Bringing Together the People of Manchester to Celebrate the Histories of Manchester -
The Original Modern City

On Saturday March 21st, 4000 people came to the Manchester Histories Festival in Manchester Town Hall demonstrating an enthusiasm and interest which really shows the possibilities of this kind of collective event and of the wide popular appeal of studying our histories. All in all, about 1500 people helped make the Festival and its educational projects, as well as those who came and enjoyed it. There is now real momentum to hold another Histories Festival, so we will be discussing possible futures with potential partners. Watch this space. Many thanks to all who took part and all who visited. Please email any comments and suggestions to our web site or use the contact page

Great Talks... Headlining the Festival was a packed program of inspiring talks on Manchester's past, from top historians, including broadcasters Michael Wood and Tristram Hunt, Haçienda DJ Dave Haslam, academic Sheila Rowbotham, football journalist David Meek, Manchester Confidential's Jonathan Schofield and many others. Between them they covered everything from city life to science, and from football to factories.
Exhibitions... Centrepiece of the Festival were the exhibition spaces in the rich architectural surroundings of Manchester Town Hall, which were packed with dozens of enticing displays on Manchester's past from 70 local museums, galleries, cultural institutions, historical societies and community groups, not to mention 40 Manchester schools and the city's universities.
Guided Walks... For many people, the best way to appreciate all that happened in Manchester is by exploring it for themselves. The Histories Festival featured a series of guided walks covering everything and everyone from John Dalton to Joy Division, with expeditions to uncover hidden stories in familiar locations across the city centre, shorter walks around the curiosities in and around the Town Hall and tours of the Ford Maddox Brown murals in the Great Hall.
And so much more! And that's not to mention archive films from the Northwest Film Archive, a brass band, ask an expert sessions, handling collections, costumed performers, folk music, a great big family sing along, family history sessions, The Portable Antiquities Scheme, a vintage bus and activities for all the family... And if there is a next time, we'll have even more!
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