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
Postcards from 1920s and 1930s Seven Dials 2
Before there was Seven Dials Market, there were the market traders of Little Earl Street.
#London #SevenDials #CoventGarden #History #20s30s
Before there was Seven Dials Market, there were the market traders of Little Earl Street.
#London #SevenDials #CoventGarden #History #20s30s
December 9, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Postcards from 1920s and 1930s Seven Dials 2
Before there was Seven Dials Market, there were the market traders of Little Earl Street.
#London #SevenDials #CoventGarden #History #20s30s
Before there was Seven Dials Market, there were the market traders of Little Earl Street.
#London #SevenDials #CoventGarden #History #20s30s
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
observer.co.uk/culture/book... Informative review of what looks like a fascinating book with real current resonance. Thanks Matt Houlbrook and Luke Turner
Lament for a lost London | The Observer
observer.co.uk
December 8, 2025 at 9:53 AM
observer.co.uk/culture/book... Informative review of what looks like a fascinating book with real current resonance. Thanks Matt Houlbrook and Luke Turner
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
‘No one seems to care’: scholars decry plight of British Library
Historian Peter Mandler said it was “a sorry state when a major piece of public infrastructure like this is hit so badly and no one in authority even seems to notice, much less care”.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...
Historian Peter Mandler said it was “a sorry state when a major piece of public infrastructure like this is hit so badly and no one in authority even seems to notice, much less care”.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...
‘No one seems to care’: scholars decry plight of British Library - Research Professional News
Humanities researchers suffer amid “agonisingly slow” recovery from 2023 cyberattack, as strikes cause further delays
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
December 8, 2025 at 9:37 AM
‘No one seems to care’: scholars decry plight of British Library
Historian Peter Mandler said it was “a sorry state when a major piece of public infrastructure like this is hit so badly and no one in authority even seems to notice, much less care”.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...
Historian Peter Mandler said it was “a sorry state when a major piece of public infrastructure like this is hit so badly and no one in authority even seems to notice, much less care”.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
History UK has today released its 'History UK Disability and History Report' (2025): bit.ly/44PH51Z
The report aims to raise the profile of issues relating to disability and history in UK Higher Education. Its research and writing were co-funded by the Royal Historical Society. #Skystorians
The report aims to raise the profile of issues relating to disability and history in UK Higher Education. Its research and writing were co-funded by the Royal Historical Society. #Skystorians
December 8, 2025 at 1:34 PM
History UK has today released its 'History UK Disability and History Report' (2025): bit.ly/44PH51Z
The report aims to raise the profile of issues relating to disability and history in UK Higher Education. Its research and writing were co-funded by the Royal Historical Society. #Skystorians
The report aims to raise the profile of issues relating to disability and history in UK Higher Education. Its research and writing were co-funded by the Royal Historical Society. #Skystorians
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Being a British parent is so weird bc you're actually worried about paying the sky high rent/mortgage & getting GP appointments but the entire press keeps telling you you're worried there's a trans person or immigrant nearby & the vat on Eton means there'll only be two skiing holidays this year
December 7, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Being a British parent is so weird bc you're actually worried about paying the sky high rent/mortgage & getting GP appointments but the entire press keeps telling you you're worried there's a trans person or immigrant nearby & the vat on Eton means there'll only be two skiing holidays this year
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
I feel conflicted about UK Disability History Month - I love that it exists but each year I grow more disillusioned by how much it gets overlooked and ignored.
1/8 🧵
1/8 🧵
December 9, 2025 at 9:12 AM
I feel conflicted about UK Disability History Month - I love that it exists but each year I grow more disillusioned by how much it gets overlooked and ignored.
