KLAXON! Calling Birmingham/Midlands independent historians. Come join us, and I'll see you at the Birmingham meet-up perhaps?

Independent Historians Network (UK)@indyhistnetwork.bsky.social · 7d ago

We don't want to bore you by mentioning this too much, but you can now sign up to be a member of IHN for just £10 a year. If you are a member you can come along to our meet-ups. Our next ones are Birmingham on 16th Sept and Leeds on 30th Sept Join up and join in! membermojo.co.uk/independenth...

#Northumberland Archives will be running a free 2 hour event House History: An introduction to researching your property in #Morpeth on October 20th, introducing the types of documents used in researching #HouseHistory. Free, but booking essential. #OnePlaceWednesday

House History: An introduction to researching your property

Northumberland Archives staff will introduce the type of documents used in researching house history.

eventbrite.co.uk

Come join us!

Independent Historians Network (UK)@indyhistnetwork.bsky.social · last wk.

Want to join IHN? You can now sign up as a member for just £10 a year! You'll get our newsletter, access to free online events with experts, invites to our meet-ups and access to online resources. The more of us, the better! Do join up! membermojo.co.uk/independenth...

Alexandra is launching her first book, Gladiators in the Greek World, in an online event on 12th September. We'll also pop it in our calendar and remind people closer to the time. (PS. If you have an event like this you'd like us to share with other historians, drop us a DM!)

Alexandra Sills@belovedofoizys.bsky.social · 3w ago

I am but a poor debut author, so cannot afford anything fancy, but if you'd like to come to my (completely online) book launch on the 12th of September, I'd really love it if you could join me in celebrating achieving my lifelong ambition. fb.me/e/kwrgh2Yzs

Just out, my latest article for Archives: The Journal of the British Records Association, 'Placing Archives: The Victoria County History and Archival Landscapes'. This draws on the archive of @vch-home.bsky.social and reflects on its role in shaping the landscape of archives in England. 1/3 🗃️

THE MAURICE BOND LECTURE 2024. PLACING ARCHIVES: THE VICTORIA COUNTY HISTORY AND ARCHIVAL LANDSCAPES | Archives: The Journal of the British Records Association

This paper was delivered as the 2024 Maurice Bond Lecture. It explores the place of the Victoria County History in the landscape of English archives over the last 125 years. It examines the ways in which historians working for the project have helped ...

liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk

Fact-checking the facts! #NextBook #Walthamstow #Pevsner

Bits and bobs are already being teased for this year's Birmingham Heritage Week. Can't wait to see the full line up! I'd best get cracking with my talk n walk proposals/ submissions then 😬😬😅. Deadline 29th July in case you are thinking of taking part 😎. #BirminghamHeritageWeek #LocalHistory

A spot of forest bathing, back in May, before the weather got FIERCE and I melted. (Forest of Dean, where wild boars do roam).

Yesterday afternoon I was v enamoured by the nature-themed decorative detailing within the GII* listed Venetian Gothic Highbury Hall, #Birmingham during an enjoyable afternoon tour. It was designed by architect J.H. Chamberlain for orchid-lover Joseph Chamberlain (yes, that one)& was completed 1880.

Historic pub fancier? You'll love this fab visual treat: GII Rose Villa Tavern (1919-20), Birmingham Jewellery Quarter. It cuts a fine fancy red brick/terracotta figure on Vyse St/Warstone Lane-perfect to pop to after haunting nearby Warstone Cemetery. Decorated/pictorial tiles! Stained glass! Go!

Love the jaunty font of Geoffrey Buildings, a 1901 brick/ terracotta GII listed building. It strikes a marvellous pose at the junction of John Bright St/Lower Severn St. Once a nightclub, after a bit of a fire/rebuilding, it is now one of the area's striking C19th/early20 terracotta buildings.

Ah, this time last week it was the inspirational @seaside_network Symposium at @saltdeanlido! Some pics: #ArtDeco details, Saltdean Lido Chairman Derek Leaver talking about SD lido's restoration,& me with a fellow heritager I've worked for but never met, but accidentally ended up sitting next to!

Fresh from our Valuing Seaside Heritage Symposium at Saltdean Lido, we're celebrating #NationalSeasideDay! 🌊 To mark the day, we're sharing the @seasidenetwork.bsky.social's 2026 Bucket & Spade List. Voting is now open! seasideheritage.org.uk/bucket-spade...

It was such a lovely evening 😍. A wonderful variety of historian flavours! Looking forward to future happenings 🤩.

Independent Historians Network (UK)@indyhistnetwork.bsky.social · last mo.

Huge thanks to the wonderful people who braved the noisy pub last night to chat all things history! I didn’t get to round to meeting everyone sadly, but I didn’t get the impression that people really want this network in place. So it’s steam ahead with IHN now. Keep an eye out for updates.

