Matt Houlbrook
@tricksterprince.bsky.social
Cultural history, Britain, cities, sexuality & gender, #20s30s.
Now - Songs of Seven Dials: An intimate history of 1920s and 1930s London (MUP)
Next - The Self-Improvers: The people who remade themselves and made the modern world
Now - Songs of Seven Dials: An intimate history of 1920s and 1930s London (MUP)
Next - The Self-Improvers: The people who remade themselves and made the modern world
Pinned
If you're after a festive gift or want to treat yourself @manchesterup.bsky.social are offering a 40% discount on Songs of Seven Dials at the moment.
A new history of London and the 1920s and 1930s for the knockdown price of £12: what's not to like?
manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526181954/
A new history of London and the 1920s and 1930s for the knockdown price of £12: what's not to like?
manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526181954/
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Huge thanks to @luketurner.bsky.social for the generous, thoughtful, pointed review of Songs of Seven Dials in @theobserveruk.bsky.social. That was worth a wet walk to the shops for.
December 7, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Huge thanks to @luketurner.bsky.social for the generous, thoughtful, pointed review of Songs of Seven Dials in @theobserveruk.bsky.social. That was worth a wet walk to the shops for.
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
I worked at St. Tommy's, then HM Treasury, in the 80s. Soho was still the sort of place a pimp would just walk up to you and say "interested in a young lady, sir?". (I shopped for SF and occult books, so mostly Dark They Were... original FP & Watkins'. But was a Fangoria fan, so Charles H Fox too.)
December 7, 2025 at 11:14 AM
I worked at St. Tommy's, then HM Treasury, in the 80s. Soho was still the sort of place a pimp would just walk up to you and say "interested in a young lady, sir?". (I shopped for SF and occult books, so mostly Dark They Were... original FP & Watkins'. But was a Fangoria fan, so Charles H Fox too.)
These are exactly the stories of Seven Dials.
my great-grandparents arrived in the UK in the 1890s with nothing.
they sold pickles from the front room window, took in laundry, worked as tailors.
their children were nurses, teachers, salesmen.
their grandchildren were professors, designers, opticians, doctors, magistrates, entrepreneurs.
they sold pickles from the front room window, took in laundry, worked as tailors.
their children were nurses, teachers, salesmen.
their grandchildren were professors, designers, opticians, doctors, magistrates, entrepreneurs.
This is so disgusting.
December 7, 2025 at 11:21 AM
These are exactly the stories of Seven Dials.
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
in my head this connects to the distorted tourist version of Britain served on a plate to outsiders, all Spitfires cockney chimney-sweeps and bunting
(I worked at a community centre in Soho before everything meaningful was sanded away to a reflective meaningless gloss)
bsky.app/profile/jonn...
(I worked at a community centre in Soho before everything meaningful was sanded away to a reflective meaningless gloss)
bsky.app/profile/jonn...
"If you’ve ever wondered how a Trump speech might read with all the rapier sharp wit and easy charm stripped out, I can heartily recommend the Tucker Carlson piece published by the Spectator last week..."
Why, to mangle a quote from a work of great American literature, are they so obsessed with us?
Why, to mangle a quote from a work of great American literature, are they so obsessed with us?
Why does Tucker Carlson hate Britain?
His garish fantasies about our country are starting to infect our own conservative movement
www.newstatesman.com
December 7, 2025 at 10:55 AM
in my head this connects to the distorted tourist version of Britain served on a plate to outsiders, all Spitfires cockney chimney-sweeps and bunting
(I worked at a community centre in Soho before everything meaningful was sanded away to a reflective meaningless gloss)
bsky.app/profile/jonn...
(I worked at a community centre in Soho before everything meaningful was sanded away to a reflective meaningless gloss)
bsky.app/profile/jonn...
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
I'm definitely here for working class microhistories.
December 7, 2025 at 9:17 AM
I'm definitely here for working class microhistories.
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Yeah, it's an atomic bomb of consumerism. I'll be interested to actually read the history that got nuked to make way for it all.
December 7, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Yeah, it's an atomic bomb of consumerism. I'll be interested to actually read the history that got nuked to make way for it all.
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
You might think that the "Labour" Party would consider labour itself to be a contribution to society, alas no, only "having lots of money" is a real contribution.
Perhaps they need to change their name to the Capital Party?
Perhaps they need to change their name to the Capital Party?
December 7, 2025 at 9:06 AM
You might think that the "Labour" Party would consider labour itself to be a contribution to society, alas no, only "having lots of money" is a real contribution.
Perhaps they need to change their name to the Capital Party?
Perhaps they need to change their name to the Capital Party?
