Colonialists beware! Imperialists beware! Slave traders beware! We’re coming for you.
Now is the time to reform the visible history of Manchester by attacking the icons of the guilty men (and women). All around a city created by slave traders, colonialists, imperialists, warmongers, murderers, racists, plunderers.
Yes, even this city’s history was shaped by those on the wrong side of right – and they’re still being honoured, with too many statues, paintings and streets named after the bad guys. we might not be able to remove them overnight but we can raise awareness with tis unique and original tour on which Ed Glinert names the guilty men (and women):
• The Duke of Wellington, reactionary bigot who opposed the people having the vote. So he beat off Napoleon? Vive la revolution!
• Queen Victoria – vehemently against women having the vote. Wouldn’t elevate a “Jew” to the House of Lords.
• The Mosleys: they owned Manchester for 250 years and gave us Mosley Street but also Oswald Mosley, the 1930s fascist leader and his lovely son, Max Mosley, who was so welcoming to “coloured immigrants”.
• Charles, 9th Lord Cathcart, ADC to “Butcher” Cumberland at the Battle of Culloden.
• Queen Elizabeth (Tudor): murderer, slayer of Mary, Queen of Scots.
• The Gregs established Quarry Bank Mill – on the backs of the slaves in their sugar plantations on Dominica.
• William Gladstone enjoyed a lavish lifestyle on the back of slavery. Backed the wrong side in the American Civil War.
More Manchester Listings MORE
Making THE HERDS: Puppet Building Workshops
Join a series of workshops creating life-sized puppet animals for THE HERDS as part of MIF25 Curious…
Reimagine Local Government 2025
Change has become the new normal in local government, with councils across the country navigating a perfect storm…
Liberation
How does a revolution begin and who are the people that keep it going? Inspired by true…
THE HERDS
A monumental puppet migration through Manchester and beyond – where public art meets planetary emergency What happens when…
FALE SĀ / SACRED HOUSE
Critically acclaimed queer Indigenous collective FAFSWAG take over HOME during MIF25 with a bold, immersive programme of digital…
FALE SĀ / SACRED HOUSE – TALANOA (CONVERSATION)
Expanding the world of cultural storytelling explored in FALE SĀ / SACRED HOUSE, Talanoa presents a thoughtful programme…
THE HERDS: Heywood
Public art meets climate action in THE HERDS – a breathtaking migration of 70 life-sized puppet animals travelling…
THE HERDS: Pennington Flash
Public art meets climate action in THE HERDS—a monumental, continent-spanning migration of puppet animals making their way from…