Harriet Richardson Blakeman
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harrietrichardsonb.bsky.social
Harriet Richardson Blakeman
@harrietrichardsonb.bsky.social
1.8K followers 400 following 300 posts
Architectural historian, formerly at the Survey of London, long standing interest in hospital buildings. University of Edinburgh PhD ‘Medicine and Modernity’. Living in Scotland.
Website: https://historic-hospitals.com/
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Harriet Richardson Blakeman
docomomoscot.bsky.social
THIS THURSDAY, 30 October, Bruce Peter talks about "Art Deco and the Modern Movement in Scotland"

Join us ONLINE AND IN EDINBURGH for a fascinating history talk. Bruce is professor at Glasgow School of Art. His new book Modernist Scotland will be out soon.

tickettailor.com/events/docomomoscotland
October 28, 2025 at 10:10 PM
harrietrichardsonb.bsky.social
Bumper crop of apples this year, for us and the rest of Europe, probably. Picked as many as we could before storm Amy arrived to give a helping hand.
A corner of our kitchen, with bowls of apples on the table and more on the windowsill.
October 4, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Reposted by Harriet Richardson Blakeman
pzamarian.bsky.social
Please sign: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/al...
Alexandra Road Retrofit: Stop Potential Fuel Poverty, Mould, and Inequality
Camden Council’s proposed heating retrofit for the iconic Grade II* listed Alexandra Road Estate risks locking residents into permanently high bills, colder homes, damp and mould and greater inequalit...
you.38degrees.org.uk
August 30, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Reposted by Harriet Richardson Blakeman
archhistdarling.bsky.social
I just signed the open letter & joined the campaign. Access to the written archives was vital to the book I’m completing about BBC Broadcasting House.
greavesian.bsky.social Ian Greaves @greavesian.bsky.social · Aug 18
Calling historians and researchers. The BBC Written Archives Centre has changed its access rules without consultation. This means an end to proper independent research into the BBC's rich history. 178 have already signed the open letter. Please join the campaign here:

tinyurl.com/bbcwaccampaign
Open letter BBC Written Archives - August 2025
Join the campaign to protect the future of independent research at the BBC Written Archives Centre The following text is an open letter expressing the concern of historians and researchers about chan...
tinyurl.com
August 20, 2025 at 7:43 AM
harrietrichardsonb.bsky.social
Cat on a hot concrete step
#caturday
Black and white cat lying in the sun on step. Patio and garden beyond.
August 16, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Reposted by Harriet Richardson Blakeman
kathrynmorrison.bsky.social
A long piece about 'Chain Stores' by Christopher Catling for the new edition of Current Archaeology - if you fancy a read!
the-past.com/feature/cath...
‘Cathedrals of commerce’ : A guide through the Golden Age of the British High Street | The Past
In her new book about High Street heritage, Kathryn Morrison takes us on a trip down memory lane and reminds us that design quality was once a proud part of ...
the-past.com
August 11, 2025 at 3:44 PM
harrietrichardsonb.bsky.social
Just out, a round-up of news and progress on historic-hospitals in the latest post.
An unidentified chapel, a Humphreys iron hospital in Uppingham, a new book on hospitals in the Scottish Highlands, and a wander round Lincoln County Hospital.
historic-hospitals.com/2025/08/10/j...
July News in August
July was not my most productive month, but I have enjoyed being side-tracked by a few enquiries. These have had me investigating the birthplace of Vivian Stanshall – the musician, writer, and…
historic-hospitals.com
August 11, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Reposted by Harriet Richardson Blakeman
peteherring.bsky.social
Beautifully written obituary, and a marvellous portrait by Chris Redgrave.
apollo-magazine.com Apollo @apollo-magazine.com · Jul 30
‘London was in his veins’: Gillian Darley pays tribute to the erudition, wit and open-mindedness of the architectural historian Andrew Saint, who has died at the age of 78.
‘London was in his veins’: Andrew Saint (1946–2025)
Gillian Darley remembers an architectural historian of great wit and erudition who was always keen to share his enthusiasms, which included a deep love of the capital
buff.ly
August 2, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Reposted by Harriet Richardson Blakeman
alistairfair.bsky.social
Sad news overnight of serious damage by fire to St Mungo's church, Cumbernauld - designed by Alan Reiach 1963-64. Its dedication echoed Glasgow cathedral & recognised the Glaswegian roots of many early residents in the new town, which had been begun a few years before
A modernist church, with a grey brick wall and pyramidal roof with standing seam cladding, above which rises a further small pyramid on slender posts
August 3, 2025 at 8:06 AM
harrietrichardsonb.bsky.social
Mystery Chapel:
Does anyone recognise this chapel? It is most likely in the South East of England, might be a hospital or institutional chapel, and was photographed in the 1950s. The photographer was a TB patient around this time, from St Paul's Cray and latterly at Eversfield Hospital, Hastings.
photo of a smallish chapel, simple gothic style, probably brick with small fleche, roughly three bay nave, with twin lancet windows separated by buttresses, and broader chancel end with triple lancet window in centre.
August 1, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Reposted by Harriet Richardson Blakeman
c20society.bsky.social
💥The Bernat Klein Studio has been saved! This morning the coalition of Scottish heritage organisations secured the property at auction with a winning bid of £279,000.

The studio will now be restored and brought back into public use, creating a new venue for creative arts in the Scottish Borders.
Image credit: Iain Masterton
July 30, 2025 at 11:58 AM
harrietrichardsonb.bsky.social
Auction day. My fingers are firmly crossed.
docomomoscot.bsky.social docomomoscot.bsky.social @docomomoscot.bsky.social · Jul 29
The Bernat Klein Studio near Galashiels is going to be auctioned tomorrow, 30 July

You can still support heritage organisations in trying to buy this outstanding Modernist building by giving at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/saving-pet...

