, please share this fundraiser with your friends, family and wider community.

Together, we can ensure that the people remembered by this plaque receive the dignity and recognition they deserve.

Our heritage matters. Our ancestors matter. Our history must not be erased.

Thank you for your generosity and solidarity.

Professor Sir Patrick Vernon OBE FRHistS

Campaign lead