The Teacher is Abroad in the Land

Samuel Wilderspin began his pioneering work spreading Infant Schools throughout the British Isles in 1820.  Ian Wolseley explores the travels, trials and tribulations of this itinerant promoter of Infant education as he journeyed by road and sea just as the railway age dawned – making a four-year “stopover” here in Barton to set up his Model School.  The talk is part of Barton Civic Society’s 2021 lecture programme, and will take place in the Joseph Wright Hall (ground floor) at 7.3opm.  Non members £2.  Doors open 7.00pm.

Alice in Wonderland cancelled

Click here for more information and about refunds.

Decimal Place

How did schools and wider society cope with going decimal overnight fifty years ago?

Reminisce in the Chatty Café and share your memories of pounds, shillings and pence and non-metric weights and measures before the big change.

Back to School!

Follow in the footsteps of the Victorian children who came to school here full of trepidation and excitement, through from the School Yard and into School, then explore Mr. Wilderspin’s Infant Schoolroom.

Who used the finger-stocks in the Victorian Classroom?

What’s hidden in the desks in the Wartime Classroom?

What was school like for your mum, dad and grandparents?

Explore the world’s only reconstruction of Mr. Wilderspin’s Model Infant School.

Fakes and Forgeries: The Art World’s Biggest Headache

Barton Civic Society’s public lecture programme recommences at Wilderspin with a welcome return of popular speaker Marilyn Roberts to take a light-hearted look at how some of the world’s leading auction houses, galleries and museums have been fooled by forgers – including the infamous Garden Shed Gang of Bolton!

The talk is part of Barton Civic Society’s 2021 lecture programme, and will take place in the Joseph Wright Hall (ground floor) at 7.3opm.  Non members £2.  Doors open 7.00pm.