The town of Hyde lies some seven miles east of Manchester, four and a half miles northeast of Stockport, and three miles south of Ashton‑under‑Lyne. Until 1974, the former Hyde municipal borough covered a compact area roughly two and a half miles from its northern boundary with Dukinfield down to Bredbury in the south, and…
This image is from my family archive. Shared here for storytelling only — not for reuse or reproduction. © Rachel Bakewell, 2026 Neurodiversity describes the full range of human brains, just as biodiversity describes the full range of life. Every person is part of neurodiversity, because no two brains are the same. Some people share…
In the Victorian period, modesty operated on a very selective scale. A glimpse of an ankle, nothing more than a few inches of skin between hem and boot, could be considered improper, even provocative. Yet the same society printed fashion plates with dramatically lowered necklines and elaborate silhouettes that revealed far more. This small contradiction…
What is Synaesthesia? Best described as a union of the senses, synaesthesia is when one sensory experience involuntarily, and consistently, prompts another. There are up to 70 different types, such as the ability to see sounds, hear time, and taste shapes; however, the most common involve colour. Some scientists believe that synaesthesia results from “crossed-wiring”…
Living with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND): A Journey of Understanding and Awareness I have battled mental health issues for over 30 years, ever since I was 16. The onset of my struggles coincided with a significant event in my life, which marked the beginning of a long and arduous journey. Over the years, I have…
In a world often designed for the “neurotypical,” it’s easy to overlook the unique ways that neurodivergent individuals perceive, interpret, and express the world around them. But the art world is increasingly embracing neurodivergent perspectives, providing new insights into the human experience and reshaping how we think about creativity. The Guggenheim’s recent exploration of this…
There were a particular kind of Victorian and Edwardian book or books that would look harmless at first glance. Elegant handwriting. Soft paper. A sense of order and refinement. But many of these manuals, especially those concerning household management, moral conduct, sewing, medicine, or “female duties,” were never intended to be read by the women…
The fashion industry is amidst a revolutionary transformation, wanting to move away from fast fashion towards a sustainable future. There is growing awareness of the damage to the environment caused by textiles like cotton and polyester. There is a growing demand for eco-friendly alternatives such as Mycotex, Piñatex, and Orange Fibre. These are at the…
True — but not in the simple, helpful way the adverts suggested. There’s a particular kind of domestic technology that looks insignificant at first glance, a tiny hinge, a sliver of metal, a part that barely weighs anything. The presser foot is one of those objects. It sits quietly at the front of the sewing…
Adapted from an article by Simon Rennie (2016) In early 2015, while searching for a new literary research direction, Simon Rennie happened to hear a Radio 4 In Our Time episode discussing The Lancashire Cotton Famine of 1861–65. One of the contributors mentioned the existence of “Cotton Famine Poetry,” and the phrase immediately caught his…