Manchester Histories Salon - Unburied: The True Story of Hannah Beswick

"Hannah Priest's Unburied investigates the difference between fact and fiction, uncovering a truth stranger and more complex than 200 years of Gothic razamatazz." Rosie Garland, author of The Palace of Curiosities

In 1835, the Manchester Natural History Society opened the doors of its museum. Taking pride of place in its collection were three mummies: one was Egyptian, one was Peruvian and one was a woman from Cheetham Hill.

This is the first time the true story of Hannah Beswick, the so-called 'Manchester Mummy', has been told.

Over the years, explanations for the Manchester Mummy have ranged from the chilling - Hannah's fear of being buried alive - to the downright bizarre - the legend of her buried gold - but the truth is more complex.

Exploring this fascinating episode from museum history, Unburied sheds light on the Victorian turn to the macabre and changing attitudes to the display of human remains. It debunks the legends and asks what Hannah Beswick can tell us about death and dying, mummies and museums.

Unburied is the first event in our Salons series for 2026. There will be an opportunity to buy a copy of the book and meet the author on the day. This event is organised with support from Manchester University Press.

Hannah Priest, Heritage Manager at the Pankhurst Centre, is an independent researcher and speaker on Manchester history topics such as the Blackley Deer Park and the Battle of Theale Moor. As Hannah Kate, she is a creative writer and radio presenter on North Manchester FM.

Donation

This event is free to attend, and as a small charity we truly welcome any contribution you are able to make. Suggested donations of £3–£10 help us continue our work with local communities, create imaginative and inclusive programmes, and sustain the Manchester Histories Festival in celebrating Greater Manchester’s rich and diverse histories and heritage. Every donation, whatever the amount, makes a real difference. Thank you for supporting us.

Accessibility

The venue is fully accessible. To help us make this event as inclusive as possible, we welcome you to contact us at least two weeks in advance regarding any specific access requirements, including BSL interpretation or other support needs. Thank you.

Email: info@manchesterhistories.co.uk

Call: 0161 306 1982

Data Gathering

When registering for this event we will ask you some questions about your age, gender, ethnicity, disability and postcode. Gathering this information helps us to report back to our funders and enables us to better understand our audiences so we can ensure we reach as many people as possible now and in the future. The information is given anonymously.

Hybrid Event Information

This event will take place in person and online via Zoom. A Zoom link will be emailed to ticket holders shortly before the event begins.

Recording

This salon will be recorded and shared on Manchester Histories YouTube channel and potentially other media outlets. The broadcast will focus only on the guest speakers, but if you do not wish to appear in the recording itself, please switch off your camera.

Event Capacity

Due to the popularity of this event, tickets are in high demand. If you've booked a ticket but can no longer attend, please let us know as soon as possible by emailing info@manchesterhistories.co.uk.

This will allow us to offer your place to someone on our waiting list.

Seating is unallocated for this event so please arrive promptly to take your seat.