'These are the times that try men's souls' Thomas Paine, 1776
Over two hundred years ago, Thomas Paine wrote some of the most influential and radical books that had the authorities reeling. They included Common Sense, Rights of Man and Age of Reason.
After he died, Paine was buried in New York, only for campaigning journalist William Cobbett to dig them up and bring them to Salford. However, they were refused entry to Manchester by the authorities, with the horrors of Peterloo still fresh...And then the bones disappeared...
It's now two hundred years since that bizarre event, and Salford's Working Class Movement Library and arts group Walk The Plank have created a huge Bones of Paine puppet which will paraded around the city at events this month, October and November.
The Bones will be making an appearance at Salford's Big Day Out in Swinton on
Saturday 14th September; at the East Salford Fun Palace at Walk the Plank's HQ at Cobden Works (M6 6WF) on Sunday 6th October; at the Witches Walk in Buile Hill Park Friday 25th October; and at the Irlam Fireworks display at Princes Park on Friday 1st November.
On Saturday 30th November, the actual two hundredth anniversary, there is to be a big parade with the Bones of Paine, plus musicians and dancers. The procession starts from the Working Class Movement Library and goes to the People's History Museum.
"We're excited to be working with the people of Salford and Walk the Plank on telling this bizarre but important story, which offers a local angle on a character who had a significant impact on history internationally" says Lynette Cawthra, Manager at the Working Class Movement Library which has a huge collection Paine's writings and has a series of discussions and a public reading of Paine's Common Sense planned.*
"Recounting the story within the context of events such as Peterloo helps give this unusual tale a relevance to a modern audience" she adds "We hope that our Bones of Paine events will get everyone talking about the extraordinary Thomas Paine in a fun and engaging way that inspires curiosity."
For more details and timings of events – click here
.JPG)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
(3).jpeg)
.png)
(1).JPG)
