Bound Art Book Fair in collaboration with Rare Mags present to you an evening celebrating all thing Clarion.
Clarion Houses were first set up by Trade Unions in the early 1900's when the weekend was invented. The houses were built in rural areas across the whole of England to encourage the industrial and city workers to enjoy some time away from the noise, smog and pollution they had to endure for most of the week. Here they housed Jacobs Joins, Sports Days, or somewhere just to keep warm; to have a brew and a natter with people.
Around the same time, the invention of the first 'Safety Bike' (away from the dangerous Penny Farthing) started a biking boom and many Clarion cycling groups and routes were setup. Today the original Socialist cause has mainly disappeared from these but the spirit still remains.
Today the last Clarion House is standing in Nelson and we wish to showcase, celebrate and make people aware of the cause. The evening will consist of a screening of 'The Last Clarion' by Clapham Film Unit, Working Class ballads by Jenifer Reid, Bound limited edition Riso print of the Clarion House and a free publication titled 'The Last Clarion. We will also be hosting a collective bike ride from Manchester to Stockport starting at 18:00 (SHARP!) Next to the Cenotaph near the the Metrolink at Manchester Town Hall. Please be aware attendees will have to make their own way home from Stockport after the event and the main event at Rare Mags starts at 19:00. If you wish to just meet us in Stockport then that is totally fine!
Keeping in the spirit of the Clarion everything for the event will be FREE.
Rough rundown:
18:00 - Bike ride from Manchester Town Hall to Stockport
19:00 - Screening of 'The Last Clarion'
19:45 - Jennifer Reid, Working Class Ballads