Join us for some of the hidden histories of local places, and stories about people of the past.

Welcome to 'Let's Talk History' our series of talks on history on all different sorts of topics; from local legends to national scandals. Below you will find the details of our upcoming talks which will be held at Leigh Town Hall. Each event starts at 7:00pm.

Tuesday 15th September - 'The Mystery of Standish Hall' by Jim Meehan

The Hall was the seat of the Standish family for many centuries but it is now long gone. For decades there have been rumours that parts of the hall were transported to America and rebuilt, but no trace has been found…Join Jim to see if the mystery been solved.

Tuesday 20th October- 'These Lancashire Women are Witches in Politics ' by Yvonne Eckersley

A brief history on the formation of the Leigh Female Reformers Union, their rise out of working-class friendly societies and their actions at the Leigh meeting 11th August 1819 and the Wigan meeting 8th November 1819. These events happened either side of the tragic Manchester reform meeting on August 16th 1819, which we now remember as Peterloo.

Tuesday 17th November- 'The women behind the movement: Disabled women in the Disabled People's Movement' by The Disabled People's Archive

Join Amie and Sarah from the Disabled People's Archive (GMCDP) to hear about the role of women in disability justice activism, and learn of notable case studies and collections in the DPA. Sarah will begin by discussing some of the notable women in the DPA's collections, and Amie will - as part of her project 'Choice and Control' - discuss the often-understated role of women in the Independent Living Movement. There will be opportunities to ask questions and handle archival material towards the end of the session.

Note: Ticket price includes refreshment of tea/coffee and biscuits.

Note: Y can also pay cash on the door on the day of the event.

Note: Further talks will be released later in the year. There are no talks planned for July, August or December 2026.

Additional Information:

Wheelchair accessible

Accessible toilet facilities

Hearing Loop available

Free parking on Bengal Street Car Park (adjacent to Leigh Town Hall) after 6pm

Description supplied by the event organiser.