1/8 🧵
1/8 🧵
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Remember when British Rail had proper stick-it-to the-enemy corporate branding? So do I
December 9, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Remember when British Rail had proper stick-it-to the-enemy corporate branding? So do I
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Remember: don’t amplify the posts of ‘historians’ who don’t credit images and videos they post from digital archives because they don’t give a toss about the hard work of people like Ian who make these wonderful resources accessible to us in the first place. 🩷
Recently digitised - at an airfield, two Hawker Hurricanes of No.607 Squadron Royal Air Force taxi after landing, and a Westland Lysander of No.4 Squadron passes overhead; July 1940. #filmcataloguing #ww2 #AvHist
Full film: IWM AYY 28-1 www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
Full film: IWM AYY 28-1 www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
December 9, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Remember: don’t amplify the posts of ‘historians’ who don’t credit images and videos they post from digital archives because they don’t give a toss about the hard work of people like Ian who make these wonderful resources accessible to us in the first place. 🩷
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Regardless of any architectural or traditional heritage value, this is an example of a functional building used for years, that works for people, with which they have an emotional history as well as a practical need. #PlaceHistory #LocalDemocracy #HeritageAttachment #BusShelter #BusesMatter
Sheringham Bus Shelter siege enters ninth day. Town Council to meet today in secret. County Council bailiffs conducting night raids
The battle for Sheringham bus shelter: protesters defiant as bailiffs sent in
Norfolk county council wants to demolish a ‘beloved’ 1950s bus shelter in Sheringham, but campaigners are staging a 24/7 sit-in
www.theguardian.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Regardless of any architectural or traditional heritage value, this is an example of a functional building used for years, that works for people, with which they have an emotional history as well as a practical need. #PlaceHistory #LocalDemocracy #HeritageAttachment #BusShelter #BusesMatter
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
My review of Sarah Bull's Selling Sexual Knowledge: Medical Publishing and Obscenity in Victorian Britain has just been published online in Social History of Medicine:
Sarah Bull, Selling Sexual Knowledge: Medical Publishing and Obscenity in Victorian Britain
This is an important study which at last presents us with a deeply granular account of the interactions between the medical profession, sexual knowledge, a
academic.oup.com
December 8, 2025 at 7:18 PM
My review of Sarah Bull's Selling Sexual Knowledge: Medical Publishing and Obscenity in Victorian Britain has just been published online in Social History of Medicine:
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
normal everyday nazi things
"After her hearing ended, three-year-old Lucy cuddled her teddy bear as she walked back from the lawyer’s table and took a seat.
Moments later, the next child was called up to face the judge..."
coppercourier.com/2025/12/05/c...
Moments later, the next child was called up to face the judge..."
coppercourier.com/2025/12/05/c...
December 8, 2025 at 11:04 PM
normal everyday nazi things
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Do any of the people involved in this ever type "how to tell if your job is a crime against humanity" into a search engine?
"After her hearing ended, three-year-old Lucy cuddled her teddy bear as she walked back from the lawyer’s table and took a seat.
Moments later, the next child was called up to face the judge..."
coppercourier.com/2025/12/05/c...
Moments later, the next child was called up to face the judge..."
coppercourier.com/2025/12/05/c...
December 8, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Do any of the people involved in this ever type "how to tell if your job is a crime against humanity" into a search engine?
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Postcards from 1920s and 1930s Seven Dials 1
Before there was Monmouth Coffee, there was Jim and Emily Kitten’s café in Great White Lion Street.
#London #SevenDials #CoventGarden #History #20s30s
Before there was Monmouth Coffee, there was Jim and Emily Kitten’s café in Great White Lion Street.
#London #SevenDials #CoventGarden #History #20s30s
December 8, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Postcards from 1920s and 1930s Seven Dials 1
Before there was Monmouth Coffee, there was Jim and Emily Kitten’s café in Great White Lion Street.
#London #SevenDials #CoventGarden #History #20s30s
Before there was Monmouth Coffee, there was Jim and Emily Kitten’s café in Great White Lion Street.
#London #SevenDials #CoventGarden #History #20s30s
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Keep fighting!
This is the second decision - both first instance - since the appalling For (Some) Women Scotland decision to find that there is no trans bathroom ban. www.gov.uk/employment-t...
B M Kelly v Leonardo UK Ltd: 8001497/2024
Employment Tribunal decision.
www.gov.uk
December 8, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Keep fighting!
