The Whitworth Heritage Museum
Lectures
Our monthly programme for 2024/25
Whitworth Historical Society holds a series of talks on the first Wednesday of each month, commencing in October and running through to June of the following year. Admission is free at the point of entry and is open to members and non members alike. Non members are however politely requested to make a small donation towards the running cost of the museum. Membership of the Society is open to all and is a modest £10 per year. Check out the ‘Join Us’ page for more details. Please note that for the 2024-25 season we will again be holding our monthly lectures at the Hallfold United Reform Church schoolroom on Hall Street, as it has a far greater capacity than the museum and it allows us to provide a much better socially distanced seating plan. You can download a .pdf copy of our full lecture programme from the link below:Talk Night Programme 2024-25
Wednesday 2nd of October 2024
“RNLI Timeline” by Roy Meakin (note: - this will be held at the Hallfold URC schoolroom) It’s hard to believe that this most British of institutions has been in existence for 200 years. Although boats kept specifically for saving lives at sea can be traced back as early as 1777, it was not until 1824 that Sir William Hillary founded the institution that we know today. Roy tells us the history of this much admired organisation. Wednesday 6th of November 2024 “AGM Followed by Potato Pie Supper” (note: - this will be held at the Hallfold URC schoolroom) The AGM is open to members and non members alike and is an opportunity for us to review the year's performance and what we have in mind for the future. Delicious potato pie supper to round off the evening!Wednesday 4th of December 2024
“Gorton Monastery”
by Grahame Birtles
(note: - this will be held at the Hallfold URC schoolroom) The Church and Friary of St Francis is referred to locally as Gorton Monastery and designated a Grade II listed building. The magnificent buildings were designed and built 1866-1872 in the Gothic Revival style by Edward Welby Pugin, eldest son of the famous Augustin Pugin. After falling into disrepair, Gorton Monastry was the subject of a recent restoration project which was completed in 2007, at a cost of some £6 million. Grahame guides us skillfully through this masterpiece of Victorian architecture.Wednesday 8th of January 2025
“Barging in Holland” (NOTE# This was postponed due to adverse weather)
by Jo & Janna May
(note: - this will be held at the Hallfold URC schoolroom) The Netherlands and the Low Countries are well known for their network of rivers and canals which were once the ‘domain’ of merchants for the transport of goods from inland factories to Holland’s major sea ports. Today, whilst commerce remains very much in evidence, these waterways have become more used to holiday cruises and leisure activities. Jo & Janna tell us of their experiences whilst travelling Holland’s watery roadways.Wednesday 5th of February 2025
“Shoes - their history and mine”
by Linda Sawley
(note: - this will be held at the Hallfold URC schoolroom) We all have need of shoes or footwear of some kind and today the names given to various styles and materials of construction are legion. Linda looks at the development of footwear and gives us an insight into her own preferences.Wednesday 5th of March 2025
“Origins & Oddities of English Inn Signs”
by Michael Astrop
(note: - this will be held at the URC schoolroom) Seen by many as works of art in their own right, signs on public houses and inns in England are sometimes the subject of discussion and debate. Many are familiar such as Red Lion, White Hart and the Horse & Farrier whilst others, during and after the reign of King Henry VIII, demonstrated allegiance to the King and the protestant faith with names such as the King’s Head, The Crown etc. Michael explores these sometimes odd names and takes a look at the associated artwork.Wednesday 2nd of April 2025
“Clog Dancing of the Lancashire Wallopers”
by Robynne Wood
(note: - this will be held at the URC schoolroom) The “Wallopers” were originally formed in 1981 by followers and students of the legendary clog dancer and music hall entertainer Sam Sherry. Sherry, described variously as an acrobatic dancer, clog dancer, musician and singer, was part of an act, The Five Sherry Brothers, which toured the country’s leading variety theatres during the 1930s. Keen to keep the skill of walloping (clog Dancing) alive, in his later years Sherry became an enthusiastic teacher of the genre. Robynne, one of today’s troupe of Wallopers, uses explanation and demonstration to take us through some of these fascinating routines.Wednesday 7th of May 2025
“And the Band Played On”
by Sue Holden
(note: - this will be held at the URC schoolroom) Sue takes a look at a once proud, originally Liverpool based, shipping company and guides us through the sometimes turbulent waters of its history. Of course, no mention of the White Star Line is complete without reference to its most famous vessel “Titanic”. White Star hit hard times in the depression of the 1930s and formed a merger with Cunard in 1934. Although the famous name continued as the Cunard - White Star Line, by 1950 Cunard had absorbed White Star into its own operations and only Cunard’s “White Star Service” for the well-heeled lives on today.Wednesday 4th of June 2025
“To Be Confirmed”
by …..
