iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Christopher Hilton

University of Brighton Design Archives @designarchives.bsky.social · 19h

A selection of fabrics and wallpapers from the Festival of Britain exhibition, 1951, published in 'Design from the Festival', one of the many digitised resources available on our website - designarchives.brighton.ac.uk/resources/do... @designcouncil.bsky.social archive DCA/32/2/1/78

a 2-page magazine spread with colour and black and white photos of wallpapers and textiles. Patterns include florals, checks, stripes

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Christopher Hilton @chilton-bb.bsky.social · 4h

Goodness, this looks simultaneously very familiar - this is the sort of stock that was around when I first started commuting in from South London - and extremely ancient. The slam-doors you could open while the train was in motion we took for granted then but they look bizarre now.

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Reposted by Christopher Hilton

Disability History Association @disability-history.bsky.social · 6h

The Disability History association is seeking new board members! We're looking for a new Director of Membership and a graduate student to serve as our Director of Student Affairs. More info at the links. Questions? Email us! dishist.org/call-for-app... and dishist.org/call-for-app... #dishist 🗃️

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Exeter Cathedral @exetercathedral.bsky.social · 16h

Announcement: A selection of The Exeter Book’s famous riddles are now on display for the first time since the opening of the Treasures Exhibition in 2025. The Exeter Book is a treasured item listed on the UK UNESCO Memory of the World Register, preserving nearly all surviving Anglo-Saxon riddles.

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Andy Lewis @andylewis.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Every time someone links to this film, I have to repost it. It's one of the most significant bits of British 20th century art. Everything about it is incredible. Groundbreaking music production by Daphne Oram. Amazing camera work by Wolfgang Suschitzky (who later filmed Get Carter).-

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Christopher Hilton @chilton-bb.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

As it's TS Eliot’s birthday, here's the church at East Coker (the village his ancestors came from, which gives its name to the second of the Four Quartets, and where his ashes are buried) and the shelter in Margate where he wrote parts of The Waste Land.

The west front of an English parish church in honey-coloured stone, with a tall tower to one side of the nave. Conifers are massed along the far edge of the churchyard, marking the edge of parkland.

An early 30th century open fronted shelter on a promenade.

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cmillerartlife.bsky.social @cmillerartlife.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Two Constable exhibitions ending soon at British Museum and @ipswichmuseums.bsky.social which has the wonderful Walking Constable's Landscape (including Hay Wain) www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions/... ipswich.cimuseums.org.uk/constable250/

britishmuseum.org

John Constable: views of nature

Marking the 250th anniversary of his birth, this display celebrates the painter's lifelong engagement with the landscapes of rural England.

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Christopher Hilton @chilton-bb.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Periodically I and my early 80s gig-going circle will try to remember how we got advance tickets for a gig in another city without the Internet or (in our case) credit cards. These skills may suddenly have value again. "This, children, is a cheque, and this is a stamped addressed envelope..."

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Reposted by Christopher Hilton

The Salisbury Museum @salisburymuseum.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Last chance to see our 'Bloomsbury in Wiltshire' exhibition. Ends Sunday 27 September.

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Christopher Hilton @chilton-bb.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

During my 30 years as a London commuter I was part of that crowd flowing over London Bridge so often; it was strange thinking of the innumerable photos and films of us, clothes changing gradually with the years. So often there'd be a film crew capturing our feet for library footage...

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Christopher Hilton @chilton-bb.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Pleased to have lent a work by Colquhoun from the Red House collection to this. It's a cracking exhibition: if you're within reach of Kilmarnock in the next few months you should definitely go!

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Reposted by Christopher Hilton

Ray Newman @raynewman.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

“The problem: Pajitnov did not design these puzzle pieces, known as tetrominoes, and despite TTC’s relentless public-relations campaign to the contrary, they are not unique to Tetris... ” thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/the-bizarre-...

thereader.mitpress.mit.edu

The Bizarre, Murky History of Soviet-Born Tetris

Behind the beloved game lies a struggle over mathematical ideas, erased collaborators, offshore millions, and copyright power.

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Christopher Hilton @chilton-bb.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

In fairness, you didn't have to display all the toolbars (and some were for niche stuff you'd surely not need to show routinely) but I suspect everyone did this at least once.

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Reposted by Christopher Hilton

Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Woodworm and wood weevils can turn any document into a fine mesh of losses, which is why archives have policies and procedures in place - such as quarantining new accessions - to stop pests getting into the stores. #EYAErased #ArchiveConservation

A stack of small paper documents, held open with a glass weight. The paper is riddled with insect damage and impossible to read.

