"For the forseeable future, all Anglo Scots branch meetings will be held online via Zoom. If national restrictions are eased, please check on this page for more information"
OUR PLANNED MEETINGS FOR 2021
The Scots Elite in Liverpool 1780-1850, by Dr Alan Crosby
Alan Crosby recently talked to us about 'Crossing the Solway' and this talk continues the story. The story takes us to Liverpool which, like Manchester, was a popular destination for Scots and especially the younger educated sons who were financed or encouraged by their fathers to make their own way in the world. These were people who changed Liverpool for the better, and the changes they made improved lives all over the country and beyond.
- Date: 20th March 2021
- Saturday, 2.00pm
- Venue: online via Zoom
- Speaker: Dr Alan Crosby
- Booking: Eventbrite
- Free to members
- £3 to non-members
Ancestral Brickwalls
Traditionally, our May meeting has been a very local affair, where members can bring details of their ancestral brickwalls and share them, in the hope of finding a breakthrough. Whilst all meetings are online for the foreseeable future, our arrangements will be slightly different this year. Members will be invited to describe their brickwalls in advance so that we can arrange to share documents online via Zoom, if necessary, and generally manage the meeting a little differently. More details nearer the time.
- Date: 15th April 2021
- Thursday, 2.00pm
- Venue: online via Zoom
- Speaker: branch discussion
- Booking: Eventbrite
- Free to members
- £3 to non-members
The Great Tapestry of Scotland, by Sue Whitaker
There has been a recent ‘tradition’ of making large tapestries to depict Scottish life, beginning with Helen Crummy who designed the Battle of Prestonpans Tapestry and the Scottish Diaspora Tapestry. More recently author Alexander McCall Smith initiated the idea of creating a tapestry that would cover 12,000 years of Scottish history. Creation of this tapestry – twice as long as the Bayeux Tapestry – involved numerous embroidery groups across the length and breadth of Scotland and over a thousand volunteers of all ages, the panels taking on average 500 hours of work each to complete. Sue Whitaker worked on Panel 116 and will talk about the creation and stitching of the tapestry, supported with photographs, and also the complexity of managing and volunteering in such a large project, something which, we suspect, might not always have been plain sailing! This promises to be a talk that will appeal to many of us, from historians and project managers to artists and embroiderers. Booking will be essential so please check the Eventbrite link on our Home Page to see when booking opens.
- Date: 15th May 2021
- Saturday, 2.00pm
- Venue: online via Zoom
- Speaker: Sue Whitaker
- Booking: Eventbrite
- Free to members
- £3 to non-members
The Mitchell Library and its Holdings, by Dr Irene O'Brien
Irene O’Brien will bring to life for us the extensive holdings of the library and how they can help us with our family and regional research. The library building also has an interesting history, being named Stephen Mitchell, a wealthy tobacco producer. The library's earliest collection was originally gifted to the University of Glasgow in 1874 by the Glasgow philanthropist William Euing; the foundation stone of the new buildings was laid by Andrew Carnegie in 1907 and the building was opened by Lord Rosebery in 1911. The statue “Literature” on the dome was the work of Thomas Clapperton and the architectural competition for the build was won by William B Whitie. Now we look forward to hearing from Irene O’Brien about the library’s holdings of over one million volumes!
- Date: 19th June 2021
- Saturday, 2.00pm
- Venue: Online via Zoom
- Speaker: Dr Irene O’Brien
- Booking: Eventbrite
- Free to members
- £3 to non-members
Gems of Manchester Walking Tour, by Jonathan Schofield
This year we trust, not only that July will bring us the ideal weather for a stroll around Manchester, but that restrictions have eased! This year we will join Jonathan Schofield for a walking tour that takes in the Free Trade Hall, the Midland Hotel and the Refuge Building. These are three iconic buildings, full of architectural and social history interest, and a walk that should suit everyone. We shall meet in St Peter's Square, in front of the library.
- Date: 17th July 2021
- Saturday, 2.00pm
- Venue: Manchester Central Library
- Speaker: Jonathan Schofield
- Booking: Eventbrite – members only
- Cost: to be confirmed
Where we meet
Our Meeting Rooms
Light and airy, purpose built for meetings and events, and ample room to spread out the seating to comply with any restrictions that might be in place when meetings resume. All meeting rooms at Manchester Central Library are easily accessible.
Our Venue
The recently refurbished Manchester Central Library is our usual venue for our monthly meetings. Situated in the cultural heart of Manchester, the Metrolink station is at the front of the building and is the central part of a public transport system supporting the city and its outlying districts.
Important things to know
Meetings
In normal times the Anglo Scots hold meetings every month except August and December, usually on the 3rd Saturday of the month. Other local events and the availability of speakers may cause a change of date.
Covid-19
Meetings will be at Manchester Central Library and will, of course, be in line with any government guidelines that might be in force at the time. It remains possible that our calendar of events might be rescheduled.
Booking
Booking on Eventbrite is essential for meetings with invited speakers. Please follow us here, on Eventbrite and on social media to confirm dates and, for most meetings, check when booking opens on Eventbrite.
Annual Meeting and Tracing the Irish in Scotland - Chris Paton
Our branch Annual Meeting will be held first, after which the chairman will introduce Chris Paton.
This talk is sure to be popular because of the frequency of movement of people between Ireland and Scotland over the centuries, and we are certain to get some ideas about tracing any missing ancestors in our trees. Whether we look at our trees from a Scottish or an Irish 'starting point', there will be much to interest us as Chris Paton is able to draw on his considerable experience of tracing his own family, which will add detail and interest to his talk.
- Date: 20 February 2021
- Saturday, 2.00pm
- Venue: online via Zoom
- Speaker: Chris Paton
- Booking: Eventbrite
- Free to members
- £3 to non-members
MANCHESTER & LANCASHIRE FHS was formed in 1964 and is now one of the largest family history societies in the world. Although the Society is united by a common interest in Genealogy and Family History, members also pursue interests in closely related fields.
