Owned by Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation (GSTF), an independent health foundation, the statue of Thomas Guy sits in the central courtyard outside Guy’s Hospital and on King’s campus. In 2020, independent historical research shone a light on Thomas Guy’s connections to and financial benefit from the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. This sparked important conversations about how Thomas Guy is represented through artifacts such as this statue. As custodians, GSTF took the decision to board up the statue, while they consulted with different stakeholders and groups, including hospital patients, workers and King’s students and staff on the future of the statue and the text used in the permanent interpretation. This consultation is ongoing, involving history experts from King’s and King’s students, staff and alumni.
Today, the statue has been de-hoarded while experts carry out essential restoration work that is legally obliged due to the Grade II listed status of the statue. While the work is carried out and permanent interpretation is developed, temporary interpretation will be installed by GSTF which outlines Thomas Guy’s connections to the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. More information about the Foundation's plans for the statue is available on their website.
Revd Dr Ellen Clark-King, The Dean of King's College London said: “Like many organisations in Britain, at King’s we know that we have a duty to address the legacy of colonialism, racism and slavery in our own work. As part of this, King’s has begun its own history research project that will confront truths about our own connections and their challenging legacy - including the university and associated institutions and partners. As an organisation rooted in education and research, a critical part of our approach to being an inclusive place to study and work is to learn from and better represent our history so that we continue to make the King's of today and tomorrow a place of conscious inclusion and equity. As the project develops, we look forward to updating our community.”