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Reposted by Christopher Hilton

Actuel Moyen Âge @agemoyen.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Une belle carte sur la Peste noire (de 1347 à 1352). L'épidémie se diffuse à partir de Marseille, puis de Narbonne. Notez l'importance de l'axe du Rhône (logique) mais aussi du couloir Narbonne-Bordeaux (plus inattendu à l'époque). Bilan : 30 à 60% de la pop meurt... ☠️

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Christopher Hilton @chilton-bb.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Fascinating stuff here - I particularly like the visualisation of migration flows.

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Christopher Hilton @chilton-bb.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

If anyone who follows me is in Southwold tomorrow afternoon, I'm speaking about Britten, Pears, the Red House and the art collection. Tickets from Sole Bay Lifelong Learning, contact details below.

An event poster, with text around a picture of Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears in their sixties, grey-haired, wearing raincoats and photographed outside on what looks like a rather raw day. The text reads:
BENJAMIN BRITTEN AND PETER
PEARS: SHARED LIVES,
SHARED LEGACY
An afternoon event at SOUTHWOLD ARTS CENTRE in the
company of Chris Hilton, archivist at The Red House, Aldeburgh,
home to Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears for many years.
Date: Thursday 24 September, 2pm - 4.30pm
Fee: £10 to include refreshments
Contact: maryrobin123@yahoo.com

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Reposted by Christopher Hilton

Simon Kővesi @kovesi.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Become a friend of John Clare Cottage for £40 a year. www.clarecottage.org/7/become-a-f...

clarecottage.org

Become a Friend

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Reposted by Christopher Hilton

We Made This @wemadethis.co.uk · 21/09/2026

I’ll be chatting about London’s street signs at the next Salon for the City – Salon No.139: The Lost and Curious World of London Signs – Thursday 29 October from 7pm at The Horse Hospital. Urban historian Jane Parker will be talking about London’s Ghost Signs. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/salon-no13...

eventbrite.co.uk

SALON NO.139: The Lost and Curious World of London Signs

Ghosts, Fonts, and Nameplates

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Christopher Hilton @chilton-bb.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Random realisation just now, talking about National Service in the 1950s: Coronation Street begins in 1960, just after National Service was abolished, so it and the other, later, TV soaps never had to deal with a young male character vanishing for 2 years. How did The Archers handle it, I wonder?

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Christopher Hilton @chilton-bb.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Not far down the coast from here, and definitely in the running for one of Britain's weirder corners: should certainly be on people's bucket-list.

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Christopher Hilton @chilton-bb.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Over on Instagram, Judith from the Red House archive team is talking about the manuscript for Britten's piano concerto and what it tells us about the composer's life and working process: www.instagram.com/p/DdTiAihO0lV/

instagram.com

Instagram

Create an account or log in to Instagram - Share what you're into with the people who get you.

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Dr Johnson's House @drjohnsonshouse.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Visit us this weekend as part of Open House🗝️ and see our newly installed plaque honouring Francis Barber, servant, friend and heir of Samuel Johnson. Entry to the House is free this weekend. Come and discover more about Francis Barber and his remarkable life at 17 Gough Square.

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Christopher Hilton @chilton-bb.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Definitely a big year for hummingbird hawk-moths at the Red House: spent a lot of the summer watching them work the flowers outside the archive office window.

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Reposted by Christopher Hilton

This Is My Glasgow @thisismyglasgow.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Just a quick reminder it's door open day here in Glasgow this weekend, where you can get into places and spaces which aren't usually open to the public, such as the Citizens Theatre. You can find details of everything that's on here: www.glasgowdoorsopendays.org.uk #glasgow #doorsopenday

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Reposted by Christopher Hilton

Suffolk Archives @suffolkarchives.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

An archivist led exploration of the history and archives of Suffolk's psychiatric hospitals and some of the individuals and patients who worked at or spent time in them. Book orlo.uk/53sAR

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Christopher Hilton @chilton-bb.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

This day last year, walking from Ipswich station to a garage meant a stretch along the former Ipswich & Stowmarket Navigation (the River Gipping) which snakes its way through the western edge of town down to the former Handford Sea Lock.

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Christopher Hilton @chilton-bb.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Oh brave new world, that has such people in't!

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Reposted by Christopher Hilton

Mass Observation Archive @massobsarchive.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Exciting news (well we think so)! We are looking for new people to regularly contribute to our archive! We accept applications from anyone based in the UK who has an interest in sending us their thoughts and opinions about life in the UK. #Skystorians massobs.org.uk/write-for-th...

massobs.org.uk

Write for the archive - Mass Observation Archive

Writing for Mass Observation You can apply to write for the archive here. Current Observers If you are one of our current Observers you may find our handbook for new Observers helpful. This has all th...

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Christopher Hilton @chilton-bb.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Not just a great film in its own right, but: connoisseurs of mid-century detective fiction will see at 18:03 a poster in Waverley station advertising Michael Gilbert's latest novel.

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Christopher Hilton @chilton-bb.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Seconded: I can't think of a more relevant skill right now than being able to query *who* it is that's saying something, and *why*.

