Transpennine Enlightenment: The Literary and Philosophical Societies and Knowledge Networks in the North, 1781-1830.

This essay investigates the role of the literary and philosophical societies in Manchester (1781) and Newcastle (1793) as part of the wider network of the 'the transpennine Enlightenment'. It argues that these societies were concerned not just with the science and technology interface, but also with polite letters and general 'improvement'. Originating in conversation societies, they were committed to the collision of mind. Although they banned religious and political controversy, they were not free of conflict over the mode and purpose of the improvement they sponsored, an issue illustrated by the public quarrel over the 'New Institution' at Newcastle in 1808. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]