Engels in Manchester: Past Meets Present

Posted on: February 4th, 2025 by mlpEditor

Step into the footsteps of Friedrich Engels and discover Manchester’s hidden histories through fresh eyes. What happens when a descendant of Angel Meadow’s residents retraces one of history’s most influential urban walks?

 

A Book That Echoes Through Time

Join us on a fascinating journey through Manchester’s industrial past as we explore one of history’s most influential urban studies – Friedrich Engels’s The Condition of the Working Class in England. First published in 1845, this groundbreaking work opened the world’s eyes to life in Victorian Manchester and continues to influence how we think about cities today.

 

Uncovering Angel Meadow’s Secrets

Engels walked through Angel Meadow’s working-class courtyards, documenting the harsh realities of industrial life. But what stories lay beneath his observations? What hidden narratives await discovery in those historic streets?

 

Walking in Two Sets of Footsteps

In this special talk commemorating the 180th anniversary of The Condition, we’re thrilled to welcome Orwell Prize-nominated journalist and historian Dean Kirby. As a descendant of Angel Meadow residents, Kirby brings a unique personal connection to this story. He’ll take us along Engels’s original route, sharing fresh insights and unexpected discoveries that add new dimensions to our understanding of Manchester’s transformation from industrial powerhouse to modern metropolis.

 

Practical Information

Booking is essential. Lit & Phil members: we recommend logging into the website to make booking your free member ticket quicker and easier.

 

About the Speaker

Dr Dean Kirby is an award-winning writer and historian-at-large, who writes and consults on the history of Manchester.

 

Accessibility Information

The venue is wheelchair accessible with an accessible toilet on the ground floor. Please contact us regarding any specific accessibility requirements you may have by emailing events@manlitphil.ac.uk

Manchester: The Original Modern City

Posted on: February 3rd, 2025 by mlpEditor

Overview

Manchester, built on the foundations of industrial capitalism and shaped by nonconformist thinking, provided the perfect crucible for modernist ideas to flourish. From the pioneers of the Industrial Revolution through to the technological breakthroughs of the 20th century, Manchester has consistently been at the forefront of innovation – earning its reputation as the Original Modern City.

 

The Rise of Modernism and Its Pioneers

This talk by expert Eddy Rhead explores the emergence of Modernism as a cultural movement and its profound influence on Manchester’s built environment. Together we’ll examine how the city became a hub for modernist thinking, attracting and nurturing innovative minds across multiple fields.

 

A hub for original thinkers

From Ludwig Wittgenstein’s philosophical contributions to the technological advances at Manchester’s universities – including Alan Turing’s computing breakthroughs and Bernard Lovell’s astronomical discoveries – the city has been a beacon for revolutionary ideas. We’ll also explore how cultural pioneers like Anthony Wilson, Mitzi Cunliffe, and Violet Carson helped shape Manchester’s modern identity through institutions like Granada Television and Factory Records.

 

Architectural Legacy and Future Vision

The discussion will showcase notable examples of Modernist architecture across Manchester’s commercial, civic, institutional, and religious buildings, demonstrating how the city’s architecture evolved to meet changing needs.

We’ll uncover ambitious urban planning proposals from the latter half of the 20th century – some unrealized but whose influence can still be traced in today’s cityscape.

Finally, we’ll examine how post-industrial Manchester reinvented itself through culture-led regeneration, shaping the dynamic modern city we see today.

 

About the speaker

Eddy Rhead is an author, the co-founder of The Modernist Society and co-director of Manchester based independent publishing house the modernist. His knowledge and enthusiasm make him the ideal guide for a gripping exploration of Manchester’s Modernist history.

 

Practical Information

The talk includes a Q&A session and light refreshments can be purchased from the venue’s bar.

Booking is essential. Lit & Phil members: we recommend logging into the website to make booking your free member ticket quicker and easier.

 

Accessibility Information

The venue is wheelchair accessible with an accessible toilet on the ground floor. Please contact us regarding any specific accessibility requirements you may have by emailing events@manlitphil.ac.uk

Through the Shop Windows: A Victorian Salford Experience

Posted on: December 16th, 2024 by mlpEditor

Experience the magic of Victorian Salford at Lark Hill Place – a meticulously preserved piece of local history within Salford Museum and Art Gallery.

Step into an evening in old Salford, where gas lamps cast a warm glow over cobbled streets lined with authentic shop fronts rescued from the city’s past. This remarkable recreation, established in 1955, preserves the character of 1870s Salford through carefully salvaged features from houses and shops that would have otherwise been lost to time.

