Portrait of Joshua Hobson – Image Credit: Kirklees Museums and Galleries

By KLTV Newsdesk –

Historian Dr Vic Clarke to explore the life and legacy of a pioneering Chartist publisher and civic reformer

Huddersfield’s rich tradition of radical history will take centre stage later this month as academics and local historians gather for the 2026 Annual Luddite Memorial Lecture at the University of Huddersfield.

The twelfth lecture in the long-running series, organised by Huddersfield Local History Society in partnership with the University of Huddersfield, will examine the life of Joshua Hobson — a key figure in 19th-century radical publishing and politics.

Marking 150 years since Hobson’s death, Dr Vic Clarke will present Joshua Hobson: His Radical Publishing and Work on the Northern Star, shedding light on his role in producing the influential Chartist newspaper in Leeds.

The event will take place on Monday, 27 April at 7:30 pm in the Oastler Building.

From Weaver to Political Force

David Griffiths, Co-Chair of Huddersfield Local History Society, emphasised Hobson’s lasting importance to the town’s history: “He was a larger-than-life figure in Huddersfield’s politics, journalism and civic life from the 1830s to the 1870s.

“Starting life as a handloom weaver, he was imprisoned in the 1830s for his role in publishing an ‘unstamped’ [untaxed] newspaper.

“He was at the heart of town improvement projects of the 1850s, including St George’s Square and Edgerton Cemetery.

“150 years on from his death in May 1876, there is much to remember and celebrate about his life”.

Hobson also played a significant role in local journalism as editor of the Huddersfield Chronicle, founded in 1850.

Tracing a Radical Life

Dr Clarke’s lecture will chart Hobson’s journey from teenage handloom weaver to influential publisher and municipal figure, drawing on the newspapers he produced and the networks that shaped his political life.

She said: “We will follow his life through the pages of the newspapers he worked on, as well as those who followed in his footsteps.

“Hobson’s lifetime of political activity was keenly shaped by the networks of comradeship.

“From illegally publishing news for the poor from behind bars in the early 1830s, to literally shaping the environs of his native Huddersfield through his job as ‘Clerk of Works’ in the 1850s, his voice is present and persistent throughout the radical history of the West Riding in the Victorian period”.

A Continuing Tradition of Radical Inquiry

The lecture will be introduced by Professor Tim Thornton, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Huddersfield, who highlighted the significance of the annual series: “The Luddite Memorial Lecture has been the opportunity to hear experts address a fascinating and varied sequence of topics.

“The relevance of the presentations to the rich history of radicalism and innovation in Huddersfield and its locality has always been strong, and this year we’re fortunate to have Dr Vic Clarke talking about her work on the influential Huddersfield-born publisher and politician Joshua Hobson”.

Dr Clarke has previously taught at the universities of York, Durham and Leeds, and continues to research Victorian radical and working-class writing and activism.

Memorial Event to Mark Anniversary

In a linked event, historians and members of the public will gather on Friday 8 May at 4:30 pm at Hobson’s obelisk in Edgerton Cemetery.

The occasion will mark the unveiling of newly restored lettering on the monument, funded by the Society.

The informal ceremony will include short contributions from Dr Clarke, Alan Brooke and David Griffiths, reflecting on different aspects of Hobson’s life and career.