Fully funded PhD Studentship in the History of Stalybridge and its region, c. 1800-1930
The School of Arts, Histories and Cultures at the University of Manchester is pleased to offer a three-year fully-funded doctoral studentship to commence in October 2010 for research into the history of Stalybridge and its region between 1800 and 1930. We are looking for a highly promising student who will relish the opportunity of engaging in wide-ranging historical research on this topic. The successful candidate will meet the University's criteria for eligibility and should normally have, or be expecting, a good Masters degree in history or an allied subject and be able to demonstrate the potential to develop advanced research skills. The award pays home tuition fees and a maintenance grant based on the levels set by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (£17,500 p.a. from which tuition fees will be deducted*) plus an amount for travel/research expenses. The studentship will be supervised by Professor Hannah Barker of the School of Arts, Histories and Cultures.
Stalybridge was a town of the industrial revolution: from a village supporting a handful of families in the mid eighteenth century, by the late nineteenth century it was an urban centre with a population of over 40,000. John Bartholomew's Gazetteer of the British Isles in 1887 described it as 'entirely modern, dating from the year 1776' when the first cotton mill opened. A hub of activity and industry, it had 'communication in all directions by railway. The principal mfrs. are the spinning of cotton yarns and the weaving of calicoes, but there are also numerous iron foundries and machine shops'. The town's industrial strength grew steadily throughout the Victorian period, only slipping in the early 1930s when both cotton and metal working declined.
Stalybridge was also a centre of radical and progressive politics. During the opening decades of the nineteenth century it witnessed Luddite disturbances before seeing Chartist action, Plug riots and unrest associated with the cotton famine around mid century. It was also home to a number of different religious congregations and the scene of Protestant-Catholic unrest during the 1860s. During the nineteenth century it became an increasingly confident town and one where 'improving' and philanthropic endeavour was common. Stalybridge saw the foundation of one of the country's early Mechanics Institutes and numerous public building works and can lay claim to having the oldest civic brass band in Britain.
Despite Stalybridge's place in the industrial and political history of the North West and Britain as a whole, it has received limited historical attention. A few scholarly works touch on aspects of the town's history, but no detailed study exists of the town's growth and of the companies and people that made it. Many of the firms which based themselves here (including Taylor Lang, a Stalybridge company that manufactured machines for the cotton industry to which the Watts family have close connections) have left limited historical records that could be pieced together to form a more comprehensive picture of economic development. In addition, substantial records exist which describe social, political and religious changes during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries (mostly held in the Tameside and Lancashire Record Offices).
The Watts Family Scholarship has been named after three generations of Watts who lived in Stalybridge (and in neighbouring areas such as Dukinfield and Ashton) including Joseph Walter Watts (one of the founding members of Taylor Lang), William Thomas Watts (who spent his career with Taylor Lang) and Eric Watts (a Manchester alumnus). The University is extremely grateful to the grandson of Eric Watts, who also attended The University of Manchester, for his generosity in supporting the Watts Family Scholarship.
For any related questions please contact Professor Hannah Barker. Initial applications should be made by sending a CV and covering letter (including the names and contact details - including e-mail addresses - of 3 academic referees) to: Professor Hannah Barker, SAHC, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL.
The School of Arts, Histories and Cultures at the University of Manchester is pleased to offer a three-year fully-funded doctoral studentship to commence in October 2010 for research into the history of Stalybridge and its region between 1800 and 1930. We are looking for a highly promising student who will relish the opportunity of engaging in wide-ranging historical research on this topic. The successful candidate will meet the University's criteria for eligibility and should normally have, or be expecting, a good Masters degree in history or an allied subject and be able to demonstrate the potential to develop advanced research skills. The award pays home tuition fees and a maintenance grant based on the levels set by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (£17,500 p.a. from which tuition fees will be deducted*) plus an amount for travel/research expenses. The studentship will be supervised by Professor Hannah Barker of the School of Arts, Histories and Cultures.
Stalybridge was a town of the industrial revolution: from a village supporting a handful of families in the mid eighteenth century, by the late nineteenth century it was an urban centre with a population of over 40,000. John Bartholomew's Gazetteer of the British Isles in 1887 described it as 'entirely modern, dating from the year 1776' when the first cotton mill opened. A hub of activity and industry, it had 'communication in all directions by railway. The principal mfrs. are the spinning of cotton yarns and the weaving of calicoes, but there are also numerous iron foundries and machine shops'. The town's industrial strength grew steadily throughout the Victorian period, only slipping in the early 1930s when both cotton and metal working declined.
Stalybridge was also a centre of radical and progressive politics. During the opening decades of the nineteenth century it witnessed Luddite disturbances before seeing Chartist action, Plug riots and unrest associated with the cotton famine around mid century. It was also home to a number of different religious congregations and the scene of Protestant-Catholic unrest during the 1860s. During the nineteenth century it became an increasingly confident town and one where 'improving' and philanthropic endeavour was common. Stalybridge saw the foundation of one of the country's early Mechanics Institutes and numerous public building works and can lay claim to having the oldest civic brass band in Britain.
Despite Stalybridge's place in the industrial and political history of the North West and Britain as a whole, it has received limited historical attention. A few scholarly works touch on aspects of the town's history, but no detailed study exists of the town's growth and of the companies and people that made it. Many of the firms which based themselves here (including Taylor Lang, a Stalybridge company that manufactured machines for the cotton industry to which the Watts family have close connections) have left limited historical records that could be pieced together to form a more comprehensive picture of economic development. In addition, substantial records exist which describe social, political and religious changes during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries (mostly held in the Tameside and Lancashire Record Offices).
The Watts Family Scholarship has been named after three generations of Watts who lived in Stalybridge (and in neighbouring areas such as Dukinfield and Ashton) including Joseph Walter Watts (one of the founding members of Taylor Lang), William Thomas Watts (who spent his career with Taylor Lang) and Eric Watts (a Manchester alumnus). The University is extremely grateful to the grandson of Eric Watts, who also attended The University of Manchester, for his generosity in supporting the Watts Family Scholarship.
For any related questions please contact Professor Hannah Barker. Initial applications should be made by sending a CV and covering letter (including the names and contact details - including e-mail addresses - of 3 academic referees) to: Professor Hannah Barker, SAHC, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL.
The closing date for applications is 5.00pm on Friday, 9 July 2010. It is anticipated that interviews will be held in Manchester towards the end of July/early August. Please note on your letter of application if you will be unavailable on any dates during this period.
* During the 2010/11 academic year Home/EU tuition fees will be £3,466.
