No legislation was ever passed in England that legalised slavery. However, British merchants were later major participants in the Atlantic slave trade (16th – 19th centuries), and used slaves on properties within the British Empire. During the same period, villagers along the south coast of England were subject to slave raids by Barbary pirates and Barbary slave traders. Scottish colliers were able to be employed as bonded labourers during the 17th and 18th centuries. From the 17th to the 19th century, child labour under forced labour conditions was extensively practised in Britain.