People's History Museum

People's History Museum Explore past, present & future at PHM, the UK's national museum of democracy.
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People's History Museum provides opportunities for all people to learn about, be inspired by and get involved in ideas worth fighting for; ideas such as equality, social justice, co-operation, and a fair world for all.

17/01/2025

Watch the final in People’s History Museum’s 2025 Banner go on display, ready for the new exhibition to open tomorrow, Saturday 18 January 🎺

LGSM donated this banner to the museum in the 1990s and for the first time, it has been installed at PHM, in a way which allows both the front and back to be seen 🏳️‍🌈

Visit PHM and see a quarter of our main galleries revamped and come face to face with the colourful handiwork of those who fought for our rights – from the 19th century to today ✊

Book your tickets to a very special PHM late with LGSM activists on Thurs 27 Feb: https://bit.ly/4fWZFbv

📍People’s History Museum, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3ER

Banner: Le****ns & G**s Support The Miners banner made by Mark Ashton, around 1984.

Who's ready for our 2025 Banner Exhibition? In annual tradition, PHM will be changing 25 banners in the galleries.To pre...
06/01/2025

Who's ready for our 2025 Banner Exhibition? In annual tradition, PHM will be changing 25 banners in the galleries.

To prepare for this exciting change, Gallery One will be closed from 6 to 10 January and Gallery Two will be closed from 13 to 17 January.

Photo: PHM Conservator Jenny van Enckevort with National Union of Railwaymen Smithfields Branch banner

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Happy New Year!  We're back open today (Thursday 2 January) with a January sale. At PHM shop we're offering 10% off a wi...
02/01/2025

Happy New Year! We're back open today (Thursday 2 January) with a January sale.

At PHM shop we're offering 10% off a wide selection of gifts, fashion, and homeware (buy onsite and online) until Friday 31 January 2025.

Why not also grab a hot drink and 50% off pastries from our sustainable and ethical cafe Open Kitchen at the same time?

We're open every day except Tuesdays 10.00am to 5.00pm (cafe open 10.00am to 4.00pm).

You can shop online: https://shop.phm.org.uk/

Please note - discount does not apply to shipping.

Images:
1: Manchester Doodle Map mug and limited editions prints by street artist Stewy.
2. Matchbox with Time To Strike! graphic designed by the Rickard Sisters, 2024.
3: First In The Fight shop stock at People's History Museum shop.
4: Cinnamon buns © SARATSTOCK 1001105400 - stock.adobe.com.

In Scotland, there is a tradition of giving a lump of coal on New Year's Eve to bring a warm hearth and prosperity throu...
31/12/2024

In Scotland, there is a tradition of giving a lump of coal on New Year's Eve to bring a warm hearth and prosperity throughout the year.

May this lump of coal bring these gifts to you. We wish you a happy 2025!

Did you know? This piece of peacock anthracite was the first coal to be lifted out of Abernant Colliery after the 1984 to 1985 Miners' Strike. This lump of coal was gifted to ceramicist Lou Kenton for his support during the strike. Lou Kenton donated the coal and a collection of his ceramics to the museum in 2003.

Join us for a very special PHM late on Thurs 27 February 2025, 6.00pm – 9.00pm to mark 40 years since the 1984 to 1985 Miners’ Strike, which led to the founding of Le****ns and G**s Support the Miners (LGSM).

Book your tickets today: https://phm.org.uk/events_new/solidarity-forever-40-years-of-lgsm-thurs-27-february-2025-6-00pm-9-00pm/

Image: Piece of peacock anthracite mined from Abernant Colliery after the 1984-85 Miners' Strike. NMLH.2003.16.37. Image courtesy of People’s History Museum.

Key anniversaries featured high in the PHM   you enjoyed most in 2024.Also top of the list were posts revealing the hist...
27/12/2024

Key anniversaries featured high in the PHM you enjoyed most in 2024.

Also top of the list were posts revealing the history and meaning of symbols.

Find out which stories were our reader favourites: https://phm.org.uk/blogposts/2024-reader-favourite-blogs/

Images clockwise from left:
Fight for a Socialist Future Young Communist League poster, around 1970. Image courtesy of People’s History Museum.

Ellen Wilkinson MP scrapbook, 1928 to 1930. Image courtesy of People's History Museum.

London Gay Teenage Group badge, 1970s. Image courtesy of LSE Library

Littleton Colliery Support the Miners mug by Lou Kenton, 1985. NMLH.2013.16.19. Image courtesy of People’s History Museum.

LGSM suitcase, 1985. NMLH. 2002.6. Image courtesy of People's History Museum.

