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pasttensehistories.bsky.social

@pasttensehistories.bsky.social

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London radical histories & mysteries. Obsessions: open space, gentrification, strikes, riot, music, drink, spycops. https://pasttense.co.uk/

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pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · Jan 5

Some of our publications about London radical history (and more!) can be ordered from our online shop.
Pamphlets, books, maps & posters.
Much of our back catalogue is out of print but we’re working on making it available again…
pasttensehistories.bigcartel.com

Past Tense Histories

DIY Radical history publications from London's turbulent past... Self-published pamphlets, posters, pamphlets and the London Rebel History...

pasttensehistories.bigcartel.com

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pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 9h

#OnThisDay in London rebel history, 1650: ‘Ranter’ Abiezer Coppe, after being examined by a Parliamentary Committee where he chucks apples & pears at them and generally refuses to co-operate, is jailed in Newgate Prison

More on Abiezer Coppe: wp.me/p74yfw-1j

Today in London’s rebel past: a blasphemous sermon in Bishopsgate.

“Abiezer Coppe… did away with sin…” (Leon Rosselson) On 14th January 1650, Abiezer Coppe delivered a blasphemous sermon in St Helen’s Church , Bishopsgate. He seems to have used the tactic of…

wp.me

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Pete Cookson @pete-cookson.bsky.social · 1d

'In the most explicit attack yet on Labour’s proposed restrictions on overseas workers, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) described the plan as “ignorant” and “pandering” to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.'

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

NHS could cease to function under Labour’s new visa rules, say nurses

Exclusive: Royal College of Nursing says plan to tighten rules for foreign workers is ‘pandering’ to Reform UK

www.theguardian.com

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Pete Cookson @pete-cookson.bsky.social · 1d

'The Ministry of Defence (MoD) spends about £1m a year sending children to private schools in north Wales because "state schools teach some or all lessons in the Welsh language".'

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

MoD spends millions on private schools to avoid Welsh language

Military personnel receive a private education allowance to avoid lessons in Welsh in state schools.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 1d

Follow the money

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Asylum hotel provider makes £180m profit despite claims of inedible food and rationed loo paper

Asylum seekers and charities tell BBC of

www.bbc.co.uk

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Municipal Dreams @municipaldreams.bsky.social · 1d

🚨 New post: The Modern Homes Exhibition, Gidea Park, 1934 - a (failed?) attempt to 'combine the most modern British homes, as exemplified here, with the ideas of the public' ...
municipaldreams.wordpress.com/2025/10/07/g...

Contemporary photograph of flat-roofed, white-walled house built for exhibition.

Another contemporary photograph of flat-roofed, white-walled house built for exhibition.

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MJ Herbert @mjherbert.bsky.social · 1d

16th October, 6pm, at Home Manchester, a screening of the Iron ladies documentary on women in the Miners' Strike. homemcr.org/whats-on/iro...

Iron Ladies (12A) + discussion — Meet the iron-willed women who maintained the 1984/85 Miners' Strike.

Meet the iron-willed women who maintained the 1984/85 Miners' Strike.

homemcr.org

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pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 1d

#OnThisDay in lesbian herstory, 1943: Pioneer Lesbian novelist Radclyffe Hall dies in London.
www.thecollector.com/radclyffe-ha...

“All Part of Nature”: Radclyffe Hall’s Life | TheCollector

Born Marguerite Antonia Radclyffe Hall, the writer who would go on to be known simply as Radclyffe Hall often, in her private life, went by the name John.

www.thecollector.com

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pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 1d

#OnThisDay in London theatrical history, 1899: Anarchists hold a soiree at the Athenaeum, Tottenham Court Rd, featuring an ‘operatic melodramatic burlesque’ ‘Tafalgar Square’, with David Nicoll as ‘Inspector Bellville’ (a skit on Special Branch Melville, persecutor of anarchos).

pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 1d

#OnThisDay in London squatting history, 1979: Royal Pharmaceutical building Bloomsbury Square squatted.
More in our walk around radical Bloomsbury:
wp.me/p74yfw-1Ga

A Wander in Bohopia: A Radical History Walk around Bloomsbury

This walk is based on research originally done for a radical history walk which took place in Bloomsbury on 22nd April 2006, which started at ‘The Square’ squatted Social Centre, in Russell Square.…

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pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 1d

#OnThisDay in London herstory, 2015: Sisters Uncut demonstrate at the London premiere of the 2015 film Suffragette against cuts to domestic violence services, with the slogan "Dead women can't vote".

pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 1d

#OnThisDay in London radical history, 1819: A protest about the recent Peterloo Massacre at Richmond, held on the town's Green. “Organisers say tradesmen have been threatened by customers, and workmen by their masters, and told not to attend or risk losing business.”

