24 April 2026 – Visit to the John Rylands Library and the People’s History Museum

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Luckily the volunteers weren’t on strike!

The group had a grand day out in Manchester – visiting both John Rylands and the People’s History Museum.

John Rylands is a beautiful neo-gothic building which houses rare books, manuscripts and archives. The group marvelled at the stunning building and visited the Cottonopolis exhibition about Manchester’s cotton industry and it’s global connections.

Cottonopolis and Strike exhibitions, and what they should look for and the significance of the exhibitions to the Manchester and Rochdale area, their work and possibly their own experiences.

Everyone had lunch outside in Spinningfields as it wasn’t raining for a change!

The volunteers then went to the People’s History Museum to see the exhibition ‘On the Line: 100 years of strikes and solidarity’ detailing how industrial action shaped the history and future of the British democracy.

Commemorating the anniversary of the 1926 General Strike and also had exhibits on many other strikes up to the present day. Fair working conditions, equal rights and the right to protest crosses over to all the work that the volunteers are doing and was really useful in underpinning the volunteers research and the importance of making this material accessible.

To celebrate the sunshine ice-cream was eaten on the walk back!