Thomas Harrison, Architect

Chester Castle and Shire Hall complex, 1820s. 

Please saunter over to All Things Georgian, the wonderful blog belonging to my fellow Pen & Sword authors Sarah Murden and Joanne Major. Today they've kindly hosted my guest post on Thomas Harrison, a stunning architect who gave Chester's buildings an air of classical elegance during Regency times

Manchester Histories Festival

I've just heard news of an exciting one-day event to celebrate Manchester's amazing industrial past. The Manchester Histories Festival will explore many different facets of the city's story, from the cotton industry to politics. There's going to be an exhibition in the Town Hall, including a display on Manchester workers, its scientific community, and its buildings. And of course, you can find out more about the story of Lancashire's industrial past and in particular, workers in towns like Manchester and Liverpool, in my book Narrow Windows, Narrow Lives.

Image: The Portico Library, Manchester. © Sue Wilkes. The library first opened in 1806; it was designed by Thomas Harrison. It was a subscription library - beyond the budget of many ordinary workers.