‘The place was beginning to depress me. It was not only the dirt, the smells and the vile food, but the feelings of stagnant meaningless decay.’ Those were the words of George Orwell in his hugely influential social survey, The Road to Wigan Pier, when recounting the bleak realities of life amongst the industrial working […]
David Bowie morphed from character to character, challenging every norm along the way. In his most iconic stage persona, as Ziggy Stardust, he stated that he wanted “to tart rock up.” Aladdin Sane was his next, often remembered for his lightning bolt portrait on the album cover. He courageously defied all gender binaries in his […]
King Alfred of Wessex (r. 871 AD – 899 AD) is an enduring individual in English History. Alfred’s Kingdom of Wessex weathered the Viking conquest when all other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms fell. In his subsequent liberations of land, Alfred is said to have laid the foundations of the political unification of England. His achievements are remarkable, […]
“As I look ahead, I am filled with foreboding; like the Roman, I seem to see ‘the River Tiber foaming with much blood.” These are the words of Enoch Powell from his infamous ‘Rivers of Blood’ Speech made on 20th April 1968 at the General Meeting of the West Midlands Area Conservative Political Centre. Made […]
The Imperial War Museum London opened a ‘Holocaust Gallery’ in October 2021, and it contrasts previous exhibitions by presenting individuals as identifiable and ordinary people. The exhibition aims to provide a deeper understanding of the Holocaust by enabling the visitors to relate with the individuals portrayed. Mary Wollstonecraft is often regarded as the catalyst for […]
The Manchester Museum opened its newly refreshed exhibitions of archaeology and Egyptology at the end of last semester. The Museum is nestled at the very heart of the University, across the road from University Place. It has a tremendously varied collection, ranging from Dinosaurs to (living) poisonous frogs and from anthropological to geological artefacts. The […]
He wasn’t an anarchist. He didn’t manage to blow up parliament. He wasn’t even the mastermind behind the Gunpowder plot. Why then do we remember Guy Fawkes in the way we do? Why has his very image become synonymous with resistance to authority and promotion of anarchy? Guido Fawkes was born Guy Fawkes on the […]
It’s always intriguing when one learns something new about one’s own country; especially when that new insight is given by one of the best historians of the generation. That’s exactly what we received when our newly-appointed Professor of Public History Michael Wood swapped the television set for the lecture theatre in the first of a […]
During the Second World War, Adolf Hitler and Nazi leaders began to systematically remove historical pieces of art from occupied areas. The orders were to transfer the most precious pieces of European art to the Führermuseum, an unrealized museum in the Austrian city of Linz. Yet the war was beginning to strain the resources of […]
If you are thinking about applying for an MA in History now is the time to start putting those thoughts into action. On top of final year madness it can seem a bit impossible, but if you approach MA application with a certain mind set you should be ok. The most important thing is to […]
Brentford, a working-class suburb of West London, is best known in the 21st century for its aspirational football team and the world famous garage DJs of Kurrupt FM. But, in November 1642 it was the site of a small but significant battle in the First English Civil War. Located at the convergence of the River […]
On the 3rd of June 1968, Valerie Solanas entered the Decker Building in New York City and fired a single bullet through the body of the famed artist, Andy Warhol. When questioned by journalists as to why she committed such an act, her response was ‘Read my manifesto and it will tell you what I […]
University Events: • Wednesday 2nd December: Find Out About Internships: Roscoe 2.3 • Wednesday 16th December: History Staff/Student Christmas Party: Sam Alex North Foyer: 5-7pm • Rotating Wednesdays and Saturdays: University Heritage Campus Tours Getting into the Festive Spirit: Get into the Christmas spirit this year at Manchester Christmas Markets! Spread around the city centre, […]
In celebrating the history of the diverse, dynamic city of Manchester, it is impossible to ignore the impact of Manchester’s Jewish community in shaping the city that exists today. The history of the Jewish community in Manchester can be traced back to the 1780s, when a man named Jacob Nathan became the first known Jewish […]