So, as it is (still!) #NationalSeasideDay, a little reminiscing of various seasides over the years is in order! (From what I can find via my phone). Because, I do like to be beside the seaside 😁. Featuring #Paignton, #Brighton #Eastbourne, #WestwardHo! And somewhere in Dorset I think...

Happy #NationalSeasideDay! It's going to be tricky to vote from the list of this year's #BucketAndSpade nominations...a couple of personal favourites in there...🤔🙂.

Seaside Heritage Network@seasidenetwork.bsky.social · last mo.

Happy #nationalseasideday! Today we launch our 4th annual #bucketandspade list awards. You can vote for your favourite seaside attraction from our list of top ten nominations - #tinsidelido #shellgrotto #harbourbar #scarborough and more! See the full list at seasideheritage.org.uk/bucket-spade...

I cannot visit #Brighton without popping into The Grand Hotel. In a slight break with tradition, I am enjoying a tea rather than a cocktail. Gasp. Loving how some glorious ceiling details are reflected in the table...

Resting my weary paws at Saltdean's Whitecliffs Cafe following @seasidenetwork.bsky.social / Fred Gray's fabulous Art Deco Modernist walk (in the heat of the midday sun!) from Rottingdean to Saltdean. Now for a spot of gentle seagazing and foot rotations...

Current status: Grumpy Puddle. On vv warm train 2 of journey. For all travelling/already travelled to #Brighton for tomorrow's @seasidenetwork.bsky.social #seaside #heritage symposium, hope journeys are/were as smooth as possible! Hurrah, tomorrow's venue has aircon! Here's some London from train.

We're holding a meet up in London on 1st July. It doesn't matter if you're an author, broadcaster, tour guide or general hustler, you're more than welcome as long as you work in history and aren't part of academia (sorry lovely academics!) DM us for location as places are limited!

A week to go! #SeasideHeritage

Seaside Heritage Network@seasidenetwork.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Have you signed up for our June Symposium about Valuing Seaside Heritage? We're thrilled to be partnering again with @hbap1924.bsky.social and also have support from @heritagenetwork.bsky.social this year. Full details here: hbap.org.uk/valuing-seas...

I'm delighted too! Looking forward to seeing IHN develop. Exciting times 🤩. See👇 and follow @indyhistnetwork.bsky.social

Independent Historians Network (UK)@indyhistnetwork.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Kathryn, Lucy & I are delighted that @karenaverby.bsky.social is joining the team behind IHN! Between us we have loads of ideas about what this network can do and achieve for independent historians out there. Sign up to our newsletter, follow us or join us for drinks on 1st July! (DM for details)

The rather unloved-looking Tameside Hippodrome unexpectedly loomed into my vision as I arrived at Tameside Archives... Does anyone know of its fate? It looks pretty lonely. #GreaterManchester #Tameside

Wheeeeeeeee! The Water Chute, Marine Lake, Rhyl. From the wonderful The People’s Collection Wales

The Water Chute, Marine Lake, Rhyl

This postcard shows the scene down the Water Chute at Marine Lake Pleasure Grounds in Rhyl.

peoplescollection.wales

When research interests collide! Happy 100th birthday to Skegness' neo-Georgian GII listed former Town Hall, North Parade! 1926: opened as a convalescent home 1964: repurposed as a town hall 2023: sold as 'surplus to requirements' & plans approved to convert it into a hotel.

Say hello to these fabulous beasties who live on #Birmingham's Church of St Martin in the Bullring. Met them at the end of a fab stillwalking.org walk- Devilish Details. Always #lookup! #Architecture #gargoyles #grotesques

One of my latest #HouseHistory projects took me to #Northallerton where I stayed at Porch House, reputedly the town's oldest house. Loved my room, with exposed beams here & there, wonky floor & this painting of Charles I astride a chonky horse-cow. He stayed there apparently. Charles, not the horse.

Important intervention by the @royalhistsoc.org, @ihr.bsky.social, History UK, and the Historical Association. I hope politicians will take note.

Protecting What Matters: A joint statement by the Historical Association, History UK, Royal Historical Society and the IHR

Protecting what matters: A joint statement by the Historical Association, History UK, Royal Historical Society and the IHR

history.ac.uk

I finally travelled the Pineapple Express! ... aka the new Camp Hill line... Fabulous to see views I'd not seen before, though couldn't photograph ones near town, on account of the dazzling teatime sunshine! #Birmingham

Accidental Batley visit...! Just time enough to snap a couple of interesting buildings before popping off to my correct destination... #historicbuildings #architecture #researchtrip #historianlife #Yorkshire