Whitworth Historical Society & Museum

26/04/2025

Don't forget folks, this evening is the "A Glimpse into Whitworth's Past" show at the Hallfold URC, we're looking forward to seeing you all there. Start time is 7.30pm.

23/04/2025

Happy St. George's Day to all, good to see some of our 'locals' celebrating the day. 🙂

03/04/2025

We hope you all enjoyed last night's talk and clog dancing demonstrations by Robynne Wood of The Lancashire Wallopers. Go on admit it, I'll bet a few of you were doing a bit of clip clopping around your tiled surfaces last night? 🙂A big thank you to Robynne for coming along and entertaining and informing us about this famous tradition.

If you would like to find out more about the Wallopers, or even fancy taking up clog dancing yourselves, you can find more information on their website at: https://www.lancashirewallopers.co.uk/

31/03/2025

Any clog dancing enthusiasts in the group? If so you will like our next monthly lecture which takes place on Wednesday 2nd of April 2025, and features a talk about the 'Lancashire Wallopers' by Robynne Wood. Start time will be 7.30pm as per usual, and will again take place at the Hallfold URC on Hall Street. Visitors and guests are welcome to attend. More details about the talk can be found below:

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.

28/03/2025

COMING SOON - “A GLIMPSE INTO WHITWORTH’S PAST”

We are pleased to announce that the Society will be holding another of our very popular Film Shows at the Hallfold URC in April 2025, and we expect tickets to sell out fast, so do be sure to book yours as soon as possible if you are planning to attend. More details can be found in the attached poster:

15/03/2025

A little more information about tomorrow's History and Heritage Fair at Bury can be found here:

14/03/2025

This event may be of interest to some of you, details are below:

The Northern History and Heritage Fair

Greenmount Old School, Brandlesholme Road, BL8 4DS on Sunday, March 16th, 2025 11:00

There will be lots to see and do at our history and heritage fair. Starting at 11am the event will go on to 4pm. As well as the various displays, refreshments will be available

All are welcome to come to our special event to mark our 20th anniversary. We will be hosting more than 20 history groups and attractions from the North West, who will have displays about their work. The event will be a great opportunity to explore more about the history of the area and find out how...

06/03/2025

Our thanks to Michael Astrop for coming over from Todmorden last night to give us a talk about the “Origins & Oddities of English Inn Signs”, and I'm sure that many of us will take far more notice of all these different types in the future when we see them. For anyone who wasn't able to make it, but would like to find out more about them, Michael told us about a society that he is a member of and which covers this subject in detail, and you can find out more about them from the link below:

https://www.innsignsociety.com/

02/03/2025

Our next talk night takes place on Wednesday 5th of March 2025, and the subject this time is: “Origins & Oddities of English Inn Signs” by Michael Astrop.

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.

Note: - this will again be held at the URC schoolroom on Hall Street, and the start time will be 7.30pm. Non-members and visitors are welcome to attend, and there is no charge for admission (but it does help us keep these going if you buy a raffle ticket, or cuppa and biccies afterwards, or even better still, become a member, great value at just £10 per annum.)

01/03/2025

Our next monthly Talk Night will be taking place next week, and full details will be posted on here shortly. In the meantime, below is a clue about the subject matter. Wonder how many of you remember what the C**k & Magpie was previously called, or ever got plastered in there? No prizes for correct guesses, but it will show that at least your memory cells are still functioning. 🙂

06/02/2025

We hope that you all enjoyed last night's humorous talk by Linda Sawley about her life as a 'Shoeaholic', and I wonder just how many of you ladies (and maybe a few of the men - hey, we're not judgmental) nipped out and bought yourself something a bit exotic and high-heeled today? Our thanks to Linda for coming along, and below are a few images from the talk, plus a shot of some of the museum's collection of shoes which Paula brought along, you can also see these on display in the museum on our opening days.

04/02/2025

Just one more day to go to our next monthly Talk Night, and this time it will feature a subject that we are all familiar with - shoes! - The details are below:

“Shoes - their history and mine” by Linda Sawley"

(note: - as per usual this will be held at the Hallfold URC schoolroom on Hall Street, start time will be 7.30pm and visitors and non-members are welcome to attend)

"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."

The date for the talk will be: Wednesday 5th of February 2025, so get your best shoes on and come on down to the Hallfold United Reform Church to find out more.

01/02/2025

Just a reminder for group members that our next museum lecture night will be coming up soon, and this time it will feature a subject that we are all familiar with - shoes! - The details are below:

“Shoes - their history and mine” by Linda Sawley"

(note: - as per usual this will be held at the Hallfold URC schoolroom on Hall Street, start time will be 7.30pm and visitors and non-members are welcome to attend)

"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."

The date will be: Wednesday 5th of February 2025, and we will post another reminder nearer to the time for members and for the wider public.

31/01/2025

Just a reminder to everyone that the Museum will be reopening again on Saturday 1st of February following our short winter break, and the opening hours will be 11am to 4pm as per usual. We look forward to seeing some of you there again. Admission is completely free, but if anyone wants to make a small donation it's always appreciated.🙂

08/01/2025

Our apologies that the scheduled guest speakers weren't able to make it this evening, but they had to travel over the Pennines, and in these conditions that wouldn't have been too easy, so hopefully we can rearrange them for a future date. (I did wonder for a moment if it was that 'Lancashire - no you stay out' sign on the border that was to blame, but probably not (Wallace & Gromit fans may understand that comment!)🙂

All was not lost though, and thanks to our Chairman Brian Furness, we were entertained with a great selection of films from the North West Film Archive collection, and in spite of the weather, we had quite a good turn out, so thank you to everyone who braved the conditions and came along, and fingers crossed for better weather next month.

05/01/2025

Hi All,

Just a reminder that our first lecture night of the New Year will take place on Wednesday 8th of January 2025 at 7.30pm and the location is our usual venue of the Hallfold URC schoolroom on Hall Street.

The talk this time will be: “Barging in Holland” by Jo & Janna May

"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"

We look forward to seeing you there, and as per usual, you don't need to be a member of the society to attend (but membership is cheap and really helps us to keep these events going if you feel so inclined), so guests and visitors are more than welcome to attend.

27/12/2024

** Will all members and visitors please note that the Whitworth Heritage Museum will be closed throughout the month of January, and we will reopen to the public again on Saturday 1st of February 2025 and every Saturday after that from the usual 11am to 4pm.

This will of course not affect our monthly lecture at Hallfold URC on the 8th of January which will still take place. **

24/12/2024

We would like to wish all of our members and supporters a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for 2025, and we look forward to seeing you all again at our next lecture, which this time will be on the second Wednesday in January, as New Year's Day will be falling on the first one.