Caribbean Connections

The Paxton Trust is committed to acknowledging and working through our difficult history to achieve positive outcomes, including and especially, for descendant communities.
(Professor Louise Jackson, Chair of The Paxton Trust, 2026).

Discover Paxton House’s Caribbean Connections, Partnership Projects, and Learning Resources.

Learning

Paxton offers unique opportunities for schools, further education, volunteers, and adult groups to explore, connect with, and learn from objects and stories of individuals linked to the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

We have dedicated learning workshops and two downloadable learning resources which have been developed to support both secondary school curriculum and further education these resources explore transatlantic slavery connections between Paxton, Scotland, and the Caribbean through food, art, costume, and furniture.

Paxton House: Scotland and Empire Second Level, Primary 6–7
Per class: £100

This workshop explores Scotland’s historic connection to empire and transatlantic slavery, and how this impacted Paxton House’s development. Pupils will explore how this legacy is found in Paxton House asking critical questions of our displays including our Georgian Kitchen, historic rooms, and costumes. They will then visit our Caribbean Connections exhibition, see our partners films (in Grenada and the UK) and participate in a series of group-based tasks involving maps, archives, and handling objects.

Paxton House: A microcosm of Scotland’s Transatlantic Ties with the Caribbean and Empire
Nat 5/Higher Per group: £120

What impact did Scotland’s connection to slavery and empire have on the development of Paxton House? Pupils will explore how this legacy is found inside Paxton House and beyond, asking critical questions about our collections. They will then visit the Caribbean Connections exhibition and participate in group tasks using maps, archives, and handling objects.

Pre-book a specialist Caribbean Connections tour with our Curator to explore the wide range of objects, history and links with Paxton House and Grenada and beyond between 1715 to the present day.

I just wanted to say thank you for making our visit to Paxton House such a fascinating, worthwhile, welcoming and thought provoking visit. I will definitely be back in future and I have already started to share this positive feedback to others, encouraging them to visit.

As a former tour guide (on a much smaller scale) I wanted to say that I was very impressed with your range of knowledge and passion for the House and its history and you could really tell that you care deeply about the work that you do.

Pre-book a specialist Caribbean Connections tour with our Curator or one of our knowledgeable guides to explore the wide range of objects, history and links with Paxton House and in Grenada and beyond between 1715 and the present day.

The Paxton Trust welcomes volunteers to help with our collections and estate. A variety of opportunities include working with Paxton’s Caribbean-related archives in a transcribing programme and helping make them more accessible. Contact our Volunteer Co-ordinator: education@paxtonhouse.com and learn more.

  • Group of people visiting Paxton on an event day dancing in the Picture Gallery
  • A group of people looking at a 3d model of the estates in Grenada. In the background you can see two models and information panels on the walls. This is in the dedicated exhibition space in Paxton House.
  • Wall showing artwork by Billy Gerard Frank. In the Bust room at Paxton House

Learning Resources & Downloads

Explore our learning resources and downloads:

A history of Paxton’s Caribbean Connections
Learning Resource 1 – Food, Paxton House and the Caribbean 2026
Learning Resource 2 – Three Objects addressing the Atlantic 2026
Plan Your Day
Download Map
Stables Tearoom