Wishing all our friends a Happy Christmas!We’ll soon be turning our attentions to 2025 so look out for our e-newsletter ...
23/12/2024

Wishing all our friends a Happy Christmas!

We’ll soon be turning our attentions to 2025 so look out for our e-newsletter early in the New Year.

We’ve some great plans around the corner so please sign up to PHM's e-newsletter if you’re not already subscribed: https://phm.org.uk/newsletter-signup/

Image: 'Coel not Doel' Christmas card sold to raise money for the National Union of Mineworkers' welfare funds during the Miners' Strike, designer unknown. Image courtesy People's History Museum

One week to go until our last Christmas post date! Whether it’s totes, tees or tea towels, PHM Shop is stocked full of g...
11/12/2024

One week to go until our last Christmas post date!

Whether it’s totes, tees or tea towels, PHM Shop is stocked full of gifts inspired by our unique collection 👜👕🫖

With income from every purchase supporting the museum’s mission of creating a fairer society.

Order before 12.00pm on Thursday 19 December 2024: https://shop.phm.org.uk/

Photos: Sculpts Bespoke Tote £15, LGSM Pits and Perverts t-shirt 40th Anniversary Special Edition tee £20 and Rickard Sisters tea towel £15.

Planning a visit to PHM? Please see our festive opening hours here or on our website.
04/12/2024

Planning a visit to PHM?

Please see our festive opening hours here or on our website.

Kick start your   gifting on  at PHM Shop!For one day only, enjoy 10% off everything in store and online.  Discounts are...
01/12/2024

Kick start your gifting on at PHM Shop!

For one day only, enjoy 10% off everything in store and online. Discounts are available on Sunday 1 December, and are automatically applied at checkout.

Every purchase supports the museum!

Museum & shop open: 10.00am to 5.00pm, every day except Tuesdays
Our last Christmas post date is 12.00pm on Thursday 19 December 2024

Image: Prints of iconic figures from Street artist Stewy, limited edition LGSM t-shirt, Time To Stike! matchboxes designed by The Rickard Sisters, hand knitted bee decoration and suffragette necklace from The Magpies Daughter.

Today (Friday 29 November 2024) we welcome our newest collection object to PHM. Meet ‘Deceptioncon’ a robot costume made...
29/11/2024

Today (Friday 29 November 2024) we welcome our newest collection object to PHM.

Meet ‘Deceptioncon’ a robot costume made by GMB Midlands union members for their Black Friday 2023 strike action at Amazon’s BHX4 warehouse in Coventry. Along with better pay and conditions the workers were seeking union recognition, which has still not been met.

Learn more about across our galleries.

Deceptioncon is on display next to PHM Shop, where you’ll find a range of products inspired by the museum’s vision for a fairer society for all, many created by local designers and makers.

Celebrating the power of cultural retail to support the work of museums, PHM Shop is one of thousands participating in Museum Shop Sunday which this year takes place on Sunday 1 December 2024.

Open 10.00am to 5.00pm, every day except Tuesdays.

Images: GMB strike at Amazon Warehouse BHX4 - Black Friday November 2023 © GMB Midlands and Deceptioncon robot costume, 2023. Images courtesy of People’s History Museum

We are delighted to share that we’ll be participating in Museum Shop Sunday alongside local designers and makers from Et...
28/11/2024

We are delighted to share that we’ll be participating in Museum Shop Sunday alongside local designers and makers from Etsy Manchester on Sunday 1 December 2024.

Enjoy 10% off all purchases from totes to tees and tea towels at PHM Shop.

Explore a festive pop-up shop showcasing unique, handmade gifts from the Etsy Manchester Team.

for jewellery, gifts, prints, art, accessories, and homewares.

Open 10.00am to 5.00pm

Free entry to the shop and museum

We’re joining The National Lottery Heritage Fund to celebrate Crossed Finger Selfie Day and say a big   to   players for...
19/11/2024

We’re joining The National Lottery Heritage Fund to celebrate Crossed Finger Selfie Day and say a big to players for helping fund past, present & future projects at People’s History Museum!

Photos:
Past - Never Going Underground The Fight for LGBT+ Rights exhibition, 2017
Present - The Welcome Project - People's History Museum foyer, 2024
Future - New Riverside Room for hire at People’s History Museum, 2025.

Join us next Saturday 23 November 2024 at 1.00pm for The Fabric of Protest workshop.We will be looking at hands: as a sy...
13/11/2024

Join us next Saturday 23 November 2024 at 1.00pm for The Fabric of Protest workshop.

