Cottonopolis: third age research and active learning
Manchester grew suddenly and explosively in the early 19th century, led by the production of cotton cloth. Cottonopolis, as it became known, has been a continuing human experiment ever since, drawing in people from all walks of life and corners of the globe.
Greater Manchester Network of U3As has used Cottonopolis as a theme to foster a series of shared learning activities and research projects, led by or members and by universities.
This is the first time GMU3A has tried a cross-network, open topic learning theme. The response from our members has been rich and rewarding. Take a look at the 'projects' pages to get an idea of what's taken place, and what you can join in with.
Greater Manchester Network of U3As has used Cottonopolis as a theme to foster a series of shared learning activities and research projects, led by or members and by universities.
This is the first time GMU3A has tried a cross-network, open topic learning theme. The response from our members has been rich and rewarding. Take a look at the 'projects' pages to get an idea of what's taken place, and what you can join in with.
Salford Textile Mills Survey, by Salford U3A Local History Group
Local History Group Leader Mark Child is proud to announce the final completion in printable form of their survey work, which has taken more than a year to complete.
The research for this report was carried out by Barbara Briggs, Mark Child, Pat Edge, Anne McGarry, Rick McGarry, Margaret Roberts, Andrew Scutt, Sheila Thomas, Hazel Walker and Marlene Walker.
It was a chance not just to amass a record of what and where, but to show some surprising local connections. Friedrich Engels worked in the family business in Salford, and a mill sketch produced as a commission by artist LS Lowry is included.
This research will be presented to Salford University's Centre for Applied Archaeology, whose leader Dr Mike Nevell was the first to propose this line of enquiry.
The full document can be viewed from this link
The research for this report was carried out by Barbara Briggs, Mark Child, Pat Edge, Anne McGarry, Rick McGarry, Margaret Roberts, Andrew Scutt, Sheila Thomas, Hazel Walker and Marlene Walker.
It was a chance not just to amass a record of what and where, but to show some surprising local connections. Friedrich Engels worked in the family business in Salford, and a mill sketch produced as a commission by artist LS Lowry is included.
This research will be presented to Salford University's Centre for Applied Archaeology, whose leader Dr Mike Nevell was the first to propose this line of enquiry.
The full document can be viewed from this link
Tithes Transcription Project
The Tithe Team first met in November 2019, when some 33 members from across Lancashire and Greater Manchester packed into the meeting room at Lancashire Archives.
This introductory meeting described the methods of the project, and its greater purpose, namely to populate a regional archival resources website that is the subject of a National Lottery heritage Fund bid. By Christmas 2019, six schedules - very nearly seven - have been completed, which is excellent progress. The things we have discovered! Some fascinating local place names, such as ‘Castle o’Trim’, which is still there today and is not a castle (thanks go to Mike Pugh, Lancaster & Morecambe U3A). And then there is ‘copy', meaning managed woodland, not an instruction to the transcriber….. Trustees, devisees, assignees and appointees.....we are rapidly becoming somewhat expert in arcane legal terms. We will ace those pub quizzes. |