Sir John Hawkins Square facts for kids
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| Namesake | Sir John Hawkins |
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| Location | Plymouth, England |
| Postal code | PL1 |
Sir John Hawkins Square is a public space in Plymouth, England. It is named after Sir John Hawkins, a famous naval commander from history.
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Where is Sir John Hawkins Square Located?
This square is found between Plymouth's City Centre and the historic Barbican area. It sits between Higher Lane and Palace Street, with Lower Lane leading right into it. The Plymouth Magistrates' Court building stands nearby.
Around the square, you can find a few interesting places. There are two pubs, The Swan and Kitty O'Hanlons. You can also visit The Merchant's House Museum, a restaurant, the dBs Music College, and a Plymouth College of Art studio. No one lives directly on the square itself.
Why Was the Square Renamed?
In June 2020, Sir John Hawkins Square became a topic of discussion during the George Floyd protests in the United Kingdom. This was because John Hawkins had a connection to the Atlantic slave trade, a sad part of history where people were forcibly taken from Africa and sold into slavery.
The Plan to Change the Name
Plymouth City Council, which is like the local government for Plymouth, decided to look into renaming the square. On June 18, 2020, they suggested a new name: Jack Leslie Square. This name would honor Jack Leslie, a talented football player. He would have been the first black player to represent England internationally, but he was not chosen at the time.
Legal Challenge and Final Decision
The idea to rename the square faced a legal challenge in August 2020. This meant someone tried to stop the name change in court. However, on December 4, 2020, the court decided that the renaming could go ahead. This decision allowed the council to move forward with changing the square's name to honor Jack Leslie.
