The Clarion - a paper, a movement, a way of life

This exhibition displays the Library's extensive collection of Clarion material and tells the story of how a newspaper came to inspire a way of life.

Little did Robert Blatchford know when he started the socialist newspaper The Clarion in the 1890s that it would inspire its readers to set up a whole range of activities for working people, from Clarion cycling and rambling clubs to choirs and bands.

The Library’s Clarion exhibition brings together materials produced by ‘Clarionettes’ for their fellows, including books, sports trophies and memorabilia, newspapers, and programmes for musical events. Browse the Bolton Clarion Scrapbook, dating from 1898, “turning the pages” using an electronic flipbook alongside the fragile original book. Sit on one of the original chairs from Market Street’s Clarion Café!

Details of talks and events accompanying the exhibition are at www.wcml.org.uk/clarion