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Dulwich Local History @history.dulwichsociety.com · 2d

Tomorrow night, online, presented by a great local historian and proceeds to to a local charity 👇

Dulwich Local History @history.dulwichsociety.com · 15d

So many #Dulwich film connections, this talk will open your eyes to Dulwich’s remarkable, and often forgotten, place in the history of cinema. Tickets are £5.60 with bursary tickets available too. #LocalHistory.

montage of 3 photos: head and shoulders of 2 men, one looking at his hands and a film poster with a painist and a woman singing

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The #SpyCopsBot @spycopsbot.bsky.social · 2d

The #spycops public inquiry is about to resume, looking at 1993-2008. Here's our press release on what to expect, plus info on our protest outside the first day of live hearings, Thursday 16 October. Join us to demand truth & ...

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pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 2d

Brilliant stuff

competentposter @competentposter.bsky.social · 3d

wizard frog is insane

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Mark Crail @markcrail.bsky.social · 2d

Thomas Attwood, founder of the Birmingham Political Union and leader of the 1832 Reform Bill agitation who presented the first Chartist petition to Parliament, was born #OnThisDay 6 October 1783.
www.chartistancestors.co.uk/thomas-attwo...

Thomas Attwood 1783 - 1856 - chartist ancestors

Thomas Attwood was the founder of the Birmingham Political Union, a campaigner for the 1832 Reform Act who was involved in the early stages of Chartism

www.chartistancestors.co.uk

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Dave Steele @drdavesteele.bsky.social · 3d

Here's a recording of my Warwick Words History Festival Talk on Rev. Arthur Wade, Radical Vicar of Warwick: youtu.be/lessQB7CSJ0

Dave Steele Rev Arthur Wade Radical Vicar of Warwick

YouTube video by john smith

youtu.be

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Cristian Farias @cristianfarias.com · 2d

This video of Chicagoans intervening to save a man from being abducted off the streets by ICE is making the rounds on Instagram.

Community action works.

Source: www.instagram.com/reel/DPZL2AL...

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pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 2d

Daily Mail reports murder of migrant after decades of encouraging hatred of migrants

Pete Cookson @pete-cookson.bsky.social · 2d

War-wounded refugee, 16, who survived bombing in Syria was stabbed to death in Huddersfield after 'innocuously' walking past man's girlfriend, court told.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

Syrian refugee stabbed to death in street after walking past woman

Ahmad Al Ibrahim, 16, had been living in Huddersfield for just a couple of weeks when he was fatally stabbed in the neck in broad daylight by Alfie Franco, 20, Leeds Crown Court heard.

www.dailymail.co.uk

pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 2d

I’ve lived in Britain all my life, am a lifetime atheist, but consider myself extreme, radicalised and very un British

pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 2d

#OnThisDay in protest history, 1973: A ‘Defence of Civil Liberties’ march from Somers Town to New Scotland Yard (organised by ‘Ad Hoc Committee for Defence of Civil Liberties’, proposed by Camden squatter/“king of the hippies” Sid Rawle,). Marchers carry a paper maché bomb which the cops confiscate.

pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 2d

#OnThisDay in London anti-fascist history, 1936: crowds respond to a fascist riot in Stepney by chasing blackshirts back to their local stronghold in Duckett Street, where the fascists have to be defended by the police. Diddums!

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pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 2d

Walkers could pop down to our talk on open space, enclosure, and resistance after :

pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 2d

The walk will I guess visit some of the green spaces mentioned in our pamphlet: ‘Rights of Common’

The Fight Against the Theft of Sydenham Common and One Tree Hill... and other open spaces in the Great North Wood

Buy online here:
pasttensehistories.bigcartel.com/product/righ...

Rights Of Common

The Fight Against the Theft of Sydenham Common and One Tree Hill... and other open spaces in the Great North Wood A5 pamphlet 36 pages Many open...

pasttensehistories.bigcartel.com

pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 3d

Past Tense will be doing a talk about enclosure, resistance & reclaiming of space, focusing on the stories of Sydenham Common and One Tree Hill
At the Grove DIY Skate Park/garden,
Dulwich SE22 8LF
Saturday 11th October, 2pm
Free event - all welcome..

pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 3d

Time for a mass trespass in Windsor Great Park?
The royal family have robbed us of our land for 1000 years

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

‘I think it’s selfish’: William and Kate face backlash over Windsor Great Park no-go zone

Royal couple’s desire for more privacy means 2.3-mile perimeter exclusion zone and less public land for walkers