Mapping Monday at DaDaFest: Skin Deep

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When: Monday 21st November 12 – 3pm
Where: Museum of Liverpool
FREE – just turn up

On 21^st November History of Place are launching a digital trail at the Museum of Liverpool to celebrate the history of the Royal School for the Blind, Liverpool.  The trail is being launched in time for Disability History Month 2016 and is part of the DaDaFest: Skin Deep festival taking place in Liverpool from 17^th November to 3^rd December 2016.

The Royal School for the Blind has a rich history. The digital trail explores this history looking beyond the buildings to the people involved in its formation, its continuation and those who attended it.

Members of the volunteer research group in Liverpool have spent the last few months visiting archives, museums and libraries to research the history of the Royal School for the Blind, Liverpool which was founded in 1791.  Originally housed in two lodging houses on Commutation Row the school admitted blind and visually impaired people of all ages and was the first institution of its kind to do so.  A purpose built school building was constructed and available by 1800 in nearby London Road and in 1851, as a result of being displaced by the expanding Lime Street Station, the school moved to Hardman Street, again to a purpose built school building.  In 1898 the branch for children was opened in Wavertree and this building continues to house the school today.

The school has a rich history!  The digital trail explores this history looking beyond the buildings to the people involved in its formation, its continuation and those who attended it.  Following the launch the trail will be available on the ‘interactive map’ on the first floor of the Museum of Liverpool from 22^nd November.

We invite you to attend the launch on the 21^st November at 12pm where we will enjoy an introduction to the trail from Jeff Speakman, Assistant Curator of Archaeology at the Museum of Liverpool and then a talk by City Historian (and former pupil!) Steve Binns on life at the school during the 1960’s.  Following these talks there will be an opportunity to ask questions and view copies of historical documents and images from the archives.  We hope you can join us!