Brian Groom
@groomb.bsky.social
Ex-Financial Times Assistant Editor. Ex-editor Scotland on Sunday. Author of 'Made in Manchester' and 'Northerners: A History'. 'These Isles' due Feb 2026.
Pinned
'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', paperback and hardback. 'These Isles: A People's History of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales' due 26 Feb 2026 (HarperNorth).
Leeds, 1954, photo by Marc Riboud.
November 11, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Leeds, 1954, photo by Marc Riboud.
The Little Sunday School Procession, painting by Salford-born Edith Le Breton (1912-92). #WomensArt #NorthernArt
November 11, 2025 at 8:19 AM
The Little Sunday School Procession, painting by Salford-born Edith Le Breton (1912-92). #WomensArt #NorthernArt
Washing lines in the street, Leeds, 1959, photo by Roger Mayne.
November 11, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Washing lines in the street, Leeds, 1959, photo by Roger Mayne.
How a wet Welsh summer helped create Winnie-the-Pooh. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Winnie-the-Pooh created after a wet Welsh summer
The famous bear first featured among a collection of poems compiled in a potting shed in rainy Wales.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:44 PM
How a wet Welsh summer helped create Winnie-the-Pooh. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Shetland islanders say Channel 4’s knitting show is littered with errors about their historic craft. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Shetland islanders accuse Tom Daley’s Game of Wool of cultural appropriation
Fair Isle practitioners say Channel 4’s knitting challenge is littered with errors about their historic craft and demand an apology
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Shetland islanders say Channel 4’s knitting show is littered with errors about their historic craft. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Brian Groom
The audiobook of 'Made in Manchester' is also currently available for just 99p on Audible. www.amazon.co.uk/Made-Manches...
November 3, 2025 at 7:44 PM
The audiobook of 'Made in Manchester' is also currently available for just 99p on Audible. www.amazon.co.uk/Made-Manches...
Boy destroying a piano, Pant-Y-Waun, south Wales, 1961, photo by Philip Jones Griffiths (1936-2008).
November 10, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Boy destroying a piano, Pant-Y-Waun, south Wales, 1961, photo by Philip Jones Griffiths (1936-2008).
In pictures: autumn colours in Scotland. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
In pictures: Autumn colours in Scotland
BBC Weather Watchers have been capturing vibrant scenes across the country.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 2:22 PM
In pictures: autumn colours in Scotland. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Lake District theatre to be renamed after Victoria Wood and unveil new musical of her songs. www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/n...
Lake District theatre to be renamed after Victoria Wood and unveil new musical of her songs
Old Laundry theatre in Bowness-on-Windermere will change its name next year and premiere show to mark 10th anniversary of comedian’s death
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Lake District theatre to be renamed after Victoria Wood and unveil new musical of her songs. www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/n...
Reposted by Brian Groom
I'll be signing copies of 'Made in Manchester' and 'Northerners' at the wonderful Waterstones Altrincham on Saturday 22nd November, 5.30-6.30pm. It's the evening when the town's Christmas lights are switched on.
November 1, 2025 at 4:37 PM
I'll be signing copies of 'Made in Manchester' and 'Northerners' at the wonderful Waterstones Altrincham on Saturday 22nd November, 5.30-6.30pm. It's the evening when the town's Christmas lights are switched on.
A Donegal Landscape, painting by Estella Solomons (1882-1968). #WomensArt
November 10, 2025 at 1:55 PM
A Donegal Landscape, painting by Estella Solomons (1882-1968). #WomensArt
Reposted by Brian Groom
The BBC: quite a big deal.
November 10, 2025 at 10:36 AM
The BBC: quite a big deal.
Workers celebrate with a well-earned pint after laying the final beam during construction of St Mary’s hospital, Hathersage Road, Manchester, 1968 (photo by Tom Stuttard, The Guardian).
November 10, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Workers celebrate with a well-earned pint after laying the final beam during construction of St Mary’s hospital, Hathersage Road, Manchester, 1968 (photo by Tom Stuttard, The Guardian).
Quack medicine stall, Bolton’s open market, 1937, photo by Humphrey Spender. Visiting a doctor was expensive, so people relied on such stalls.
November 10, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Quack medicine stall, Bolton’s open market, 1937, photo by Humphrey Spender. Visiting a doctor was expensive, so people relied on such stalls.
Salford workhouse, children's ward, circa 1900.Salford workhouse, children's ward, circa 1900.
November 10, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Salford workhouse, children's ward, circa 1900.Salford workhouse, children's ward, circa 1900.
Blast furnaces from the river, Middlesbrough, 19th century.
November 10, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Blast furnaces from the river, Middlesbrough, 19th century.
Knocking Off Time, Salford Docks, by Tom Dodson (1911-91). #NorthernArt
November 10, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Knocking Off Time, Salford Docks, by Tom Dodson (1911-91). #NorthernArt
Shetland: we've travelled 5,000 miles to the 'holy place' of knitting. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Why we travelled 5,000 miles to Shetland - the 'holy place' of knitting
A group of American men are among thousands of knitters who make the trip to Shetland.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Shetland: we've travelled 5,000 miles to the 'holy place' of knitting. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Vandalised soldiers in Ossett, west Yorkshire, fixed for Remembrance Sunday. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Ossett's vandalised soldier statues fixed for Remembrance Sunday
The World War One Tommy silhouettes in Ossett were targeted last weekend and repaired on Saturday.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Vandalised soldiers in Ossett, west Yorkshire, fixed for Remembrance Sunday. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Popular magic shop in Sheffield, where stars learned their craft, to close after 50 years. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Sheffield magic shop to close after 50 years in same ownership
Magick Lounge opened in 1975 and counts Paul Daniels as a customer, but owner is now retiring.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Popular magic shop in Sheffield, where stars learned their craft, to close after 50 years. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Christmas markets have opened, so Santa may be stirring.
November 9, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Christmas markets have opened, so Santa may be stirring.
Commercial Court, Cathedral Quarter, Belfast, photo by travel photographer Sonal.
November 9, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Commercial Court, Cathedral Quarter, Belfast, photo by travel photographer Sonal.
Bettys tearoom in York: stories of wartime romances and lost comrades uncovered. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Stories of Bettys bar and wartime romances in York
Mirror with names of WW2 airmen etched onto it is still a poignant attraction at the famous tearoom.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Bettys tearoom in York: stories of wartime romances and lost comrades uncovered. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Saddleworth: the hilltop Remembrance that draws large crowds. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The Saddleworth hilltop Remembrance which draws large crowds
The service draws huge crowds, whatever the weather, organisers say.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Saddleworth: the hilltop Remembrance that draws large crowds. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Forgotten racecourse in what is now Salford's MediaCityUK revealed in Victorian images. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Forgotten Salford racecourse revealed in Victorian photographs
The BBC unearths images of a long-lost racecourse on land now occupied by MediaCityUK at Salford Quays.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Forgotten racecourse in what is now Salford's MediaCityUK revealed in Victorian images. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...