Dean Kirby PhD
@manchesterhistory.uk
Storyteller keeping alive people’s history. Author, family historian, tour guide, Orwell Prize nominee, PhD. Rep: @litagencygmc.bsky.social.
Newsletter: www.manchesterhistory.uk
Newsletter: www.manchesterhistory.uk
Pinned
Dean Kirby PhD
@manchesterhistory.uk
· May 29
Had the greatest night doing a talk on Friedrich Engels, Manchester and my family history for just under 300 people who came to see me for @manlitphil.bsky.social, pictured here as people were still arriving.
📸Thanks for the photos Gurbir Singh.
#Manchester #history #FriedrichEngels #AngelMeadow
📸Thanks for the photos Gurbir Singh.
#Manchester #history #FriedrichEngels #AngelMeadow
If you were one of the 260+ brilliant people who supported me by coming on my Angel Meadow history walking tour this year, thank you. I have some big plans for next year. #Manchester #history #genealogy #genhour #walkingtours
Manchester history tour plans for next year
If you came on my Angel Meadow tour this year, thank you. I have some big plans for next year.
open.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:37 PM
If you were one of the 260+ brilliant people who supported me by coming on my Angel Meadow history walking tour this year, thank you. I have some big plans for next year. #Manchester #history #genealogy #genhour #walkingtours
Reposted by Dean Kirby PhD
Delighted to share this new blog on teaching People’s Health Industrial using the fabulous work of @manchesterhistory.uk and the story of Angel Meadow. I’ve loved working on this. Thanks Dean for your incredible book.
#historyteacher
open.substack.com/pub/petejack...
#historyteacher
open.substack.com/pub/petejack...
World building with Angel Meadow
Teaching Industrial People's Health through the story of Victorian Britain's most savage slum
open.substack.com
October 19, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Delighted to share this new blog on teaching People’s Health Industrial using the fabulous work of @manchesterhistory.uk and the story of Angel Meadow. I’ve loved working on this. Thanks Dean for your incredible book.
#historyteacher
open.substack.com/pub/petejack...
#historyteacher
open.substack.com/pub/petejack...
Reposted by Dean Kirby PhD
Exciting news! Our new website is now live!
fshousehistory.com
fshousehistory.com
October 8, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Exciting news! Our new website is now live!
fshousehistory.com
fshousehistory.com
I've taken a little risk of putting myself out there to make a short film about cooking one of the dinner's my Nan used to make for me. She died in 1998. If you like #food #nostalgia and #familyhistory, or just want to watch someone chopping carrots, the full film is on the link in the comments.
September 19, 2025 at 11:00 AM
I've taken a little risk of putting myself out there to make a short film about cooking one of the dinner's my Nan used to make for me. She died in 1998. If you like #food #nostalgia and #familyhistory, or just want to watch someone chopping carrots, the full film is on the link in the comments.
My story today - The killer of little mule spinners - is the story of how the work of young cotton mill hands called piercers was giving them a rare form of cancer.
#Genealogy #familyhistory #ancestry #genhour #history #lancashire
#Genealogy #familyhistory #ancestry #genhour #history #lancashire
The killer of little mule spinners
Reaching over the machines to repair broken threads of cotton, the mule spinners of Manchester and Lancashire were falling victim to a silent killer
www.manchesterhistory.uk
August 29, 2025 at 7:42 AM
My story today - The killer of little mule spinners - is the story of how the work of young cotton mill hands called piercers was giving them a rare form of cancer.
#Genealogy #familyhistory #ancestry #genhour #history #lancashire
#Genealogy #familyhistory #ancestry #genhour #history #lancashire
I've given my professional genealogy site a new look to better reflect my work in the mill towns of Greater Manchester and Lancashire:
cottontownsancestry.com
Do drop me a line using the site links if you need a researcher.
#genhour #genealogy #familyhistory #ancestry #manchester #lancashire
cottontownsancestry.com
Do drop me a line using the site links if you need a researcher.
#genhour #genealogy #familyhistory #ancestry #manchester #lancashire
August 28, 2025 at 12:32 PM
I've given my professional genealogy site a new look to better reflect my work in the mill towns of Greater Manchester and Lancashire:
cottontownsancestry.com
Do drop me a line using the site links if you need a researcher.
#genhour #genealogy #familyhistory #ancestry #manchester #lancashire
cottontownsancestry.com
Do drop me a line using the site links if you need a researcher.
#genhour #genealogy #familyhistory #ancestry #manchester #lancashire
In 1900, doctors were confused about why hundreds of people were taking ill in Manchester, UK. They only later discovered there was arsenic in the city’s beer supply. Most of the victims were women, who were only able to afford the cheapest, tainted beer. This is their story.
