Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 25/09/2026My favourite is Kyrgyzstan, which is the sun seen through the opening at the top of a yurt. 181
Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 23/09/2026We got taken to the theatre to see the Welephant live show! 010
Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 14/09/2026More evidence that Black Country history is the best history. 060
Reposted by Simon BriercliffeSimon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 10/09/2026Two fun arrivals in the post today: the new edition of @historyireland.bsky.social with an article by yours truly about an Irishman abroad; and a textbook for my next year of @cnagaeilge.bsky.social Irish study in Brum. 011
Reposted by Simon BriercliffeAndy Mabbett @pigsonthewing.org.uk · 10/09/2026In the late 1960s, Enoch Powell - after his 'Rivers of Blood' speech - agreed to do an interview at the ATV studios in Birmingham, on condition that "the black girl" [journalist Barbara Blake Hannah] was not there. www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories...bbc.co.ukBarbara Blake Hannah: The first black female reporter on British TVIn 1968 Barbara Blake Hannah got a reporting job with Thames Television, but some viewers strongly objected. 111
Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 10/09/2026Two fun arrivals in the post today: the new edition of @historyireland.bsky.social with an article by yours truly about an Irishman abroad; and a textbook for my next year of @cnagaeilge.bsky.social Irish study in Brum. 011
Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 28/08/2026Heads up to anyone interested in learning Irish in the Midlands: enrolment now open for Conradh na Gaeilge courses in Birmingham: gaeilge.uk/learning-irish I've done these the last couple of years and they've been fantastic - great teachers, non-stressful format and pace, just loads of fun.gaeilge.ukLearning Irish - Conradh na Gaeilge BirminghamLearning Irish Our Irish Courses Our Beginners’ Course: Learn Irish Now! A1.1 Conradh na Gaeilge Birmingham is delighted to announce that […] 011
Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 23/08/2026(not that I am condoning golfers as a species, this experience also instilled a lifelong distaste) 000
Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 23/08/2026Before I went back to study I did course admin for the UoB golf degree. I regularly got this kind of report - the usual response was to invite the commentor to sit in on a year 2 metallurgy course, it soon shut them up. www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midland... 100
Reposted by Simon BriercliffeDr Marc Collinson @marccollinson.bsky.social · 19/08/2026Looking forward to this excellent event organised with @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social at the @bclivingmuseum.bsky.social promises to be a fascinating day of talks! 021
Reposted by Simon BriercliffeJustine Pick @justinepick.bsky.social · 19/08/2026Looking forward to this 'Beyond the Black Country' study day, co-hosted by @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social & @marccollinson.bsky.social Will also be delivering a short session on submitting to @midlandhistory.bsky.social journal A few spaces available on Sat 12 September 👇 073
Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 18/08/2026Should also include a session on submitting to the journal with the wonderful Justine Pick, please don't ever employ me as an editor. 020
Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 18/08/2026I have a few spaces available to attend a study day I'm running with @marccollinson.bsky.social @midlandhistory.bsky.social at the Black Country Living Museum on Sat 12th September. If you're into Black Country/West Mids history, or the local/national/global relationship, please get in touch! 1117
Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 09/06/2026I won't credit them by linking it, but the article makes some fun points about which authors we've chosen to label, despite us labelling absolutely everything 🙄 040
Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 09/06/2026I hope this wasn't the cause of it, but excited to note that the Telegraph (and a verbatim repeat in GBNews) have now discovered our disclaimers and are reacting totally normally 172
Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 08/06/2026Black Country Murder Jug www.tiktok.com/@blackcountr...tiktok.comSpooky Museum objects from our collection 👻 Part 1: “The Murder Jug”. #spookyseason #blackcountrylivingmuseum TikTok video by Black Country Living Museum 041
Reposted by Simon BriercliffeSMD's pension @anothersmd.bsky.social · 04/06/2026Why do I have to go to the local news section to find this story? Where are the protests demanding an end to the epidemic of white Brits murdering minorities? Will there be a national debate on the ills of cocaine abuse amongst white men?bbc.co.ukMan who stabbed student to death in Cambridge is jailed for lifeChas Corrigan, 22, will serve a minimum of 22 years for the murder of Mohammed Algasim last August. 31107476
Reposted by Simon BriercliffeModern British Studies Association @modbritstud.bsky.social · 03/06/2026A reminder that you can join the hybrid keynote #MBS2026 tomorrow June 4, 5.30pm: Catherine Hall, 'Laying an axe to the roots': history writing for the present. Sign up link below, free to all www.birmingham.ac.uk/events/moder...birmingham.ac.uk 144
Reposted by Simon BriercliffeMo Moulton @momoulton.bsky.social · 01/05/2026Join me and @echomikeromeo.bsky.social on 4 June for an evening of trans history at the Birmingham LGBT Centre. Expect fun stories, unexpected connections, serious takeaways, and a little bit of hope. Free but register here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/british-tr... 02111
Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 01/06/2026It's partly that, it's partly about the terrible framing of this as well. There's no attempt at trying to understand why a museum might wish to do this, so it's just rage bait. 000
Reposted by Simon BriercliffeNiamh NicGhabhann Coleman @niamhroisin.bsky.social · 01/06/2026I think it is worth calling it out for what it is. A really insidious wooden spoon, trying to stir up dissent at a time what such actions have real-life repercussions for many. Outrage farming. I’m totally sick of it! 011
Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 01/06/2026It's all so exhausting. I realise I'm contributing to the general outrage by posting about it too... 110
Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 01/06/2026This post was brought to you by the experience of pasting small disclaimers about potential content in every one of the 6000 books in our new library 040
Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 01/06/2026You definitely don't need to write an article about it with some rent-a-gob local tour guide who has a vested interest in ensuring his Main Character is only seen as good. 120
Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 01/06/2026This is such lazy reporting and manufactured outrage. This is bog-standard museum practice designed to prepare and safeguard front-of-house staff and provide more context for discussion, should it arise. It's not even in the written interpretation! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...bbc.co.ukHistorian brands Rochester museum's guidance on Dickens' 'ludicrous'Guidance to Guildhall Museum staff about Charles Dickens’ views on race and empire called unnecessary. 32610
Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 31/05/2026I suspect it was very patchy and more landlord-specific, and that consistent decor started to become more of a thing from the 70s, especially if it was a big brewer like Banks's who always made "heritage" part of their brand. 000
Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 31/05/2026The timeline really tracks - when we were researching our pub at @bclivingmuseum.bsky.social (Edwardian but set in 1960), everybody remembered cast-iron tables, but it turned out they were only installed when Banks's refurbed c1975, to give it more olde-worlde vibe 141
Reposted by Simon BriercliffeIrish Studies@LivUni @irishinstitute.bsky.social · 30/05/2026"Men We Seldom See - Irish Migrant Legacies and the British Construction Industry" We are looking for Irish migrants who worked in any aspect of the British construction industry for at least one year, and are willing to be interviewed. ℹ️ www.liverpool.ac.uk/irish-studie.... #oralhistory #SpéirGormliverpool.ac.uk Men We Seldom See | Institute of Irish Studies | University of Liverpool Research project at the Institute of Irish Studies looking at Irish Migrant Legacies and the British Construction Industry 01016
Reposted by Simon BriercliffeHistory of Advertising Trust @historyofads.bsky.social · 29/05/2026Wise words from The Cake and Biscuit Alliance in 1950 #NationalBiscuitDay 02713
Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 28/05/2026It's not really spring until Lady Emma Hamilton is out 020
Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 27/05/2026Fair, I can't hear Air on G String without picturing someone being stretchered off a football pitch smoking a cigar! 010
Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 27/05/2026In the UK there are two contenders only. 1. Armadillos youtu.be/bqeGxMgVOHI?... 2. Accrington Stanley youtu.be/pieK7b4KLL4?...youtu.beDime Bar Commercial [Armadillos] (Starring Harry Enfield) - 1995, UKYouTube video by ceilingsoldier 251
Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 26/05/2026Dudley High Street, looking towards St Thomas (better known as Top Church) 130
Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 26/05/2026The weather out here in the Shire has reached the point where I've just hung my trousers on the washing line and hosed them, rather than contemplate ironing. 010
Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 25/05/2026First step towards Saint JRR of Tolkien. 110
Reposted by Simon BriercliffePiers Haslam 🌺 @phghaslam.bsky.social · 21/05/2026Read the final part of my archival reflections from @norfolkro.bsky.social, about how rural Norfolk of yesteryear could be quite queer! It made me so happy to find these fabulous photos - I really wanted to share them 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 norfolkrecordofficeblog.org/2026/05/21/l... 1288
Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 22/05/2026Introduce yourself with 10 bands/musicians you've seen live Pulp James Brown REM The Breeders Gregory Isaacs Tanya Donnelly The Hives Mark Lanegan Nick Cave James [more than once edition] Frank Black Mogwai Bruce Springsteen John Grant Pixies Four Tet Kristin Hersh Laura Mvula Erasure Low 020
Reposted by Simon BriercliffeMic Wright @brokenbottleboy.bsky.social · 21/05/2026What the government is doing to trans people is a society-wide version of Section 28. It is a level of bureaucratic cruelty that utterly decimates a whole group of people’s rights and puts anyone who doesn’t ‘look’ right in the eyes of others under constant surveillance. It’s a horrific thing. 11652265
Reposted by Simon BriercliffeMáiréad Enright @maireadenright.bsky.social · 22/05/2026Hup the barman 🇮🇪 2165
Reposted by Simon BriercliffeKatrina Navickas @katrinanavickas.bsky.social · 21/05/2026Solidarity with all trans + people today. And if you're cis like me and have any agency in shaping your institution's policies regarding toilets etc, please exercise it in defence against those who want to take away human rights. 112749
Reposted by Simon BriercliffeIan Kikuchi @curatorian.bsky.social · 20/05/2026This story, insofar as it deals with the National Railway Museum, is utterly absurd. If you rock up to a museum event expecting to dump a load of stuff on the staff, and are then surprised to be politely refused, then you clearly have no idea what museums are for. www.cityam.com/a-state-of-t...cityam.comA state of the nation tale: The National Rail Museum won't accept a model railway setFrom museums that won't accept model railway sets to the NHS's refusal to share data, British inefficiency is costing us billions. 801708117
Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 21/05/2026World champions at shooting ourselves in our own feet. 010
Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 20/05/2026This is the dumbest thing Southampton have done since signing Ali Dia. Such a shame just as we'd finally found a manager who clicked after years - Eckert must have known though, right? It takes all the shine off a really impressive second half of the season. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...bbc.co.ukSpygate appeal: Southampton lose appeal against expulsion from play-offsSouthampton lose their appeal against expulsion from the Championship play-off final for spying. 330