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Hey everyone, here's the news, if you aren't a high earner, entrepreneur or a "skilled frontline worker" (whatever the fuck that means) the "Labour" Party says you aren't contributing, you're a taker!
December 7, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Hey everyone, here's the news, if you aren't a high earner, entrepreneur or a "skilled frontline worker" (whatever the fuck that means) the "Labour" Party says you aren't contributing, you're a taker!
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
my great-grandparents arrived in the UK in the 1890s with nothing.
they sold pickles from the front room window, took in laundry, worked as tailors.
their children were nurses, teachers, salesmen.
their grandchildren were professors, designers, opticians, doctors, magistrates, entrepreneurs.
they sold pickles from the front room window, took in laundry, worked as tailors.
their children were nurses, teachers, salesmen.
their grandchildren were professors, designers, opticians, doctors, magistrates, entrepreneurs.
December 7, 2025 at 8:59 AM
my great-grandparents arrived in the UK in the 1890s with nothing.
they sold pickles from the front room window, took in laundry, worked as tailors.
their children were nurses, teachers, salesmen.
their grandchildren were professors, designers, opticians, doctors, magistrates, entrepreneurs.
they sold pickles from the front room window, took in laundry, worked as tailors.
their children were nurses, teachers, salesmen.
their grandchildren were professors, designers, opticians, doctors, magistrates, entrepreneurs.
Huge thanks to @luketurner.bsky.social for the generous, thoughtful, pointed review of Songs of Seven Dials in @theobserveruk.bsky.social. That was worth a wet walk to the shops for.
December 7, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Huge thanks to @luketurner.bsky.social for the generous, thoughtful, pointed review of Songs of Seven Dials in @theobserveruk.bsky.social. That was worth a wet walk to the shops for.
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
You might enjoy having a play around with Layers of London, if you’ve not looked at it before: www.layersoflondon.org/map/overlays
Layers of London
www.layersoflondon.org
December 6, 2025 at 9:27 AM
You might enjoy having a play around with Layers of London, if you’ve not looked at it before: www.layersoflondon.org/map/overlays
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Really lovely review - the S London youth club I volunteer for and trying to pressgang people into supporting was originally set up to serve the boys of the Seven Dials slum. Then, reflecting that book, relocated to outer zone 2 in 1949 when no kids left to serve in that area.
December 6, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Really lovely review - the S London youth club I volunteer for and trying to pressgang people into supporting was originally set up to serve the boys of the Seven Dials slum. Then, reflecting that book, relocated to outer zone 2 in 1949 when no kids left to serve in that area.
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
I couldn’t fit this in the review, but it was a joy to have a strange augmented experience reading this with google street view and the NLS historic maps layers open, it brought the pages to life in a really marvellous way
maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/...
maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/...
December 6, 2025 at 9:15 AM
I couldn’t fit this in the review, but it was a joy to have a strange augmented experience reading this with google street view and the NLS historic maps layers open, it brought the pages to life in a really marvellous way
maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/...
maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/...
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
In The Observer, I’ve reviewed Songs Of Seven Dials: @tricksterprince.bsky.social’s fascinating, detailed history of the changing streets of Covent Garden through the early c20th. From race to jingoistic media to gentrification, a book full of resonances today
observer.co.uk/culture/book...
observer.co.uk/culture/book...
Lament for a lost London | The Observer
observer.co.uk
December 6, 2025 at 9:11 AM
In The Observer, I’ve reviewed Songs Of Seven Dials: @tricksterprince.bsky.social’s fascinating, detailed history of the changing streets of Covent Garden through the early c20th. From race to jingoistic media to gentrification, a book full of resonances today
observer.co.uk/culture/book...
observer.co.uk/culture/book...
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Labour Party might want to look into a name change
December 6, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Labour Party might want to look into a name change
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
A day and a bit left, would be lovely to raise as much as possible for this wonderful cause, one very close to my heart
Bidding is now open on my fuzzy felt Mari Lwyd, along with so many other wonderful works of art.
All funds go to domestic violence charities, please do bid if you can afford to and feel able, it would be great to raise as much money as possible🐴💀👻
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/15748996...
All funds go to domestic violence charities, please do bid if you can afford to and feel able, it would be great to raise as much money as possible🐴💀👻
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/15748996...
December 6, 2025 at 3:21 PM
A day and a bit left, would be lovely to raise as much as possible for this wonderful cause, one very close to my heart
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
2026 World Cup = 1936 Olympics. No excuse for participation
December 5, 2025 at 6:07 PM
2026 World Cup = 1936 Olympics. No excuse for participation
This is a photograph of John Williamson in around 1930, standing outside Greaves' shop. We think the image was taken in Dronfield. John lost both his legs when he fell under a train.