The Manchester beer poisoning scandal
Hundreds of people became sick and dozens died before deadly arsenic was found in the city's beer supply
www.manchesterhistory.uk
August 3, 2025 at 2:36 PM
In 1900, doctors were confused about why hundreds of people were taking ill in Manchester, UK. They only later discovered there was arsenic in the city’s beer supply. Most of the victims were women, who were only able to afford the cheapest, tainted beer. This is their story.
Roman road discovered in Manchester - one of the most significant archaeological discovers in the city for two decades #history #archaeology #romanbritain #Manchester www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Roman road discovered in Manchester city centre
Archaeologists say the dig uncovered one of the best Roman finds in the city in more than 20 years.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 15, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Roman road discovered in Manchester - one of the most significant archaeological discovers in the city for two decades #history #archaeology #romanbritain #Manchester www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Manchester Italian Association’s Madonna del Rosario procession has been taking place each summer since 1890. Here’s the Madonna on her way back to Little Italy in Ancoats this afternoon. #MadonnadelRosario #Ancoats #LittleItaly #Manchester #Italy
July 6, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Manchester Italian Association’s Madonna del Rosario procession has been taking place each summer since 1890. Here’s the Madonna on her way back to Little Italy in Ancoats this afternoon. #MadonnadelRosario #Ancoats #LittleItaly #Manchester #Italy
Are the bones of Thomas Paine, the father of the American Revolution, in your attic? For 200 years, claims have swirled that Paine's bones were buried in Manchester after being stolen from New York. Discover the theories, clues and intrigues...
#july4th #4thofjuly #usa #independenceday #fouthofjuly
#july4th #4thofjuly #usa #independenceday #fouthofjuly
Are the bones of Thomas Paine in your attic?
Rumours have swirled for 200 years that the father of the American Revolution's remains could be somewhere in Manchester
www.manchesterhistory.uk
July 4, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Are the bones of Thomas Paine, the father of the American Revolution, in your attic? For 200 years, claims have swirled that Paine's bones were buried in Manchester after being stolen from New York. Discover the theories, clues and intrigues...
#july4th #4thofjuly #usa #independenceday #fouthofjuly
#july4th #4thofjuly #usa #independenceday #fouthofjuly
Friedrich Engels described Victorian Manchester as ‘Hell upon Earth’. Here’s why I think it’s time to reframe that period of the city’s history by focusing on the people who lived it.
#Manchester #FriedrichEngels #history #genealogy #familyhistory
#Manchester #FriedrichEngels #history #genealogy #familyhistory
Finding Mr Engels: Part 4
The final part of my series on Friedrich Engels in Manchester and how I think we should really tell the city's story
www.manchesterhistory.uk
June 28, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Friedrich Engels described Victorian Manchester as ‘Hell upon Earth’. Here’s why I think it’s time to reframe that period of the city’s history by focusing on the people who lived it.
#Manchester #FriedrichEngels #history #genealogy #familyhistory
#Manchester #FriedrichEngels #history #genealogy #familyhistory
Thanks @gurbirsingh.bsky.socials It was nice to meet up again and I enjoyed chatting all things Engels and Manchester
Thanks for your time yesterday @manchesterhistory.uk Recording available here astrotalkuk.org/manchestersc....
June 26, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Thanks @gurbirsingh.bsky.socials It was nice to meet up again and I enjoyed chatting all things Engels and Manchester
Reposted by Dean Kirby PhD
Thanks for your time yesterday @manchesterhistory.uk Recording available here astrotalkuk.org/manchestersc....
June 25, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Thanks for your time yesterday @manchesterhistory.uk Recording available here astrotalkuk.org/manchestersc....
Reposted by Dean Kirby PhD
Today on Manchester Science, the story of a young German writer with radical ideas - Friedrich Engels and his 1845 book, The Condition of the Working Class, with urban historian, journalist, and author Dr Dean Kerby. Live at 13:00 allfm.org
All FM
allfm.org
June 24, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Today on Manchester Science, the story of a young German writer with radical ideas - Friedrich Engels and his 1845 book, The Condition of the Working Class, with urban historian, journalist, and author Dr Dean Kerby. Live at 13:00 allfm.org
Looking forward to talking all things Friedrich Engels and Manchester with @gurbirsingh on AllFM this afternoon. Do tune in.
Today on Manchester Science, the story of a young German writer with radical ideas - Friedrich Engels and his 1845 book, The Condition of the Working Class, with urban historian, journalist, and author Dr Dean Kerby. Live at 13:00 allfm.org
All FM
allfm.org
June 24, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Looking forward to talking all things Friedrich Engels and Manchester with @gurbirsingh on AllFM this afternoon. Do tune in.
It’s 1844 and a well-dressed man is walking through the streets of Manchester.
His ears are tuned in to the music of the world’s first industrial city:
The flying shuttles thumping across the cotton looms like a heartbeat.
The click-clack of the clogs on the cobbles.
