Let's Talk History - History Talks at the Archives

Welcome to 'Let's Talk History' our series of talks on history on all different sorts of topics; from local legends to national scandals. Below you will find the details of our upcoming talks which will be held at Leigh Town Hall. Each event starts at 7:00pm.

Tuesday 21st April - 'Textiles & treason: Lieven Bauwens and his English Workers' by Terry Dean
In the closing years of the 18th century, the success of the English development of cotton textiles had become an obsession for the Belgian industrialist Lieven Bauwens. He was determined to bring that same success to his hometown of Ghent and beyond, but he realised this would be no easy task as his homeland, part of Napoleon Bonaparte's France, was at war with England.

The only way was to smuggle cotton machinery and the men skilled in operating it across the water, and he did so, aided by Englishmen willing to leave their country in exchange for financial gain, with plenty of espionage, mutiny, betrayal, a ‘hanging’, imprisonment, danger, and financial risk…and, of course, love & marriage

Tuesday 19th May - 'Vera Wentworth: Suffragette' by Bernard Glossop
Join Bernard as he tells us the story of his great aunt, Vera Wentworth, who was born into a comfortable middle-class family in London in 1890. She entered the workplace on leaving school and soon became aware of the injustices and plight of labouring women in Edwardian England. Vera immersed herself in women's suffrage and would become deeply involved with, and become a paid organiser for, the Women's Social and Political Union, 'the suffragettes'.

Note: Ticket price includes refreshment of tea/coffee and biscuits.
Note: If tickets are sold out online, you can pay cash on the door on the day of the event.
Note: Further talks will be released later in the year. There are no talks planned for July, August or December 2026.

Additional Information:

• Wheelchair accessible
• Accessible toilet facilities
• Hearing Loop available
• Free parking on Bengal Street Car Park (adjacent to Leigh Town Hall) after 6pm

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Host or Publisher Archives: Wigan & Leigh