People’s History Museum re-opens

Article published: Tuesday, February 23rd 2010

The People’s History Museum reopened on 13 February. The re-developed riverside gallery returns offering the public a chance to “explore world changing events led by the working people of Britain”.

The former gallery, housed in the grade two listed ‘Pump House’, has been shut for renewal since 2007. With help from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Manchester City Council, millions of pounds have been ploughed back into the site with exciting results. The historical Edwardian hydraulic pump station has been preserved and saddled with a sleek modern extension, while the complex will host new galleries, the Textile Conservation Studio, the Labour History Archive and a study centre.

The four-storey extension will allow 15,000 objects to be displayed at one time. With an emphasis on labour history and protest movements, exhibits will include the largest collection of trade union banners in the world, along with newly displayed and unique material on fascism, and a selection of posters, including many from the Second World War.

The dedicated Community Gallery space will also allow individuals and groups to propose and mount their own exhibitions. Free admission, a new Museum Café with a riverside terrace, a free education service and the promise of ‘living history’ events suggest that the museum is aiming to attract abroad audience.

Visit the website here

Rachel Jackson

More: Manchester, News

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