Wander down the atmospheric street with our expert guide and discover the stories behind the Music Shop, Toy Shop, Chemist and Druggist. Call in at the Blue Lion pub, the Blacksmith and Wheelwright, and peek into the Artisan’s cottage and Dressmaker and Haberdasher. Each shop window and doorway offers a glimpse into daily life in Victorian Salford, filled with authentic objects and products from the era.

Your tour continues into the Victorian Gallery, home to historic masterpieces that tell the story of Salford’s rich artistic heritage. Afterwards, enjoy complimentary tea, coffee, and biscuits while chatting about your experience (£7.00 per person).

Join us for an unforgettable journey through time that brings our local heritage to life.

 

Good to know:

The tour will start at 1.30pm. Please arrive in good time. We will meet at the Information Desk in the museum.

After the tour has finished, why not make the most of your visit by exploring the museum gallery’s current exhibitions at your own pace:

Manchester Town Hall: The Revival of a Gothic Revival Masterpiece

Posted on: December 10th, 2024 by mlpEditor

Step inside the fascinating story of how Manchester’s architectural crown jewel is being transformed for future generations. Our Grade I listed Town Hall, one of Britain’s finest examples of Neo-Gothic architecture, is undergoing an ambitious restoration that blends heritage conservation with 21st-century innovation.

 

UPDATE – 28/1/25. Due to high demand, we have relocated the event, added capacity and adjusted the start time.

 

Project Vision and Planning

Technical expert Jamie Coath will uncover the intriguing challenges and creative solutions behind the Our Town Hall Project. We’ll explore how Purcell responded to the Council’s vision, carefully assessing this Victorian masterpiece to determine where changes could enhance its functionality and accessibility, while preserving its historic character. Through extensive consultation with the community, Purcell have shaped a vision that honours both the building’s past and its future role in city life.

 

Restoration and Engineering

You’ll discover the painstaking work involved in breathing new life into the external stonework, including the reinstatement of long-lost architectural features and the sensitive removal of 1960s additions. We’ll reveal how modern engineering expertise is being applied to replace the vast roof structure while protecting the building’s Gothic character.

 

Accessibility and Interior Works

One of the restoration team’s most rewarding challenges has been making this civic landmark truly accessible to everyone. Jamie will share how Purcell have thoughtfully integrated new entrances and lifts while respecting the building’s historic fabric. The talk will take you behind the scenes of their most delicate work: the restoration of the building’s magnificent interiors, including the revival of its famous clock and organ.

 

Public Realm

We’ll also explore how the project extends beyond the building itself, encompassing the restoration of the Albert Memorial and the surrounding public spaces that make this such a vital part of Manchester’s civic heart.

 

Looking to the Future

Throughout the talk, we’ll reflect on how this ambitious project is meeting its goals of preserving our city’s heritage while creating a more accessible and sustainable building for Manchester’s future.

 

Join us for an evening of discovery as we explore this remarkable chapter in the life of one of Britain’s most important civic buildings.

 

Practical Information

The talk includes a Q&A session.

Booking is essential. Lit & Phil members: we recommend logging into the website to make booking your free member ticket quicker and easier.

 

About the Speaker

Jamie is currently the Technical and Conservation Advisor for Purcell.  His particular technical expertise lies in stonework construction and conservation, and other related issues such as historic paint analysis and metalwork.

 

Accessibility Information

Please contact us regarding any specific accessibility requirements you may have by emailing events@manlitphil.ac.uk

 

Unmasking George Shaw: A Victorian Architectural Rogue

Posted on: October 31st, 2024 by mlpEditor

Discover the extraordinary story of George Shaw – a Victorian architect who blurred the lines between historical preservation and audacious forgery. This talk, by distinguished expert Dr Peter N. Lindfield, explores how one man from Saddleworth transformed Northwest England’s architectural landscape through a combination of genuine passion and remarkable cunning.

 

The Architectural Maverick

Imagine an architect who could transform ordinary buildings into romantic medieval masterpieces – and who wasn’t afraid to pull off the most audacious historical forgeries along the way. Meet George Shaw, the hidden genius of Victorian Gothic architecture who turned historical recreation into an art form and, on occasion, a thrilling con.

 

From Industrial Landscape to Architectural Fantasy

From the industrial landscapes of Saddleworth, Shaw emerged as a visionary architect who did more than just design buildings. He crafted entire historical fantasies, rebuilding houses and churches to look like relics from a long-lost medieval world. His workshops became a playground of architectural imagination, producing everything from intricate stained glass to elaborate furniture.

