Our Society was founded in 1959 largely through a group of local residents who attended a series of lectures given by Dr John .R. Harris entitled 'The History of St Helens', in the 1958 - 59 session of Extra - Mural Studies of the University of Liverpool. These were based on the landmark history of the area, "A Merseyside Town in the Industrial Revolution: St Helens 1750 - 1900" which John Harris had written with Theo Barker, his life-long ex-Cowley friend.
The founders' decision that the Society would have greater appeal if it were not confined to the study of local history but covered any matter of historical interest has remained the Society's policy. It was on 19th October 1959 that we first met, when in the Assembly Room of Cowley Girl's School, Professor CNL Brooke spoke on "The Code of Chivalry".
Since then the Society's guest lecturers have covered many topics, including Liverpool's Old Dock, Gems of Norman Architecture, the History of Surgery, Chester's Mystery Plays, Egyptian Mummies and major anniversaries such as Trafalgar, The Rainhill Trials and Elizabeth I's Accession. Local history has featured from St Helens's lost stations to Sidac, fossils at Ravenhead, archaeology at Newton and the 1906 parliamentary election.
In addition, we have run full day events. A "Celebration of History" marked our 40th Birthday in 1999 and on 17th October 2009 we celebrated our 50th with a day school, "Trade, Transport and Town". In 2000 and again in 2016, this time at the World of Glass, we hosted an "At Home" for the Lancashire Local History Federation. On several occasions the Society has organised a local history exhibition at the Friends Meeting House on behalf of St Helens Heritage Network.
Social activities such as the pre-Christmas Gathering in December and the Society's Annual Dinner in March have established themselves in the programme as well as outings and visits.
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