Somerset Coalfield Life at Radstock Museum’s Bygone Days Living History Talks are returning after two years! The Bygone Days Team very much hope you will be able to support the new season of talks, and are looking forward to welcoming you all back.

‘The Peterloo Massacre’, an illustrated talk by Derrick Hunt on Tuesday, 1st March at 7.30 pm will take place in the Somer

Fifteen people lost their lives at The Peterloo Massacre which took place on Monday, 16th August 1819. The cavalry charged into the crowd of 60,000 at St Peter’s Field in Manchester where a political rally was taking place.

Henry Hunt, a radical speaker, and agitator advocated parliamentary reform and the abolishment of the Corn Laws and was one of the speakers at this rally.

Come and find out about Henry’s pioneering campaigning for representation in parliament for the working classes. He promised to, “help the poor, the honest and the industrious who live by the sweat of their brow.” Later, as an elected MP for Preston, he presented petition after petition on behalf of impoverished workers and introduced a parliamentary bill supporting women’s suffrage.

Derrick Hunt will be holding the talk: “My talk will start with my interest in democracy and good Government. I will talk about the lack of representation in parliament in the early 1800s and how the Peterloo Massacre happened, including the aftermath.

“My unique approach is via my own family history and the shocking revelations of fifteen years ago. Am I really connected with Henry Hunt? Come to the talk to find out!”

Date for your day: ‘Not all Beer and Skittles’, an illustrated talk by Martin Horler on Tuesday, 5th April. For details of up and coming history talks go to: www.radstockmuseum.co.uk Lucy Tudor