In Brunswick Street, stands the Grade II listed Heywood’s Bank, Liverpool’s oldest surviving purpose-built bank, erected in 1800. This was the place of business of Arthur (pictured above) and Richard Heywood, prominent Liverpool merchants who were the sons of Arthur Heywood, a successful Liverpool slave trader, who had founded the bank in 1773 with his brother Benjamin.

The next generation followed in their father’s footsteps and also invested in the African trade. As a family over three generations they were involved in at least 140 voyages, making them one of the most prolific dynasties in the history of British involvement in the slave trade. They were also not alone in using the proceeds of slavery to invest in banking. Ten out of the fourteen important Liverpool banks founded after 1750 were owned by slave traders. Heywood Brothers bank was eventually bought by the Bank of Liverpool, which in turn acquired Martin’s Bank. Barclays eventually acquired the Bank of Liverpool.