Attend our conference - in Liverpool or remotely!
"Liverpool is not part of England in the way that New York is not part of America. It is more Welsh, more Irish, more Scottish, more exotically international and defiantly local, a shifty, shifting outpost of defiance, determination and scouring kindness reluctantly connected to the English mainland, more an island set in a sea of dreams and nightmares that’s forever taking shape in the imagination." - Paul Morley, The North (And Almost Everything In It)
Liverpool has a place in the family histories of millions of people across the world. Between 1830 and 1930 around nine million people set out from Liverpool for new lives, mainly in North America, Australia, and New Zealand. These emigrants were not just British and Irish but included those who came from many parts of northern Europe, including Scandinavia and Russia.
Perhaps someone in your research left from Liverpool? You may feel an affinity to the port even though you have never been there.
The Guild’s 2025 conference will celebrate the city's position as "Gateway to the World" and look at those who lived in or passed through the city in the past.
Although Liverpool is no longer an important port, it remains a vibrant, exciting city. It's a popular destination for visitors who are drawn to its mix of galleries, museums, shopping centres, and waterfront vistas. Why not bring a friend or partner to the event? They will find plenty to occupy them during the day and can join you for meals and our evening entertainment.
Our Talks
Conference talks will include:
- Irish migration and the Irish Emigration Database
- The 'Liverpool Lambs' involved in the Dublin Easter Rising
- Mariners' lives and families
- The 'Prize Papers' project - papers obtained from captured ships
- The British 'Home' children sent to Canada
- Liverpool and the Transatlantic slave trade
- The 'Earl Grey orphans' sent to Australia
Venue and Accommodation
The conference will take place in the Holiday Inn, a 4-star hotel located in the city centre with adjacent car parking and immediately opposite Liverpool Lime Street Station. The hotel is also just around the corner from the regular bus to/from John Lennon Airport.
There is a major football match in Liverpool on the Saturday of the conference (Liverpool at home to Tottenham) so hotel prices are steep at the weekend. We have negotiated special rates with the Holiday Inn for attendees and you'll get the most out of the event by staying in the HQ hotel. However, if you need a more budget-friendly option, we have also arranged for some rooms to be made available at other hotels in the city via the Liverpool Convention Bureau.
If you plan to stay in the Holiday Inn Liverpool City Centre, please book a package through the Guild website. Bookings will open in September.
If you want to stay elsewhere you can book a day delegate rate on this site and you will be sent a link to various other hotels. These hotels have offered us a special rate through the Liverpool Convention Bureua but are not booked through the Guild; you should book directly with them.
Sponsorship
We are very grateful to the Halsted Trust for their sponsorship of this event.
