About this Event
The PHD Series at Gorton Hub
Gorton has a remarkable history – one that has been intertwined with Chetham’s Library for centuries. Founded by Humphrey Chetham to give working‑class boys access to education, the library still honours that mission today. What many people don’t know is that Humphrey had deep roots in Gorton and St James’ Church, a connection that continued when St James generously donated their library to support the students of Chetham’s School.
Fast‑forward 500 years and Chetham’s Library now holds an extraordinary archive of documents, artefacts and treasures. Among them is a dedicated Gorton chest filled with unique pieces of local history that help tell the story of the area and its people.
Now, Gorton Hub is proudly partnering with Chetham’s to bring this history home through a brand‑new series of six PHD talks hosted right here at the Hub.
🎡 Our second talk: Finding Hidden Voices, Old Books, and the Digital Age
Early printed books carry far more than the texts set down by their authors and printers. Between the pages, on the margins, and sometimes hidden in the binding, traces of everyday people from the early modern period (1500–1700) still survive—readers, owners, scribblers, annotators, and countless others whose lives rarely made it into the historical record.
Today, new digital tools and technologies are allowing historians to uncover these overlooked stories with greater clarity than ever before. From revealing marginal notes to identifying fragments of earlier manuscripts reused in bindings, the digital age is opening doors to voices long forgotten.
Join Finch Collins for an illuminating exploration of what Chetham’s Library is discovering in its remarkable collection of early books. This talk will delve into how modern methods are helping researchers rediscover the human presence within historical texts—and what these findings reveal about the lives of ordinary people hundreds of years ago.
And this is just the beginning…
More talks covering a wide range of Manchester stories will follow — stay tuned for announcements after this session!
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Gorton Hub, 27 Garratt Way, Manchester, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00
