Crusading Women in Manchester and East Lancashire

Dr Alison Ronan is feminist historian with an interest in recovering hidden histories and creating alternative, women-focused narratives, particularly with reference to WW1. Her background is in youth and community work, conflict resolution and using the arts to create spaces for debate and discussion. Recently she has been working on stories and a film about The Hague in 1915, local Conscientious Objector families in Manchester and rewriting in film the wartime story of Margaret Ashton. This film and the book about Crusading Women in East Lancashire forms part of an ongoing series of creative approaches to WW1 and storytelling.

Dr Ronan will introduce this screening of their film about the Women's Peace Crusade in East Lancashire in 1917-1918, which features archive footage and contemporary scenes in Blackburn, Manchester and Nelson.
There will be a short talk about the Crusade, a chance to handle archive material and to learn more about the project. The booklet detailing the volunteer-led research and highlighting the radical women in each town, will be on sale.

Organised by Dr Kirsty Bunting, English Subject Leader and Senior Lecturer at MMU Cheshire Campus.