 

The Master of Historical Deception

But Shaw was no ordinary architect. With a mischievous streak, he created “authentic” Tudor furniture in his own workshops, selling these clever fabrications to unsuspecting aristocrats – including the Duke of Northumberland and the Earl of Derby. Was he a fraud, or a passionate antiquary pushing the boundaries of historical interpretation?

 

An Invitation to Discover

Join us for a fascinating exploration of Shaw’s world – where architecture meets performance, and history is both celebrated and cleverly reinvented. Discover the story of a man who transformed Northwest England’s landscape, one “ancient” building at a time.

 

About the speaker

Dr Peter N. Lindfield is a lecturer in architectural history at the Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, and Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London.

 

Special Event Highlight

Signed copies of Peter’s book – The Intimacies of George Shaw (1810–76): Diaries and Letters of a Gothic Architect, Antiquary, and Forger – will be available to purchase after the talk. It is the first work to present extensive, edited, and annotated transcriptions of Shaw’s diaries and letters.

 

Practical Information

The presentation will include time for questions and discussion. Booking is essential.

 

Accessibility Information

The venue is wheelchair accessible with an accessible toilet on the ground floor. Please contact us regarding any specific accessibility requirements you may have by emailing events@manlitphil.ac.uk

Imagined Manchester: what our city could have been

Posted on: October 17th, 2024 by mlpEditor

Discover the hidden stories of Manchester’s urban landscape. This talk explores incredible city plans that were never built, revealing fascinating “what if” moments in Manchester’s history.

 

What You’ll Experience

This engaging presentation will showcase extraordinary images of imagined city schemes, share stories about unrealized architectural projects, and provide deep insights into Manchester’s urban development.

 

Fascinating Plans

Jonathan will discuss remarkable unbuilt designs including a part-Eiffel Tower in Piccadilly Gardens, a Deansgate travelator, a communications tower behind Piccadilly Station, a mini-Parthenon on Upper Brook Street, and potential city boulevards and heliports.

 

Key Questions Explored

The talk will delve into how cities develop, why some ambitious plans succeed while others fail, and what truly shapes urban landscapes. These explorations will challenge our understanding of city planning and architectural imagination.

 

Background

This talk is based on Jonathan Schofield’s books “Lost & Imagined Manchester” and “Illusion & Change Manchester”. These books will be available to purchase at the event.

 

Perfect for

Anyone curious about Manchester’s history, urban planning, and alternative city visions.

 

Practical Information

The presentation will include time for questions and discussion. There are no refreshments available at the venue. Booking is essential.

 

Accessibility Information

The venue is wheelchair accessible with an accessible toilet. Please contact us regarding any specific accessibility requirements you may have by emailing events@manlitphil.ac.uk

The dark side of sugar: a historical journey

Posted on: October 16th, 2024 by mlpEditor

Discover the complex history of sugar – from its ancient origins to its modern-day impact on global health and society. Dr Neil Buttery explores how this seemingly simple ingredient has shaped our world in profound and often troubling ways.

 

Key Topics

This fascinating talk will explore the evolution of human taste preferences and why we developed such a strong attraction to sweet foods. Dr Buttery will trace sugar’s journey from ancient honey-hunting practices through to early sugar production, examining its significant role in medieval European society.

The discussion will then move to the colonial sugar trade and its lasting impact, before addressing modern sugar industry practices and their implications for public health. The talk concludes with an examination of current challenges and governmental responses to sugar consumption.

 

What You’ll Learn

You’ll discover how our ancestors sought out sweet foods as an essential survival strategy and follow sugarcane’s remarkable 10,000-year journey from Papua New Guinea across the globe. Dr Buttery will explain sugar’s transformation from luxury item to everyday commodity, while addressing the environmental and social impact of its production. The talk concludes with an examination of current debates surrounding sugar consumption and public health initiatives.

 

Content Notice

This talk includes discussion of historical events including colonialism, slavery, and exploitation. While these topics are handled sensitively, some content may be challenging.

 

Practical Information

The talk includes a Q&A session and light refreshments can be purchased from the venue’s bar. Booking is essential.

 

About the Speaker

Dr Neil Buttery combines expertise in food history and evolutionary biology to offer unique insights into how our relationship with sugar has evolved over millennia.

 

Accessibility Information

The venue is wheelchair accessible with an accessible toilet on the ground floor. Please contact us regarding any specific accessibility requirements you may have by emailing events@manlitphil.ac.uk

How has British Imperialism shaped the modern world?

Posted on: October 16th, 2024 by mlpEditor

Manchester Lit & Phil were delighted to welcome back acclaimed author, journalist and broadcaster Sathnam Sanghera for this special in conversation event with eminent historian Professor Alan Lester.