(note: - this will be held at the URC schoolroom) Details to follow.. NOTE: Click on the images on the left for more information about the speakers:
Whitworth Museum
© Whitworth Historical Society 2024
Lectures
Our monthly programme for 2024/25
Whitworth Historical Society holds a series of talks on the first Wednesday of each month, commencing in October and running through to June of the following year. Admission is free at the point of entry and is open to members and non members alike. Non members are however politely requested to make a small donation towards the running cost of the museum. Membership of the Society is open to all and is a modest £10 per year. Check out the ‘Join Us’ page for more details. Please note that for the 2024-25 season we will again be holding our monthly lectures at the Hallfold United Reform Church schoolroom on Hall Street, as it has a far greater capacity than the museum and it allows us to provide a much better socially distanced seating plan. You can download a .pdf copy of our full lecture programme from the link below:Talk Night Programme 2024-25
Wednesday 2nd of October 2024
“RNLI Timeline” by Roy Meakin (note: - this will be held at the Hallfold URC schoolroom) It’s hard to believe that this most British of institutions has been in existence for 200 years. Although boats kept specifically for saving lives at sea can be traced back as early as 1777, it was not until 1824 that Sir William Hillary founded the institution that we know today. Roy tells us the history of this much admired organisation. Wednesday 6th of November 2024 “AGM Followed by Potato Pie Supper” (note: - this will be held at the Hallfold URC schoolroom) The AGM is open to members and non members alike and is an opportunity for us to review the year's performance and what we have in mind for the future. Delicious potato pie supper to round off the evening!Wednesday 4th of December 2024
“Gorton Monastery”
by Grahame Birtles
(note: - this will be held at the Hallfold URC schoolroom) The Church and Friary of St Francis is referred to locally as Gorton Monastery and designated a Grade II listed building. The magnificent buildings were designed and built 1866-1872 in the Gothic Revival style by Edward Welby Pugin, eldest son of the famous Augustin Pugin. After falling into disrepair, Gorton Monastry was the subject of a recent restoration project which was completed in 2007, at a cost of some £6 million. Grahame guides us skillfully through this masterpiece of Victorian architecture.Wednesday 8th of January 2025
“Barging in Holland” (NOTE# This was postponed due to adverse weather)
by Jo & Janna May
(note: - this will be held at the Hallfold URC schoolroom) The Netherlands and the Low Countries are well known for their network of rivers and canals which were once the ‘domain’ of merchants for the transport of goods from inland factories to Holland’s major sea ports. Today, whilst commerce remains very much in evidence, these waterways have become more used to holiday cruises and leisure activities. Jo & Janna tell us of their experiences whilst travelling Holland’s watery roadways.Wednesday 5th of February 2025
“Shoes - their history and mine”
by Linda Sawley
(note: - this will be held at the Hallfold URC schoolroom) We all have need of shoes or footwear of some kind and today the names given to various styles and materials of construction are legion. Linda looks at the development of footwear and gives us an insight into her own preferences.Wednesday 5th of March 2025
“Origins & Oddities of English Inn Signs”
by Michael Astrop
(note: - this will be held at the URC schoolroom) Seen by many as works of art in their own right, signs on public houses and inns in England are sometimes the subject of discussion and debate. Many are familiar such as Red Lion, White Hart and the Horse & Farrier whilst others, during and after the reign of King Henry VIII, demonstrated allegiance to the King and the protestant faith with names such as the King’s Head, The Crown etc. Michael explores these sometimes odd names and takes a look at the associated artwork.Wednesday 2nd of April 2025
“Clog Dancing of the Lancashire Wallopers”
by Robynne Wood
(note: - this will be held at the URC schoolroom) The “Wallopers” were originally formed in 1981 by followers and students of the legendary clog dancer and music hall entertainer Sam Sherry. Sherry, described variously as an acrobatic dancer, clog dancer, musician and singer, was part of an act, The Five Sherry Brothers, which toured the country’s leading variety theatres during the 1930s. Keen to keep the skill of walloping (clog Dancing) alive, in his later years Sherry became an enthusiastic teacher of the genre. Robynne, one of today’s troupe of Wallopers, uses explanation and demonstration to take us through some of these fascinating routines.Wednesday 7th of May 2025
“And the Band Played On”
by Sue Holden
(note: - this will be held at the URC schoolroom) Sue takes a look at a once proud, originally Liverpool based, shipping company and guides us through the sometimes turbulent waters of its history. Of course, no mention of the White Star Line is complete without reference to its most famous vessel “Titanic”. White Star hit hard times in the depression of the 1930s and formed a merger with Cunard in 1934. Although the famous name continued as the Cunard - White Star Line, by 1950 Cunard had absorbed White Star into its own operations and only Cunard’s “White Star Service” for the well-heeled lives on today.Wednesday 4th of June 2025
“To Be Confirmed”
by …..
(note: - this will be held at the URC schoolroom) Details to follow.. NOTE: Click on the images on the left for more information about the speakers:
