During the height of the suffragette movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, poetry played a vital—though often underappreciated—role in both articulating protest and nurturing solidarity. While much attention is given to marches, arrests, and political speeches, the era was also rich with verse: lyrical, angry, hopeful, and deeply personal. Poetry was not… Read More voices of defiance: poetry in the suffragette movement
Chapbooks, are small in size but rich in history, they are humble booklets that have played a surprisingly significant role in the spread of literature, folklore, and political ideas for centuries. Originally inexpensive pamphlets were sold by travelling peddlers or “chapmen” from the 16th to the 19th centuries, chapbooks brought stories, songs, poems, and popular… Read More chapbooks: a pocket-sized legacy of literature & culture
Hyde, once a bustling mill town nestled in the Tameside borough of Greater Manchester, played a significant role in Britain’s Industrial Revolution. Its red-brick chimneys and clattering looms were not only the soundtrack of progress but also the backdrop for stories of hardship, endurance, and resilience. Amidst this clamour, voices rose, quietly at first, then… Read More voices from the mills: the poets of hyde’s cotton industry
In an age marked by rapid technological change, global unrest, and a persistent ache for meaning, the voice of the poet feels more urgent than ever. We live in a time where artificial intelligence writes headlines, climate disasters displace millions, and war is no longer history; it is livestreamed. Amongst all of this, the poet… Read More the modern-day poet: speaking light into a darkened world
Rachel Bakewell 