Celebrating 200 years of education in Huddersfield

2025 marks the origins of formal education for young, working class adults in Huddersfield

In 2025 Huddersfield is celebrating a special anniversary.  The town is celebrating 200 years of the origins of formal education for young, working class adults. In 1825 a Scientific and Mechanic Institute was established to ‘to bring within the reach of all, but more particularly the trading and working classes, the acquisition of useful knowledge’ and hosted public lectures and evening classes for adults. This institution helped lay the groundwork for the establishment of other adult education opportunities in Huddersfield including Young Men’s Mental Improvement Society in 1841 to which the University can directly trace its history.