A contentious sculpture depicting a black man's head is set to return to public display in Derbyshire, six years after its removal sparked a local and national debate over its historical context and potential for offence. Derbyshire Dales District Council members voted on Tuesday, 13 July 2026, to rehouse the 'Black's Head' carving in the Ashbourne Historical Centre, where it will be accompanied by a comprehensive display detailing its history.
The sculpture, a Grade II* listed element of an 18th-century sign above St John's Street in Ashbourne, was voluntarily taken down by residents in June 2020. This action occurred during a period of international scrutiny regarding historical statues and their links to slavery and racial injustice. The carving, which features a stylised black man's head with a large smiling face on one side and a sad face on the other, wearing a red, white, and blue striped hat, had been connected to the former The Green Man & Blacks Head Royal Hotel, now known as The Greenman pub.
During the summer of 2020, two opposing petitions emerged: one advocating for the sculpture's removal garnered 45,000 signatures, while another supporting its retention attracted 4,000. On 8 June 2020, fearing its potential destruction, protesters, assisted by some councillors, temporarily removed the head to an undisclosed location before returning it to the district council, its legal owner. Conservation officials at the recent council meeting acknowledged a default policy of 'retain and explain' for such items but concluded that the risk of damage or re-removal was too high for it to be reinstated in its original prominent position.
The decision reflects a broader approach to 'contested heritage' items, aiming to balance historical preservation with modern sensitivities. Local resident Graham Elliott described the Black's Head as an 'iconic part of the streetscene for over 200 years', asserting it was not widely seen as offensive until a petition initiated the controversy. However, Councillor Robert Archer, also a history teacher, highlighted the design's 'concerning' nature in a contemporary context, despite accepting that its original intent might not have been racist. He suggested that returning it to its original spot would be a 'backwards step' for Ashbourne's reputation.
Councillor Dermot Murphy expressed the sentiment of many who wished for the head to be returned to its original location, believing it was not intended to ridicule or mock. Conversely, Neil Buttle, co-deputy council leader, supported placing it in a historical context as a progressive step for Ashbourne. The move to the Ashbourne Historical Centre, with its accompanying educational display, seeks to provide this context, allowing the public to engage with the sculpture's history in a controlled and informative environment.