Join historian Hannah Priest as she explores the macabre tale of an eighteenth-century woman immortalised by James Dronsfield (Jerry Lichenmoss) as “The Peter Street Mummy, a Legend of Birchen Bower”.
In 1835, the Manchester Natural History Society opened the doors of its museum on Peter Street. Taking pride of place in its collection were three mummies: one was Egyptian, one was Peruvian and one was a woman from Cheetham Hill – Hannah Beswick.
Over the years, explanations for the Manchester Mummy have ranged from the chilling - Hannah's fear of being buried alive - to the downright bizarre - the legend of her buried gold at Birchen Bower - but the truth is more complex.
In her new book Unburied, Hannah Priest examines the private life and public afterlife of Hannah Beswick. Her story sheds light on the Victorian turn to the macabre and changing attitudes to the display of human remains. It debunks the legends and asks what Hannah Beswick can tell us about death and dying, mummies and museums.
About the author:
Hannah Priest, Heritage Engagement Officer at the Pankhurst Centre, is an independent researcher and speaker on Manchester history topics like the Blackley Deer Park and the Battle of Theale Moor. As Hannah Kate, she is a creative writer and radio presenter on North Manchester FM.
Doors for this event will open at 6pm. The talk will start at 6.30pm. There will be time for questions at the end of the talk.
