'Cain Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery' by Michael Visocchi

Just off Fenchurch Street you will find Fen Court, which was once the churchyard of St Gabriel's Fenchurch Street. This area is now in the Parish of St Edmund the King and St Mary Woolnoth. A few tombs remain among the grass and paved area, with a small bedded maze. But, the most striking feature, of this thoroughfare, is the granite pillars and what looks like a pulpit. This is the 'Gilt of Cain', or, the 'Cain Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery'.

The artwork comprises a group of columns, shaped like sugar cane, surrounding a podium, much like that used in a church or an auctioneer. Around each column are extracts from the poem 'Gilt of Cain', by Lemn Sissay. The podium contains a longer extract from the poem.

The memorial was designed by Michael Visocchi, in collaboration with poet Lemn Sissay, and was unveiled, in 2008, by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Mpilo Tutu.

Michael Visocchi designed the granite sculpture to appear as though the columns were silent sentinels of a congregation, facing the podium. His idea was to shape the columns like sugar cane and for the podium to appear more like an auctioneer's stance, while also keeping in mind the ecclesiastical nature of the area. 

Lemn Sissay's poem, 'Gilt of Cain', weaves Old Testament biblical references with the coded jargon from the trading floor of the City's stock exchange.

This site was chosen as the Reverend John Newton, who was a slave trader turned abolitionist, was rector of St Mary Woolnoth from 1780-1807. He famously worked closely with William Wilberforce to help bring about the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. This was achieved in 1807 and brought about the process of the emancipation of slaves, throughout the British Empire.

Walking with Keilyn: Aldgate to Westminster... and beyond

Friday October 10, 2025.

Keilyn and I had worked out that we hadn't visited London, together, in quite a few weeks, which was a shock.

So, as soon as I had finished work and Keilyn had arrived home from school, we both got changed, grabbed some snacks and took a taxi to Watford Metropolitan underground station. An Aldgate-bound train was waiting at platform 2, which we hurriedly boarded, grabbing seats near the centre of the train. Within minutes we were on our way.

Pulling into Harrow-on-the-Hill station we were informed, by our driver, that the train pulling in beside us would be leaving first. So, a mass exodus of travellers, including us, crossed the platform and boarded the other train. A ridiculous thing to do, really, as this would only shave a few minutes from our journey time. Sure enough, though, we were soon moving again.

We exited Aldgate station and headed west, turning down Fenchurch Street until we reached Fen Court, where we stopped to look at the 'Gilt of Cain', which is a sculpture that commemorates the abolition of the slave trade. 

It is a remarkable piece. Composed of a granite podium, with steps, and columns that are shaped like sugar cane acting as a congregation. Each column is etched with lines from the poem 'Gilt of Cain', by Lemn Sissay.

We then made our way towards Fenchurch Street station, where we purchased some hot food, which we ate on the benches on Fenchurch Place. 

Suitably filled with energy we made our way back to Fenchurch Street and turned down St Katherine's Row and through French Ordinary Court. This eventually brought us out onto Crutched Friars and, then, Savage Gardens which brought us to Trinity Square. I do love the City of London's street names.

Crossing Tower Hill we stopped to take some photos of His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, spotting some of the poppy installation flowing down the wall of the Medieval castle.

From here we headed down to the River Thames and onto Three Quays Walk. The light was fading as we reached the river, making Tower Bridge really stand out, with its lights illuminating its profile. Sugar Quay Jetty offered the perfect place to grab some photos of the bridge, HMS Belfast and The Shard.

Approaching Grant's Quay Wharf we noticed that the top of The Shard had lights running up its uppermost levels, signalling the time was now 19:00.

London Bridge, like the rest of the bridges we would see, was illuminated with coloured lights, reflecting off the turbulent waters of the outgoing tide.