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
I'm sorry but a country where the legislature sells jerk seasoning as gift shop tat is not one where the engines of multiculturalism can be rolled back to 1948
December 8, 2025 at 11:33 AM
I'm sorry but a country where the legislature sells jerk seasoning as gift shop tat is not one where the engines of multiculturalism can be rolled back to 1948
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Very excited to dive into this book come holiday time. Also fascinated to see the thread connecting this to Monmouth's own slightly surprising counter-cultural origins laid out by @jonathandnunn.bsky.social last year www.theguardian.com/food/2024/ja...
December 8, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Very excited to dive into this book come holiday time. Also fascinated to see the thread connecting this to Monmouth's own slightly surprising counter-cultural origins laid out by @jonathandnunn.bsky.social last year www.theguardian.com/food/2024/ja...
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
One thing social media platforms do is meld the British and US higher ed crises into one. I think there are similarities but, tbh, the UK feels much more like a catalogue of shambles and poor policy decisions than a real ideological attack—even if the consequences remain the same.
December 8, 2025 at 8:44 AM
One thing social media platforms do is meld the British and US higher ed crises into one. I think there are similarities but, tbh, the UK feels much more like a catalogue of shambles and poor policy decisions than a real ideological attack—even if the consequences remain the same.
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
All right, Booksky: it's my 2025 Books of the Year post! Get your book recs here.
Featuring lashings of romance and SFFH, a fair bit of murder, and some extremely specific history nerding, like you weren't expecting that.
Featuring lashings of romance and SFFH, a fair bit of murder, and some extremely specific history nerding, like you weren't expecting that.
Best Books of 2025 – KJ Charles
kjcharleswriter.com
December 8, 2025 at 10:52 AM
All right, Booksky: it's my 2025 Books of the Year post! Get your book recs here.
Featuring lashings of romance and SFFH, a fair bit of murder, and some extremely specific history nerding, like you weren't expecting that.
Featuring lashings of romance and SFFH, a fair bit of murder, and some extremely specific history nerding, like you weren't expecting that.
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
As a disabled historian I am so pleased that History UK (co-funded with @royalhistsoc.org) have published their report on disabled student & staff experiences of #highereducation & history. It makes for a difficult reading at times, but none of it is surprising. www.history-uk.ac.uk/projects/his...
History UK Disability and History Project
The History UK Disability and History Project was launched in November 2023 in response to the History UK EDI report which identified disability as an important aspect of EDI work worthy of further…
www.history-uk.ac.uk
December 8, 2025 at 10:06 AM
As a disabled historian I am so pleased that History UK (co-funded with @royalhistsoc.org) have published their report on disabled student & staff experiences of #highereducation & history. It makes for a difficult reading at times, but none of it is surprising. www.history-uk.ac.uk/projects/his...
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
The main fact that stuck with me after writing a book about British Xmases is that The Times was complaining about decorations going up in October back in the *1930s*, Selfridges has had decorations up in Oct since at least the 1950s and the whole “earlier every year” thing is generally bollocks
Middle class people love to pretend to be appalled at Christmas decorations being either early or fun to look at, the ideal Christmas tree is put up at midnight on Christmas day and decorated only by a black cloak and an unlit matchstick
December 8, 2025 at 8:07 AM
The main fact that stuck with me after writing a book about British Xmases is that The Times was complaining about decorations going up in October back in the *1930s*, Selfridges has had decorations up in Oct since at least the 1950s and the whole “earlier every year” thing is generally bollocks
'London, Houses in Snow' (1920s) by Janet Cumbrae Stewart
(National Gallery of Victoria)
(National Gallery of Victoria)
December 8, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Good piece by @francesjones.bsky.social elevating the voices of researchers such as @petermandler.bsky.social on how the issues at the @britishlibrary.bsky.social are impacting scholarship including abandoned/postponed projects.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...
‘No one seems to care’: scholars decry plight of British Library - Research Professional News
Humanities researchers suffer amid “agonisingly slow” recovery from 2023 cyberattack, as strikes cause further delays
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
December 8, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Good piece by @francesjones.bsky.social elevating the voices of researchers such as @petermandler.bsky.social on how the issues at the @britishlibrary.bsky.social are impacting scholarship including abandoned/postponed projects.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...