A WETHERSPOON pub in Wrexham could be renamed due to its namesake’s links to the slave trade, it’s been revealed.

It follows the launch of a petition asking for The Elihu Yale on Regent Street to be retitled in light of the Black Lives Matters movement, which saw hundreds turn out to a peaceful protest against racism in the town on Sunday.

It also comes after the statue of another 17th-century slave trader was torn from its plinth during a separate demonstration in Bristol over the weekend.

As an official for the East India Company in Madras, Yale presided over a key part of the Indian Ocean slave trade, and is better known as the benefactor of Yale University in the United States.

The pub is one of a number of locations in Wrexham to have adopted his name, including the town’s college campus and the Spire Yale Hospital, with his remains buried in St Giles Parish Church.

However, calls have been made for Wetherspoon to rechristen the establishment by its local nickname “Old Man Spoons” – a move the chain said it was willing to consider.

Posting on the petition website change.org, the main signatory of the appeal said the pub should not be commemorating historical figures associated with slavery.

Eleanor Lee said: “This is a petition to change the name of the Wetherspoons pub – The Elihu Yale, in Wrexham town centre – to what it is more frequently known as from all generations “Old Man Spoons” or “Llwyau Hen Ddyn” in Welsh.

“Elihu Yale, who was originally from Massachusetts, America moved to London when he was 3 years old.

“He and his family made their fortune within the slave trade and has since been glorified for their involvement in the most sadistic part of human’s history.

“This needs to be acknowledged and rectified and we need your signatures to make this happen.

“Wrexham is a small town, but I’m sure I speak for most members of the community in agreeing that this is not what our town and local pubs should be commemorating; an infamous racist, slave trader who made his notoriety and fortune off the suffering of others.”

The petition was created today and has already attracted more than 70 signatures.

A sign outside the pub was removed in 2017 after it was defaced with the word “racist”.

The graffiti is believed to have occurred after it was highlighted on social media that the display depicted a slave chained up next to Yale.

It was based off the James Worsdale painting “Elihu Yale with his Servant”.

At the time, Wetherspoon said his name had been used in “good faith” due to his historical links with Wrexham.

However, a spokesman has now said it is willing to consider changing the title.

He said: “We were not aware of any connections with the slave trade.

“We called it The Elihu Yale because he was involved in the foundation of what is now Yale University in the US, as we understand it.

“We will look into these allegations, which are very concerning. Wetherspoon is certainly willing to consider a change of name.”