The University of Manchester and Manchester Histories partner for historic festival

From the life and death of a Manchester-born First World War soldier and historian to discovering the city’s historic links with Italy and its early immigrant population, The University of Manchester is involved in a number of special events as part of this year’s Manchester Histories Festival (MHF).

This MHF is organised and run by Manchester Histories, a charity that celebrates and reveals the unique past and heritage of Greater Manchester. This year’s festival is taking place over 10 days from June 3^rd to 11^th with events at a wide range of venues across the City. The University’s is a key partner for the festival and its School of Arts, Languages and Cultures (SALC) will join the John Ryland’s Library and other historical organisations, such as English Heritage, to educate, entertain and inform the city’s inhabitants of its colourful and historically important past.

One of the Festival’s highlights includes award winning historian, author and broadcaster, Michael Wood, Professor of Public History at the University of Manchester, bringing the ‘Seven Ages of Manchester’ alive. The celebrated historian is delivering an illustrated talk that looks through the long history of the City from its beginnings as a Roman settlement, to the birth of the Industrial Revolution to the new post Industrial Manchester of today. The University’s Faculty of Humanities has also put together a short video presented by Michael Wood about Manchester’s rich history.

Also, the Festival’s Celebration Day brings together historical societies and heritage groups from across Greater Manchester, providing a wide range of activities to entertain, inform, challenge and engage all of historical interest. On the Celebration Day SALC will join 90 exhibitors from across the city including, Community Arts North West’s Congolese Heritage Project, Salford Heritage Services, Middleton Heritage & Conservation Group and Rochdale Pioneers Museum.

And for those interested in looking through the city’s history through the prism of its press, you can join the John Ryland’s Library at the Celebration Day as it delves into its Guardian archive. The archive is one of the Library’s most significant collections, depicting the newspaper’s key place in the city’s history of campaigning for social and political reform.

Full list of The University of Manchester events

Discovering Little Italy

Taking place: June 4^th, 17:00 - 18:00 (in Italian) and

On this one-hour walking tour with Elena Cavallero, from The University of Manchester, participants will begin by going back in time to the end of the 18th century, when the first Italian immigrants came to Manchester. For full details click here

Great Women of Manchester Collection

Taking place: June 8^th and 10^th

This event will explore the story behind a selection of rare items from The John Rylands Library’s women’s history collections. A hand-written manuscript from Victorian novelist Elizabeth Gaskell will be displayed, as will a letter from renowned suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst to C.P. Scott, former editor of the Manchester Guardian.

Manchester Central Library and Civic Pride

Taking place: June 9^th, 14:00 - 15:00

Manchester Central Library was opened amid great pomp and ceremony by George V on 17 July 1934.

This talk by Charlotte Wildman from the University of Manchester examines why Manchester Corporation invested in such an important civic monument as part of an ambitious programme of redevelopment. For full details click here

Manchester Soldier, Manchester Historian

Taking place: June 9^th, 15:00 - 17:00

This event will explore the life, work and legacy of this forgotten Manchester born scholar and soldier, featuring four speakers: Henry Miller and Mike Sanders (both of the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures) and Malcolm Chase and Ian Wood. For full details click here

What the Dickens? Perspectives on poverty in Manchester Since Victorian Times

Taking place: June 9^th, 18:00 - 20:00

Julie-Marie Strange, Professor of British History will chair this panel discussion hosted by the University of Manchester and Greater Manchester Poverty Action, which will explore how poverty, and perceptions and poverty and inequality, have changed over the years. For full detail click here

Manchester Histories Festival Celebration Day

Taking place: June 11^th, 10:30 - 16:00

MHF’s Celebration Day provides a focus for the festival bringing together histories and heritage groups from across Greater Manchester and providing a wide range of activities to entertain, inform, challenge and engage all ages. For full details click here

Friendless or Forsaken? Child Emigration from Manchester to Canada, 1870-1930

Taking place: June 11^th 13:00 - 13:45

In this talk and discussion, Charlotte Wildman, Eloise Moss; Ruth Lamont, and Luke Kelly from the University of Manchester discuss the hopes and aims of those that facilitated emigration and examine why they thought the children needed to leave Manchester and why they believed Canada would bring such a positive future for them. For full details click here

Michael Wood - The Seven Ages of Manchester

Taking Place: June 11^th, 15:00 - 16:00

For full details click here

Families, money and death: inheritance disputes amongst trading families in Industrial Revolution Manchester.

Taking place, June 12^th 15:00 - 16:00

Examining men and women ‘in trade’ in Manchester during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the talk is presented by Hannah Barker, Professor of British History at the University of Manchester and Chair of Manchester Histories. For full details click here

For a full list of all events during MHF and more information about Manchester Histories visit their website.