Spring Season WOL@ Changing Chalk - A talk on James Hubbard

About

We are pleased to organise a talk about the African American taxidermist, caterer, exhibition organiser and showman James Henry Hubbard, who in 1890 purchased the Dyke Estate at Devils Dyke. He was born in Toronto, Canada in 1847, one of nine children, and was of mixed-race descent from a family of refugee American slaves that arrived in Canada from Virginia in 1840. He collected specimens of large animals in the Canadian Arctic which were exhibited in London and ended up at the Horniman.

This talk is the start of public sharings about the hidden history rooted in the South Downs, come and learn about this recent discovery for our communities.

We will have present author and pier expert Martin Easdown, author of a book on Hubbard, 'The Devil's Dyke: A Delightful Spot to Spend a Happy Day', representatives from Brighton & Hove Black History and writers from Writing Our Legacy's Changing Chalk project. We will have a welcome from Writing Our Legacy CEO and Founder Amy Zamarripa Solis and National Trust ranger Dan Fagan.

Martin Easdown is a long-time member of the National Piers Society and one of the acknowledged experts on British piers. He has written extensively on the history of piers and Britain's seaside in books, magazines and newspapers. He lives in Kent.