(Read more)
His ears are tuned in to the music of the world’s first industrial city:
The flying shuttles thumping across the cotton looms like a heartbeat.
The click-clack of the clogs on the cobbles.
(Read more)
Finding Mr Engels: Part 3
It's 1844 and a well-dressed man is walking through the streets of the world's first industrial city. The cotton looms are thumping like a heartbeat.
www.manchesterhistory.uk
June 23, 2025 at 2:14 PM
It’s 1844 and a well-dressed man is walking through the streets of Manchester.
His ears are tuned in to the music of the world’s first industrial city:
The flying shuttles thumping across the cotton looms like a heartbeat.
The click-clack of the clogs on the cobbles.
(Read more)
His ears are tuned in to the music of the world’s first industrial city:
The flying shuttles thumping across the cotton looms like a heartbeat.
The click-clack of the clogs on the cobbles.
(Read more)
Here's the third part of my series on my search for Friedrich Engels in Manchester. It's 1844 and a well-dressed man is walking through the streets of the world's first industrial city. The cotton looms are thumping like a heartbeat.
#Manchester #history #FriedrichEngels
#Manchester #history #FriedrichEngels
Finding Mr Engels: Part 3
It's 1844 and a well-dressed man is walking through the streets of the world's first industrial city. The cotton looms are thumping like a heartbeat.
www.manchesterhistory.uk
June 21, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Here's the third part of my series on my search for Friedrich Engels in Manchester. It's 1844 and a well-dressed man is walking through the streets of the world's first industrial city. The cotton looms are thumping like a heartbeat.
#Manchester #history #FriedrichEngels
#Manchester #history #FriedrichEngels
Here’s second part of my new series of offbeat walks around the fringes of Manchester. Chapel Street in Salford awaits the march of the developers.
🚶🏻The Meander #2: Step across the Irwell into Salford's old Chapel Street
Just a few steps across the Irwell from Manchester's Exchange Square, Chapel Street in Salford awaits the developers
www.manchesterhistory.uk
June 20, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Here’s second part of my new series of offbeat walks around the fringes of Manchester. Chapel Street in Salford awaits the march of the developers.
Reposted by Dean Kirby PhD
You might enjoy this davehaslam.substack.com/p/friedrich-...
Friedrich Engels / Jeremy Deller
Industry, class war, Granby Row, Adrian Street...
davehaslam.substack.com
June 14, 2025 at 9:05 AM
You might enjoy this davehaslam.substack.com/p/friedrich-...
Reposted by Dean Kirby PhD
This is really interesting particularly about when what was essentially was a piece of performance art then becomes part of the fabric of a city.
Here’s the second part of my series of stories about Friedrich Engels and Manchester, looking at the statue of Engels in Tony Wilson Place. #Manchester #Engels
Finding Mr Engels: Part 2
Friedrich Engels, standing there with his arms folded in a concrete frockcoat, is impervious to the rays of sunshine
www.manchesterhistory.uk
June 14, 2025 at 8:55 AM
This is really interesting particularly about when what was essentially was a piece of performance art then becomes part of the fabric of a city.
Here’s the second part of my series of stories about Friedrich Engels and Manchester, looking at the statue of Engels in Tony Wilson Place. #Manchester #Engels
Finding Mr Engels: Part 2
Friedrich Engels, standing there with his arms folded in a concrete frockcoat, is impervious to the rays of sunshine
www.manchesterhistory.uk
June 14, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Here’s the second part of my series of stories about Friedrich Engels and Manchester, looking at the statue of Engels in Tony Wilson Place. #Manchester #Engels
June 8, 2025 at 3:48 PM
How my family history research led me to an encounter with Friedrich Engels in the backstreets of Victorian Manchester. Read part 1 of Finding Mr Engels ⬇️ #genealogy #familyhistory #genhour #ancestry #genealogy #history #friedrichengels #manchester
Finding Mr Engels: Part 1
How a journey to uncover my family history led me to an encouter with Friedrich Engels in slums of Victorian Manchester
www.manchesterhistory.uk
June 7, 2025 at 7:46 PM
How my family history research led me to an encounter with Friedrich Engels in the backstreets of Victorian Manchester. Read part 1 of Finding Mr Engels ⬇️ #genealogy #familyhistory #genhour #ancestry #genealogy #history #friedrichengels #manchester
Looking forward to giving a masterclass on tracing Victorian criminal ancestors based on my research into Manchester slums next week for the brilliant Family Tree Magazine
#scuttlers #Victorian #familyhistory #genealogy #ancestry
#scuttlers #Victorian #familyhistory #genealogy #ancestry
May 30, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Looking forward to giving a masterclass on tracing Victorian criminal ancestors based on my research into Manchester slums next week for the brilliant Family Tree Magazine
#scuttlers #Victorian #familyhistory #genealogy #ancestry
#scuttlers #Victorian #familyhistory #genealogy #ancestry