Heritage Highlights Lunchtime Talks at Port Sunlight Museum

Discover more of Port Sunlight’s remarkable past with the Heritage Highlights series of bite‑sized lunchtime talks designed to fit perfectly into your day.

Each 20‑minute session is led by our knowledgeable team and shines a spotlight on a different story, object, or moment from the village’s history.

These short talks take place inside Port Sunlight Museum and are included with museum admission. Enjoy 12 months of free return visits with your Port Sunlight Museum ticket, so you can enjoy all of these talks for the price of just one admission ticket.

What’s on

Tuesday 9 June, 1pm – A House Through Time: Bridge Cottage, presented by Claire Bates. A snapshot of social history as we delve into personal stories and the changing life of a building at the heart of village life.

Thursday 18 June, 1pm – Society Sculpture in Port Sunlight, presented by Dr Heather Alcock. Discover the artists behind the monuments and the sculptors whose work still shapes the village landscape.

Friday 26 June, 1pm – A Slice of History: Regional Baking and the Sunlight Bun, presented by Claire Bates. Explore regional recipes and uncover the story of the Port Sunlight Bun, rediscovered in the archives.

Tuesday 7 July, 1pm – The Suffragette and the Soap King: A Story of Protest and Fire, presented by Stephanie Chee. This talk examines Edith Rigby’s decision to set fire to Lever’s Rivington bungalow as part of the fight for women’s rights.

Tuesday 14 July, 1pm – Tiny Treasures: Miniatures and Toys from the Archives, presented by Catherine Downey. A charming look at finely detailed objects that once captured the imaginations of young and old.

Monday 20 July, 1pm – Selling Sunlight, presented by Claire Bates. Step into the world of early doorstep sales and the junior salesmen who spread Sunlight Soap through youthful ambition.

Tuesday 27 July, 1pm – Selling the Image: Art in the World of Advertising, presented by Jean Milton. An exploration of how art was used in advertising campaigns to capture attention, build trust and sell products and lifestyles.

Wednesday 5 August, 1pm – From Past to Present: How Our Buildings Have Changed, presented by John Spilletts. A look at how one of Port Sunlight’s most familiar buildings has evolved into a modern learning space.

Monday 10 August, 1pm – Life as a Sunlighter: Growing Up in Lever’s Model Village, presented by Dave Lay. A personal journey through life in Port Sunlight, sharing memories of its close‑knit community.

Monday 17 August, 1pm – The Way We Remember It: Childhood Tales from Port Sunlight, presented by John Spilletts. Reflections on growing up in the village and the people and moments that shaped those memories.

Tuesday 25 August, 1pm – Changing Times: Port Sunlight in the 1960s, presented by Dr Heather Alcock. Learn how the village was modernised after the Second World War through drawings, photographs and objects.