Annual Luddite Memorial Lecture
Tue, 10 Mar 2015 05:30:00 GMT
The Annual Luddite Memorial Lecture is run jointly by the University of Huddersfield and the Huddersfield Local History Society and this year will be delivered by Professor Malcolm Chase, Professor of Social History at the University of Leeds.
The event is free and will take place on Thursday 16 April at 7.30pm, with light refreshments from 7.00pm, in the Diamond Jubilee Lecture Theatre in the Business School.
Professor Chase has published widely on the history of radicalism, reform and the labour movement. His most recent book ‘1820: Disorder and Stability in the United Kingdom’ was published in 2013, as was a French translation of his widely acclaimed ‘Chartism: A New History.’ Professor Chase, who has been looking at the part played by York Castle in Huddersfield’s history, commented: “York Castle was the gaol for all three Ridings. As Yorkshire's textile industry grew so too did the number of protesters from the Huddersfield area sent there. 62 luddites were imprisoned at York in 1812, 14 of them executed outside the Castle walls on one day in January 1813”.
As Cyril Pearce, Chair of Huddersfield Local History Society, explains: "The Luddite phenomenon is an inescapable part of Huddersfield’s past. Its bi-centenary in 2012/13 was the ideal opportunity to mark, with an annual series of Luddite Memorial Lectures, not just the Luddite contribution to our history but that of the other 19th and 20th century radicals who came after them".
His view is shared by Professor Tim Thornton, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning): "I’m delighted that the University has been able to work together with the Local History Society to inaugurate the annual Luddite Memorial Lectures, after the outstandingly successful bicentenary commemorations in 2012, and very much looking forward to hearing Malcolm Chase’s lecture on political prisoners in York".
The lecture series owes much to the growing partnership between the Huddersfield Local History Society and the University of Huddersfield through the development of the Heritage Quay initiative.
This series of annual lectures was inaugurated last year.
To book please visit eventbrite or call 01484 471873.
