Nocturnal amblings in and around Brindley Place, #Birmingham following a spoopy canal trip. Because as you know, I do love a #canal. And buildings. And canal buildings... #BirminghamArchitecture #CanalHeritage #HistorianLife

🎶Tomorrow, tomorrow...only a day away...🎵 Freelance/ independent historians/ built heritage/ historical archaeologists, researchers,etc Independent Historians Network social meetup TOMORROW, BIRMINGHAM 6pm. Pls message @indyhistnetwork.bsky.social or contact via independenthistorians.org/contact/

If anyone is interested in going to this then DM us - we could get a group together and visit en masse! :-)

School of Advanced Study, University of London@sas-news.bsky.social · last mo.

The @ihr.bsky.social, @senatehouselib.bsky.social and SAS are excited to announce that bookings are now open for History Day 2026! 🥳 Save the date for Wednesday 18 November and join us in Senate House for this celebration of all things history. Book your free place: https://bit.ly/4yw4zWt

In the 1970s, Clevedon Pier – once hailed as ‘the most beautiful pier in England’ – faced demolition. But, after years of campaigning, planning & fundraising, the Grade I Pier was restored & reopened. Today, it welcomes over 100,000 visitors a year. 👇 ahfund.org.uk/anniversary/... #AHF50

Ooh, and please share with your networks 🤗.

Karen Averby 🌊@karenaverby.bsky.social · last mo.

Independent Historians! Fancy a meetup in Birmingham (6pm on the 16th) and/ or Leeds (30th)? Informal drinks/ chats...It will be great to see you! Non-members welcome 🤗 DM @indyhistnetwork.bsky.social for more details. See you there 🤩.

Independent Historians! Fancy a meetup in Birmingham (6pm on the 16th) and/ or Leeds (30th)? Informal drinks/ chats...It will be great to see you! Non-members welcome 🤗 DM @indyhistnetwork.bsky.social for more details. See you there 🤩.

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

Have you heard that we are hosting two meet-ups for independent historians? If you are in the North or the Midlands come and join us for drinks and chat! Open to non-members Near the main train stations B'ham - 16th Leeds - 30th DM for details We are super friendly and can't wait to meet you!

We have just sent out our first ever newsletter to our Members! What a nerve-wracking moment! If you would like to receive news, access resources and meet other historians you can sign up for IHN for just £10 a year! independenthistorians.org

Independent Historians Network

The place for independent and freelance historians to connect

independenthistorians.org

Two #seasidetransport nominees from our #bucketandspadelist. Volks Electric Railway has been running along #brighton seafront since 1883 while #aberystwyth cliff railway has been providing breath taking views since 1896. seasideheritage.org.uk/bucket-spade... 📷Tim Steven/ @karenaverby.bsky.social

A forgotten photo (my phone has gazillions!). Victoria pub, John Bright Street, #Birmingham. It's a striking colour scheme for sure... #architecture #BirminghamArchitecture

#HistorianOnHoliday Pootling along the Rainbow Walk in lovely Seyðisfjörður, sniffing out historic buildings as I go. Here I'm heading towards Seyðisfjarðarkirkja which appears to either be holding that cloud aloft, else it is puffing it from its steeple. #Iceland #IcelandAdventure #HistorianLife

Ooh town halls! V chuffed to be quoted throughout Fiona Wagstaff's lovely article on town halls in August's Homes&Antiques. Had lovely chat with her on their history/society/architecture. She did fab job distilling into an article! Interest piqued? Buy my book! www.amberley-books.com/town-halls.h...

Historian goes an-adventuring... That's a peeping Greenland in the background!

Calling all independent historians in Birmingham/West Mids! And those passing through for Bham Heritage Week! There's a @indyhistnetwork.bsky.social social meet up Weds 16 Sept in central Brum- would be lovely to meet you. If you fancy coming, pls message @indyhistnetwork.bsky.social for details.

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

Historians in the Midlands, prepare to leave the archives! Come and meet us on Weds 16th Sept for drinks and a chat. We want to grow our network across the country and we need you to join! Sign up here: forms.gle/MBeGo4FrkVNU... Photo by Giammarco Boscaro on Unsplash

Hello! Does anyone out there have a copy of August's Homes & Antiques, and wouldn't mind sharing a couple of pages via DM/ email? My one-off copy has not arrived 😞, and I think that I'm quoted in one of the articles! Thank you 🙂

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 · 2mo 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 · 3mo ago

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 · 3mo 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 · 3mo ago

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 · 3mo ago

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...