We will be looking at hands: as a symbol in banners, a message of solidarity in protest, and an action in working with textiles ✋ ✊ 🤜 🤛

Participants, guided by professional artist Helen Mather, will each be weaving a textile piece in response to this banner - Rossendale Valley Textile Workers Union Banner, 1961.

All materials provided for your creations ✂️ 🧶

⏱️ Arrival starts with a tea & coffee, session finishes at 3.00pm

🎟️ If you would like to attend, please book your tickets:

https://phm.org.uk/events_new/the-fabric-of-protest/sat-23-november-2024-1-00pm-3-00pm/

Today we are sharing a new blog from our Collections Assistant Jaime Starr for   which puts the spotlight on objects in ...
09/11/2024

Today we are sharing a new blog from our Collections Assistant Jaime Starr for which puts the spotlight on objects in our collection from the Battle of Cable Street in 1936, to the Rock Against Racism movement of the 1970s and 1980s, and beyond

Dive deeper into the story of resistance to fascism in the UK: https://phm.org.uk/blogposts/from-the-collection-british-anti-fascism/

You can also visit a case of objects against fascism on display until next year at PHM.

Photos clockwise: Le****ns and G**s Against the N***s badge, Miners Against The N***s badge and Skins Hate The NF badge, a mk campaign against racism and fascism badge, dates unknown and Battle of Cable Street commemorative plate, 1996.

It's Festive Friday 🎄 🌟 🎅 MCR Xmas markets & PHM shop are open for your Christmas gifting 🎁Both a must-visit for locals ...
08/11/2024

It's Festive Friday 🎄 🌟 🎅

MCR Xmas markets & PHM shop are open for your Christmas gifting 🎁

Both a must-visit for locals and tourists and FREE to visit!

At the museum we’ve gifts creatively inspired by the museum’s collection of objects and artefacts.

Our top picks must include –

🖼️ A series of prints of iconic figures from Street artist STEWY
👕 A limited edition t-shirt in recognition of the 40th anniversary of Le****ns and G**s Support the Miners
🔥 New decorative Time To Strike! match boxes from graphic novel illustrators The Rickard Sisters
🐝 And a bespoke suffragette inspired necklace & a hand knitted bee decoration – complete with a Santa hat from the creatives at The Magpies Daughter

Happy Bonfire Night! 🎆🧨🎇We’re delighted to be collaborating with the Rickard Sisters on an exclusive range of artwork fo...
05/11/2024

Happy Bonfire Night! 🎆🧨🎇

We’re delighted to be collaborating with the Rickard Sisters on an exclusive range of artwork for People's History Museum.

Rickard Sisters, Scarlett and Sophie, are renowned for their graphic novels and activist inspired artwork 🙌

Checkout the latest collection 🔥 a playful take on the theme of striking which adorns our new decorative matchboxes.

Head to PHM Shop & online – whilst stocks last! https://shop.phm.org.uk/products/rickard-sisters-match-boxes

Image: PHM matchbox with Time To Strike! graphic by the Rickard Sisters, 2024.

Join us, behind the scenes in our archive, this Saturday 9 November! 🔍💪📚Find out about the incredible life of Mancunian ...
04/11/2024

Join us, behind the scenes in our archive, this Saturday 9 November! 🔍💪📚

Find out about the incredible life of Mancunian trailblazer Ellen Wilkinson who achieved:

🥛 The introduction of free school milk
🎒 The provision of free secondary education for all
🗳️ Raising the school leaving age to 15 years
🎓Increasing the number of University scholarships
💰 The provision of grants for women to train as teachers

Images: 'Red Ellen' Wilkinson postcard designed by the Rickard Sisters and Ellen Wilkinson MP general election leaflet, 1945. Image courtesy of People’s History Museum.

📍 People's History Museum, Saturday 9 November.
🎟️ Book your tickets: https://phm.org.uk/events_new/ellen-wilkinson-mp-archive-exploration/sat-9-november-2024-11-00am-12-45pm/

Capturing the theme of disabled people’s rights is this banner that was made for the Triangle Club in 1985. The banner, ...
29/10/2024

Capturing the theme of disabled people’s rights is this banner that was made for the Triangle Club in 1985.

The banner, on loan from the British Deaf History Society, features a pink triangle – a symbol that went from being used to identify LGBTQIA+ people in N**i concentration camps in the Second World War to being reclaimed by LGBTQIA+ groups and campaigns from the 1970s onwards.

Kloe, PHM’s Conservator giving it a clean in the lead up to PHM’s 2025 Banner Exhibition which opens Saturday 18 January 2025 (and on show until 29 December 2025).

Address

Left Bank, Spinningfields
Manchester
M33ER

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+441618389190

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