Working Class Movement Library
With a National Art Pass you get
The Working Class Movement Library chronicles over 200 years of campaigning by ordinary people, with journals, posters, songs, photographs and more.
The WCML is located in a distinctive three storey red brick building opposite the Salford Art Gallery and Museum and was once home to the Salford Royal Nurses' Home. It is one of the most unusual libraries in the world, collating inspirational material about working people’s struggles to be heard.
200 plus years of records
The oldest items date from the 1760s and the collection builds a timeline of activism that ends with The People’s Assembly in 2013. Along the way you can discover more about prominent protests such as the Irish Rebellion, Peterloo and Tolpuddle through to the formations of Trade Unions and the Labour Party, to the Spanish Civil War, and the General and Miner’s Strikes.
Protest paraphernalia
When we think of protest marches we think of participants carrying banners, however the library has a huge haul of other objects and documents. Explore activist's personal papers, propoganda pamphlets, photographs, posters, badges, reports and even plays, poetry and songs highlighting the cause.
Reference library
All the material in the library and archives collections can be studied on site, with the reading room open by appointment. A photocopying/scanning service is available and you may use your own camera as long as you abide by the policy on photography.
Visitor information
Address
Working Class Movement Library, 51 Crescent, Salford, Greater Manchester, M5 4WX
0161 736 3601
Opening times
The Library reading room is open by appointment Tuesday to Friday 10am to 4pm for people who want to study. We are planning to re-open to drop-in visitors on Friday afternoons - please check https://www.wcml.org.uk/visit-the-library/visiting-the-library/ for details.
Exclusions and safety measures
We are only open to general visitors on days when timed ticketing is in operation - see Art TIckets details. However we are planning to re-open to drop-in visitors on Friday afternoons - please check https://www.wcml.org.uk/visit-the-library/visiting-the-library/ for details.
Visitor information
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