FORTHCOMING EVENTS

After our successful visit to Hoghton Tower, Steve Spencer will be heading our Zoom talk this month.  Steve will recap on the visit and answer any questions.  He will also chat about the planned full day visit next spring when as members we will be able to spend more time at the Tower and gardens.

Steve will then follow on with a general introduction and update on current research at Hoghton Tower. Steve will describe some of the Historic Graffiti and discoveries made at Hoghton Tower from a chance find in 2018 right up to the present day.  The marks include dated initials, as well as those left by craftsmen and some intriguing burn marks and symbols which might be interpreted as having protective properties.

For anyone who missed Steve's previous talk or didn't come along last month a recording of the Zoom from August is still available.  Email landcasociety@gmail.com to request a copy.

For the remainder of 2025 all Zoom talks are free of charge to members and none members so please join in on the 15th at 3pm.

The Tyldesleys - Rebels With A Cause

Anne is a member of our society and has a published book Thomas Tyldesley and the Lancashire Plot.

Her talk in November traces the trials and tribulations of five generations of the Myerscough branch of the Tyldesley family. From the civil wars through to the last Jacobite rebellion, this Catholic family were unwavering in their support of the Stuart dynasty and risked everything for the cause.

Elizabeth and Ruth

Livi Michael is an award-winning writer of books for adults, young adults and children. Her short stories have been widely published in various places including Granta, The Lonely Crowd and the Manchester Review. Her play, Singers Not Sinners was performed in Oldham in 2022. She has taught creative writing in various universities and was Programme Leader of the MA in Publishing at Manchester Mertropolitan University.

The talk in December is about her latest book entitled Elizabeth and Ruth, to be released on the 9th February 2026 by Salt Publishing.

"Manchester 1849. Elizabeth Gaskell, newly famous author of Mary Barton, visits a young Irish prostitute in Manchester's New Bailey prison. The girl is about to be discharged onto the Manchester streets, where her old life of poverty and violence await her. Elizabeth is determined to help her, but few people will employ an ex-prostitute from prison. In desperation, Elizabeth writes to Charles Dickens for advice."

Based on real correspondence between Elizabeth Gaskell and Charles Dickens, Elizabeth and Ruth tells a story of hypocrisy and suppression, and how Elizabeth navigates the censorship and prejudice of the day to help the young girl and to write the novel about her that will ultimately be banned and burned after publication.

Michael will give a talk on the subject of James Lomax Simpson

The subject of the talk will be Dickens in the North.

Simon is the folklore writer and boggard expert.

Details to follow

Details to follow

Archivist Together Trust

Details to follow

Talk about the Touchstones Gallery in Rochdale about their history and museum

Details to follow