School to Host Historical Association (Bolton Branch) Lecture Programme Again

For the 2025-26 academic year, Bolton School is once again pleased to be hosting the Historical Association (Bolton Branch) Lecture Programme.

The Historical Association (HA) Lectures have been based in the Girls’ Division for over a decade and offer monthly historical enrichment to a wide variety of people in the local community, including keen Historians from the School.

These events are held in the Girls' Division (the Sutcliffe Studio, A33) at 6.30pm on each of the dates listed in the programme. There is accessible parking in the main Girls’ Division quad, and refreshments are always available.

Should you require further information, please don’t hesitate to contact Branch Secretary Melissa Wright ([email protected]) or Girls' Division Head of History Craig Owen ([email protected]).

Talks are £20 per year or £5 for an individual evening. They are free to national HA members and students.

Lecture Programme 2025-26:

Monday 8 September 2025
The history of the Barlow family, Bolton
Ian Andrew Oswald Trumble – PhD at The University of York

Monday 6 October 2025
The Pit Brow Women of the Lancashire Coalfield
Alan Davies, Archivist & Local Historian to Wigan

Monday 3 November 2025
‘Sovereignty’ and Accountability in the Athenian Democracy: Who Controls Whom?
Dr Alberto Esu, University of Manchester, Classics and Ancient History

Monday 1 December 2025
Historical Association Great Debate Heat: How important are personal and public records as evidence for explaining the story, or stories, of your local area?

Monday 12 January 2026
Parallel Histories: Teaching Conflict in an Age of Division. Reimagining history education through dual narratives, critical thinking, and civic dialogue
Hugh Castle – Parallel Histories

Monday 2 February 2026
Brittany and Britain, 450-1200: Contact, Myth and History
Prof Fiona Edmunds, University of Lancaster

Monday 2 March 2026
The Story of Operation Freshman and the role of Flight Lieutenant Donald Higson, Bolton School’s own Hero of Telemark
Dr Bruce Tocher