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Christopher Hilton @chilton-bb.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Little moment of triumph - just learned how to turn off the AI features in Acrobat. Hurrah! No, I don't want you to summarise the document I'm reading, I want you to get lost and leave me to it. helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/desk...

helpx.adobe.com

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Philippa Vishnyakov @revealmcr.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

15 September 1830 Opening of Liverpool-Manchester railway line for passenger travel. William Huskisson MP was killed by a train, the first passenger death. The Manchester station building remains @sim-manchester.bsky.social which opened on site on 15 September 1983.

Replica railway carriages at National Rail Museum York. A yellow, covered carriage emblazoned with Liverpool Manchester Railway Company. Behind - a green open wagon.

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Markonthemaps (Mark Ovenden) @markonthemaps.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

#OTD 100 years ago, 7 new #Underground stations opened serving #SouthLondon. With beautiful modern designs by #CharlesHolden and escalators to all platforms, it was a huge boon to southern suburbs and brought the #Tube to Morden. #TransportForLondon #TFL #Train #TransitSky

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Christopher Hilton @chilton-bb.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Fascinating example of how the visible townscape can fossilise an event: in this case the outbreak of WW1. (Similarly in my South London days I'd often drive through an area - Coney Hall - that marks where suburban expansion got to before WW2 and then the Green Belt curtailed the sprawl.)

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Christopher Hilton @chilton-bb.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Not the main point of the article, but a fascinating read even if you don't work in HE: I can think of similar workplace experiences, but hadn't seen the grief / checking-out / loss of one's sense of worth in the tribe described so clearly before.

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Reposted by Christopher Hilton

KateW @kateweb.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

A collection of Nancy Banks-Smith's columns, being published early next year! (She was the Guardian's TV critic for many years, and brilliant.)

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Christopher Hilton @chilton-bb.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

On this day 6 years ago at Frankton locks on the Montgomeryshire canal, now restored and navigable; when I grew up a little further along the canal this junction led nowhere. On the first photo, the house on the right used to be a pub, to which the steps in the stone bank would have given access.

A view down a canal from the bridge across a narrow staircase lock. The canal curves to the left, between stone banks; on the left the land falls away to a lane; on the right, a 19th century house from which steps descend in the stone bank to the water.

A view across a canal lock towards a vista of fields and woods in golden sunset light.

The foot of a canal lock, the bottom gates open, with a vista of sunset-lit fields beyond.

A canal junction in sunset light: a fingerpost points right, down a branch, while a red-brick canal bridge glows beyond the junction.

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The Public Domain Review @publicdomainrev.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Chicken bones from lunch used as ballast, butterflies glimpsed at 5,000 feet — Travels in the Air (1871 edition) gathers remarkable tales from the early days of ballooning, accompanied by more than 100 beautiful illustrations: publicdomainreview.org/collection/t…

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Internet Archive @archive.org · 08/09/2026

Knitting machine punch cards are a living form of computing history. 🧶💾 In "Punch Card Knitting," Nichole Misako Nomura explores how these binary codes are still used today, and the challenges of preserving them. 📚 Read it in VANISHING CULTURE, FREE: archive.org/details/vani...

What can knitting machines teach us about the history of computing?

"They're an important piece of computing history—and crucially, one of the few that isn't only history because a broad community of people, on- and off-line, are still sharing knowledge on how to hack, restore, and use

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Christopher Hilton @chilton-bb.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Always been fascinated by the period in which Heligoland is under British rule; there's a parallel universe in which in the 1930s the UK still owns this chip of land off Germany in which spies and black marketeers mingle. (Wrote more about this here web.archive.org/web/20210313...)

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Christopher Hilton @chilton-bb.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Yesterday I turned up last to a meeting, holding a cup of coffee, and realised I was signalling to anyone watching that *I* was the mole.

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Christopher Hilton @chilton-bb.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

On this day 5 years ago, in Coventry, to revisit the cathedral and go to the Herbert Gallery's exhibition on Two-Tone (our youth culture, 40 years on). Interesting how many resonances there were: the cathedral's commitment to post-war reconciliation... 1/3

A poster for an exhibition on Two-Tone, with a stylised figure in black suit and tie and white hat dancing in front of a black and white checkerboard.

The statue of St Michael subduing the devil on the outside of Coventry cathedral, stark metal mounted on reddish sandstone.

Two photos of singer Terry Hall, with a short almost skinhead haircut, snatched from moving film.

The interior of Coventry cathedral, with a huge tapestry of Christ in Majesty towering over the altar.

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Christopher Hilton @chilton-bb.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Often thought if you gave me the chance to step through the screen into one film, this would be it. An endless Sunday cycling round the English Midlands on empty lanes, with the prospect of strong tea and an Eccles cake on the train home.

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