Brian Groom
@groomb.bsky.social
9.6K followers 6.7K following 4.8K posts
Ex-Financial Times Assistant Editor. Ex-editor Scotland on Sunday. Author of 'Made in Manchester' (2024) and bestselling 'Northerners: A History' (2022).
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My books 'Made in Manchester: A People's History of the City That Shaped the Modern World' and 'Northerners: A History, from the Ice Age to the Present Day' available in paperback and hardback, from bookshops and websites. Publisher: @harpernorth.bsky.social
groomb.bsky.social
Autumn in Upper Wharfdale, North Yorkshire, by Gertrude Crompton, 1874-1959 (Victoria Art Gallery, Bath). #WomensArt #NorthernArt
groomb.bsky.social
Liverpool, 1956, photo by Thurston Hopkins.
groomb.bsky.social
Smartly dressed village children in Scholes, south Yorkshire, 1906. Almost all the working population in the village were coal miners.
groomb.bsky.social
The Tyne Bridge between Newcastle and Gateshead was officially opened by George V on this day 1928. Designed by Mott, Hay and Anderson, who later designed the Forth Road Bridge, and built by Dorman Long of Middlesbrough.
groomb.bsky.social
Emmeline Pankhurst founded the Women's Social and Political Union with her daughter Christabel on this day 1903.
groomb.bsky.social
Made in Manchester: Emmeline Pankhurst (1858-1928), born in Moss Side, founded the suffragettes, yet ended as a Conservative. Historians argue about whether her militancy helped or hurt the women's suffrage movement. She certainly raised its profile. 1/8
Reposted by Brian Groom
groomb.bsky.social
Inside Manchester's tour guide turf wars.
manchestermill.bsky.social
This may all seem innocent but, behind the scenes, the people in charge of showing other people around Manchester are engaged in a constant turf war, one of stolen customers, destroyed equipment, false reviews, and the occasional physical scrap.

Read the full story by @ophiraophira.bsky.social here
Inside Manchester’s tour guide turf wars
Stolen customers, broken flags, physical fights: have the people taking us around Manchester lost their way?
manchestermill.co.uk
groomb.bsky.social
Little boy in Salford enjoying a quiet moment, 1957, photo by Neil Libbert, Salford-born photographer.
Reposted by Brian Groom
groomb.bsky.social
I'll be talking about 'Made in Manchester' at 103-year-old Manchester Luncheon Club on Friday 17th October, 12 noon, Holiday Inn, Aytoun Street. www.manchesterluncheonclub.org.uk
groomb.bsky.social
Whitby Rooftops, by Yorkshire artist Clare Caulfield. #WomensArt #NorthernArt
groomb.bsky.social
No date, looks 1950s.
groomb.bsky.social
Albert Square, Manchester, c.1878 (Manchester Libraries).
groomb.bsky.social
Sunderland, 1974, photo by Ian Berry (b.1934).
groomb.bsky.social
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).
groomb.bsky.social
Leeds, c.1950, photo by Roger Mayne (1929-2014).
groomb.bsky.social
Autumn Regrets, painting by John Atkinson Grimshaw, 1836-93 (Shipley Art Gallery). #NorthernArt
groomb.bsky.social
Chester Road, Stretford, early 1900s.
Reposted by Brian Groom
groomb.bsky.social
I’ve signed paperback copies of ‘Made in Manchester’ and ‘Northerners’ at the excellent Waterstones Macclesfield.
groomb.bsky.social
Whitby, north Yorkshire, photo by Siân Nichol.
groomb.bsky.social
Market Place, Wigan, in 1824. Painted c.1950s by Harry Walder from an 1824 drawing by John Harwood and 1831 engraving by Henry Winkles (Wigan Council).