#DisabilityHistoryMonth #1930s
#DisabilityHistoryMonth #1930s
December 5, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Avoid Amazon. Shop Small!
Tomorrow is Small Business Saturday. We hope you can get down to a brilliant local indie bookshop. If not, snap up a book and support indie booksellers with us - and you're in with the chance of winning a £250 Bookshop.org gift card.
Support bookshops, not billionaires.
Tomorrow is Small Business Saturday. We hope you can get down to a brilliant local indie bookshop. If not, snap up a book and support indie booksellers with us - and you're in with the chance of winning a £250 Bookshop.org gift card.
Support bookshops, not billionaires.
December 5, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Avoid Amazon. Shop Small!
Tomorrow is Small Business Saturday. We hope you can get down to a brilliant local indie bookshop. If not, snap up a book and support indie booksellers with us - and you're in with the chance of winning a £250 Bookshop.org gift card.
Support bookshops, not billionaires.
Tomorrow is Small Business Saturday. We hope you can get down to a brilliant local indie bookshop. If not, snap up a book and support indie booksellers with us - and you're in with the chance of winning a £250 Bookshop.org gift card.
Support bookshops, not billionaires.
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Think much of the over-parenting we despise stems from the early on fear of the driver.
If parents weren't terrified of our streets kids would have so much more freedom and independence which might get them comfortable with their children's ability to navigate the world without them.
If parents weren't terrified of our streets kids would have so much more freedom and independence which might get them comfortable with their children's ability to navigate the world without them.
December 5, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Think much of the over-parenting we despise stems from the early on fear of the driver.
If parents weren't terrified of our streets kids would have so much more freedom and independence which might get them comfortable with their children's ability to navigate the world without them.
If parents weren't terrified of our streets kids would have so much more freedom and independence which might get them comfortable with their children's ability to navigate the world without them.
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Everyone’s talking about whether Farage was racist to schoolchildren as a boy when he was racist to schoolchildren THIS WEEK. All the kids who are of reading age can read what he says about them.
John Swinney has responded to Nigel Farage's attack on Glasgow schoolchildren, calling it 'quite simply racist'
John Swinney responds to Nigel Farage's 'racist' attack on Glasgow schoolchildren
www.thenational.scot
December 5, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Everyone’s talking about whether Farage was racist to schoolchildren as a boy when he was racist to schoolchildren THIS WEEK. All the kids who are of reading age can read what he says about them.
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Some of the photos and stories from my recent visit to the tent encampment behind the Adelphi building, a luxury office complex occupied by billionaire-owned businesses. Two contrasting faces of England in 2025.
https://www.bigissue.com/news/housing/tent-village-london-strand-homeless-encampment/
https://www.bigissue.com/news/housing/tent-village-london-strand-homeless-encampment/
What a row over a tent village in London says about the homelessness crisis
A homeless tent village on London's Strand is to be demolished. Photographer Marc Davenant captured the stories of the people who live there.
www.bigissue.com
December 5, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Some of the photos and stories from my recent visit to the tent encampment behind the Adelphi building, a luxury office complex occupied by billionaire-owned businesses. Two contrasting faces of England in 2025.
https://www.bigissue.com/news/housing/tent-village-london-strand-homeless-encampment/
https://www.bigissue.com/news/housing/tent-village-london-strand-homeless-encampment/
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Our promotion of 40% off on all orders for greeting cards & prints has got just four days to run until 23.59 on 08/12/25, so, time is running out! Simply enter the coupon code of either: CardFriday or PrintFriday at the checkout when prompted here: eastlondongroup.co.uk Enjoy! #EastLondonGroup
East London Group | Explore and Discover Art Today
Explore the history, artwork, and exhibits of the East London Group, including artist biographies, prints, and books. Discover more about this historic art collective today.
eastlondongroup.co.uk
December 5, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Our promotion of 40% off on all orders for greeting cards & prints has got just four days to run until 23.59 on 08/12/25, so, time is running out! Simply enter the coupon code of either: CardFriday or PrintFriday at the checkout when prompted here: eastlondongroup.co.uk Enjoy! #EastLondonGroup
A wee trailer for the about-to-be-released interactive 3D model of the Empire Exhibition of 1938. The original modelling of all these pavilions was done in 2007. This new app incorporates archival materials and quotes from contemporary Glaswegians.
#Glasgow #history #research #playfulLearning #3D
#Glasgow #history #research #playfulLearning #3D
December 5, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
It's #sketchpadvent – celebrating amazing modernist concept drawings and models. December 1: Milton Keynes from 1981
December 1, 2025 at 10:39 AM
It's #sketchpadvent – celebrating amazing modernist concept drawings and models. December 1: Milton Keynes from 1981