Sathnam’s seminal 2021 bestseller Empireland revealed how Empire continues to shape life in Britain today. Its inspired sequel Empireworld, published in 2024, takes a significant step further in examining the wider global significance of British Imperial power. Sathnam and Alan’s conversation will reflect on just how deeply British Imperialism remains baked into our world today.

Together, they look at how the effects of Empire continue to be felt globally, shaping cities, cultures, and societies in profound ways. Alan Lester, a Professor of Historical Geography, shares his own and other specialist historians’ profound insights into the intricate relationship between colonial legacies and the contemporary debates surrounding them.

The event offers a critical look at Empire’s lasting impact, both negative and positive, on the 2.6 billion inhabitants of former British Colonies. From the spread of Christianity by missionaries, to the shaping of international law, to possibly being the single most significant incubator, refiner, and propagator of white supremacy in the history of the planet.

Through their conversation, Sathnam and Alan explore why a nuanced understanding of colonial history, clearly important for Britain today, has become so politically controversial – engendering backlash from the right and often taking a personal toll on writers and academics entering the debate.

We are at a point of unprecedented social change. Does this moment offer an opportunity to acknowledge and embrace Empire’s contradictions and paradoxes? Can we move beyond sterile monologues and embrace meaningful dialogues about history, identity and global legacies? Can Britain hope to have a productive future in the world without acknowledging what Empire did to the world in the first place?

Watch this recording and decide for yourself.

Covid-19: the importance of history in a global pandemic

Posted on: June 25th, 2024 by mlpEditor

What is the role of a historian in a health crisis? As Covid-19 became a full-blown pandemic in the spring of 2020, historians across the world produced rapid and imaginative responses, bringing historical perspectives to bear on how people and societies in the past responded to cholera, Spanish Flu, and more recently ebola. They paid much less attention to capturing and preserving the unfolding of Covid-19.

This talk draws on Stephanie Snow’s experience of leading a national oral history project on the UK’s National Health Service that metamorphosed into the creation of a national collection of Covid-19 testimonies in partnership with the British Library between 2020-2023.

History shows that individual and collective memory can fade rapidly after health crises. Recording testimonies in the moment plays a vital role in supporting individuals and communities to find meaning from their lived experiences in the face of complexity and uncertainty. It creates a permanent historical record of a crisis that captures societal responses that were not prominent in public narratives at the time. It also counters retrospective attempts to establish new public narratives of crisis for socio-political purposes.

Critiques of capturing experiences during crisis focus on the potential harm to participants. Stephanie’s talk will use evaluation data to show how such risks can be minimised if the work is undertaken in a supportive, responsive framework.

Should historians be as concerned with preserving the present as they are about exploring the past? Stephanie certainly thinks so. Join us to find out why.

How has British Imperialism shaped the modern world?

Posted on: June 11th, 2024 by mlpEditor

We’re delighted to welcome back acclaimed author, journalist and broadcaster Sathnam Sanghera for this special in conversation event with eminent historian Professor Alan Lester.

Sathnam’s seminal 2021 bestseller Empireland revealed how Empire continues to shape life in Britain today. Its inspired sequel Empireworld, published in 2024, takes a significant step further in examining the wider global significance of British Imperial power. Sathnam and Alan’s conversation will reflect on just how deeply British Imperialism remains baked into our world today.

Together, they will look at how the effects of Empire continue to be felt globally, shaping cities, cultures, and societies in profound ways. Alan Lester, a Professor of Historical Geography, will share his own and other specialist historians’ profound insights into the intricate relationship between colonial legacies and the contemporary debates surrounding them.

The event will offer a critical look at Empire’s lasting impact, both negative and positive, on the 2.6 billion inhabitants of former British Colonies. From the spread of Christianity by missionaries, to the shaping of international law, to possibly being the single most significant incubator, refiner, and propagator of white supremacy in the history of the planet.

Through their conversation, Sathnam and Alan will explore why a nuanced understanding of colonial history, clearly important for Britain today, has become so politically controversial – engendering backlash from the right and often taking a personal toll on writers and academics entering the debate.

We are at a point of unprecedented social change. Does this moment offer an opportunity to acknowledge and embrace Empire’s contradictions and paradoxes? Can we move beyond sterile monologues and embrace meaningful dialogues about history, identity and global legacies? Can Britain hope to have a productive future in the world without acknowledging what Empire did to the world in the first place?

Sathnam and Alan will discuss all of this and more. Don’t miss this very special event.

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