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Workers at Burton Menswear, Leeds. The Hudson Road factory became the world's biggest clothing factory, employing 10,000 and producing more than 30,000 suits a week (West Yorkshire Archive).

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Leeds, c.1950, photo by Roger Mayne (1929-2014).

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Whitby Rooftops, by Yorkshire artist Clare Caulfield.

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Spinky’s Mama @spinkysmama.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Little boy in Salford enjoying a quiet moment, 1957, photo by Neil Libbert, Salford-born photographer.

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Reposted by Brian Groom

@groomb.bsky.social spotted on the ground floor of Waterstones Piccadilly (London)

The British History section of Waterstones Piccadilly, London 24 July 2026, with ‘These Isles’ by Brian Groom top centre.

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Brian Groom @groomb.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

View from the kitchen window of a Maryhill tenement, Glasgow, 1970, photo by Nick Hedges.

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I'll be talking about 'These Isles: A People's History of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales' at Howden & District u3a, east Yorkshire, on Thurs Oct 29th, 10.30am. The Shire Hall, Market Place. howden.u3asite.uk/home/

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Luci Gosling (it’s short for Lucinda) @lucigosling.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Pontypridd at Night, 1953, painting by Esther Grainger, 1912-90, Cardiff-born Welsh artist and teacher (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru/National Library of Wales).

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Reposted by Brian Groom

Represented by us at Mary Evans Picture Library. Visit www.maryevans.com to see Shirley’s body of work on Manchester & Salford plus much more.

maryevans.com

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Mark Payne @markpayne.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

It's on my Christmas List... 😀

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Brian Groom @groomb.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

‘The book offers an exhilarating bird’s eye view of these four nations, shifting our attention away from London, from kings and parliaments, and moving us further west and north.’ - review of THESE ISLES in the Daily Mail.

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Brian Groom @groomb.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Price drop: the audiobook of 'Made in Manchester: A People's History of the City that Shaped the Modern World' is currently available for £4.99, one-third of the usual price. A bargain. www.amazon.co.uk/Made-Manches...

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Manchester, 1961, photo by Shirley Baker.

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Tripe Purveyor, painting by Glen Williams, Huddersfield-based artist raised in Rotherham.

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Bar Scene, Spennymoor, County Durham, painting by Norman Cornish, 1919-2014 (Durham County Council).

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Robert Stephenson's Rocket demonstrated winning performance on this day 1829 during the Rainhill Trials to decide on a locomotive for the Liverpool-Manchester line, the first inter-city passenger railway. It clocked 29mph at various points.

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Brian Groom @groomb.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Manchester's forgotten underground Market Centre beneath Market Street. Opened 1972, boasted more than 100 stores. Closed 1989, parts of the infrastructure now dilapidated.

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'These Isles' a few weeks ago at Cogito Books, Hexham.

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Brian Groom @groomb.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Collecting the turf, Clogher, County Tyrone, Ireland, early 20th century, photo by Rose Shaw.

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I look forward hugely to appearing at London St Andrew's Book Festival @standrewsbookfest.bsky.social in conversation with Prof Murray Pittock @murrayp.bsky.social and Hugo Rifkind @hugorifkind.bsky.social, Thurs Nov 19th 6.30pm. Book here: www.ticketsource.com/standrewsboo...

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Scottish Highlands, 1875, painting by Paul Gustave Doré, French artist (Toledo Museum of Art).

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More reader comments on THESE ISLES: 'Great read!! Cracking book as all your books Brian.' '"These Isles" well worth reading if you want to know more about the history of Britain and Ireland.' 'Read that and Northerners, lovely books!!!!'

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Children head to school up Bengel Street, Low Hill, Liverpool c.1939 (Mirrorix/Liverpool Echo).

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Teenage life, Lancashire, 1957, photo by Bert Hardy.

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Suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst, centre, in Manchester, January 1913.

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Longsight, Manchester, 1969, photo by Stephen Dowle.

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Brian Groom @groomb.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Gurnos Estate, Merthyr Tydfil, south Wales, 1980s, photo by Walter Waygood, Welsh photographer.

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I'm delighted to be returning to Sheffield's Off The Shelf Festival Of Words @otsfestival.bsky.social to talk about 'These Isles: A People's History of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales' on Friday October 23rd, 12.30pm, Millennium Gallery. Book here: offtheshelf.org.uk/events/these...

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Fair Day, Castlepollard, County Westmeath, painting by Letitia Marion Hamilton, Irish artist (1878-1964).

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Brian Groom @groomb.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Actually not quite the only one. Louise Haigh is currently the second. Castle's achievements included speed limits on roads, compulsory seat belts and the Equal Pay Act.

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'The adjacent islands are in flux again as they have been for millenniums. The picture remains unstable.' - review of THESE ISLES in the Irish Times.

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Jarrow ladies fire brigade, 1916 (Tyne & Wear Archives & Museum).

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Manchester schoolboys waiting for the next bus on flooded Kingsway, Burnage, July 16, 1973 (Mirrorpix/Manchester Evening News).

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Durham Station Road, painting by Eric Thompson (b.1947).

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The Great Fire of Newcastle and Gateshead began on this day 1854, leading to 53 deaths and hundreds injured. At least 800 homes and businesses were lost. Caused by explosion at worsted yarn factory owned by Wilson and Sons in Hillgate, Gateshead. (Pic: Illustrated London News.)

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