Sam Bamford Trail launched

The Olde Boar's Head on the Sam Bamford Trail

The Sam Bamford trail launched this morning (Saturday 12 April) with guided walks and lively discussions regarding Sam Bamford.

Two guided walks took place today taking people around Middleton showing them sites, including St Leonard's Church, the Peterloo Assembly Point and The Old Boar’s Head.

Emily Neild from the Edge Wood and Middleton Townscape Heritage Initiative said: “The tour combines the old sites such as St Leonard's and new sites of Middleton, including the new homes and buildings that were not here when Sam Bamford was.”

The trail aims to give an impression of the Middleton which Sam new. The trail draws attention to some of the buildings which Sam would know and recognise today, and to some of the events in his life connected to those buildings.

Middleton Library on the Sam Bamford Trail

Emily added: “Essentially this tour has been re-launched for a younger generation to introduce them to Sam and his life.”

Sam Bamford (1788-1872) was a weaver, poet and radical born in Middleton. It became known that he had sympathy with the difficulties of the working class and turned his attention to demand better rights and working conditions for them.

His main claim to fame was as the leader of the radicals in the years before and after the Peterloo massacre in August 1819. He helped to plan, train and lead a contingent of approximately 6,000 men and women to march in Manchester to hear a speech by Henry Hunt at St Peter’s field.

“Todays walks have gone really well. We had about 16 people come along this morning and get involved. For the first event, I think that’s a good
turn out,” said Emily.

St Leonard's Church on the Sam Bamford Trail

After the tour, which took 90 minutes, a discussion was held in the Old Boar’s Head about Sam Bamford.

Emily added: “It was nice to see so many people come on a 90 minute walk and to then come for a discussion and refreshments for 90 minutes.
It shows just how important Sam Bamford was to Middleton.”

The next guided walk will take place in September and will follow the same trail as today. The walk can, however, by self-guided.

This event, along with a number of other events, has been organised by the Edgar Wood and Middleton Townscape Heritage Initiative to celebrate
Middleton’s enlightenment and heritage.