Keep your fingers crossed that the coalition can get the building!
July 30, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Reposted by Harriet Richardson Blakeman
grindrod.bsky.social
Alan Reiach and Stuart Renton’s church, completed in 1962. I’ve been to this one, it’s stupendous
July 29, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Reposted by Harriet Richardson Blakeman
kcarmichael.bsky.social
Applications are open to become the new Graduate Trainee at HES - after seeing how much fun our most recent trainee had I’m quite jealous! Please share widely: ekov.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...
Heritage Graduate Trainee
Here at HES, we are welcoming applications for the role of Heritage Graduate Trainee, which is a Grade 1 Fixed Term position working full time hours, based in Longmore House, Edinburgh.
ekov.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com
July 28, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Reposted by Harriet Richardson Blakeman
docomomoscot.bsky.social
This is exciting and very welcome news!
memckeague.bsky.social Matthew Mckeague @memckeague.bsky.social · Jul 23
'...SHBT have united with the National Trust for Scotland and Bernat Klein Foundation as the Bernat Klein Studio Coalition aiming to buy and restore the building...' > this is very good news. www.shbt.org.uk/2025/07/savi... @c20society.bsky.social @barnabascalder.bsky.social
July 23, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Reposted by Harriet Richardson Blakeman
docomomoscot.bsky.social
Support Scottish heritage organisations to buy Bernat Klein Studio, near Galashiels

www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/qr/7nPrRvgl

The late-Modernist building of 1972, designed by architect Peter Womersley, is to be auctioned on 30 July. Listed and vacant, this architectural marvel needs urgent saving!
July 23, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Reposted by Harriet Richardson Blakeman
archhistdarling.bsky.social
The Bloomsbury Global Encylopedia of Women in Architecture 1960-2020 is now online! A huge achievement by Karen Burns & Lori Brown. Pleased to have had the chance to write some of the entries. preview31.sspbloomsbury.co.uk/bloomsbury-g...
Bloomsbury Visual Arts
preview31.sspbloomsbury.co.uk
July 14, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Reposted by Harriet Richardson Blakeman
docomomoscot.bsky.social
Less than three weeks until our 20th-century architecture tour of Aberdeen City on Saturday, 02 August

The day will include a former swimming pool, university buildings, residential tower blocks and more. The morning is on foot and the afternoon by minibus

TicketTailor.com/events/DocomomoScotland
July 14, 2025 at 8:08 PM
harrietrichardsonb.bsky.social
A recent week's holiday on Orkney included a tour of the surviving historic hospitals in Kirkwall.

https://historic-hospitals.com/2025/07/06/orkney-revisited/
Post Image
July 6, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Reposted by Harriet Richardson Blakeman
docomomoscot.bsky.social
Join us for a tour of #Aberdeen on 02 August to explore the city's rich architectural heritage of the mid- to late 20th century. The guided tour will include mass housing, the Bon Accord Baths, Gray's School of Art and more.

11am-5pm on foot and by minibus

TicketTailor.com/events/docomomoscotland
July 1, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Reposted by Harriet Richardson Blakeman
seasideferry.bsky.social
Gearing up for #NationalSeasideDay tomorrow. Looks like it's going to be great beach weather so lets fill @bsky.app with the #blueskies of our #GreatBritishSeaside resorts.
Your pics wanted please!
seasidenetwork.bsky.social Seaside Heritage Network @seasidenetwork.bsky.social · Jun 30
Tomorrow is #NationalSeasideDay 🥳
Use the hashtag to share your favourite seaside places or stories and look out for our big reveal of this year's #bucketandspadelist nominees...
June 30, 2025 at 10:31 AM
harrietrichardsonb.bsky.social
The comet stone, Ness of Brodgar, Orkney. Unlike the nearby Ring of Brodgar, here we were not swamped by the coach parties, and were able to get up close to the stone.
Snapped on 17 June early afternoon.
#StandingStoneSunday
Photograph of the so-called comet stone near the Ring of Brodgar (just visible in the distance where the stones rise up above the horizon). Tufts of long grass surround the base of the stone, which is seen here at a slight angle showing its fissured side. The stone is an upright oblong with its upper edge sloping at roughly 45 degrees. View of the stone flat on, where the upper sloping edge appears less obvious, but fissures or cut marks angled down across the top right-hand corner are the chief feature - along with the colourful lichens in ochre, white and dark grey. View of loch and distant shore behind. detail of that fissured top right-hand-corner, focusing on the lichens. The north side of the stone, showing its top left-hand corner. Here the lichens seem to grown in slanting strips, with greenish ones occupying the top corner, then a patch of the fluffy grey-green kind you usually see on tree branches, then a strip of the ochre-coloured one, followed by white in the bottom section. Patch of blue sky beyond.
June 29, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Reposted by Harriet Richardson Blakeman
sparksstirling.bsky.social
stirlingretail.com/2018/06/18/o...
Orkney – the Second Leg
Our recent visit to Orkney was not meant to be about retailing or shops, but inevitably just wandering around Stromness and Kirkwall one can’t help but look at the retailing.  As I noted in the ear…
stirlingretail.com
June 28, 2025 at 10:47 AM
harrietrichardsonb.bsky.social
Former Stromness Soda Fountain, coffee saloon and ice-cream parlour, Victoria Street.
'Ice cream sold ... in any quantities, large or small. Made by an electric machine of new design.'
Now the most fabulous shop selling woolly things and more.
#shopfronts #Orkney #Stromness
photograph of the former coffee saloon on Victoria Street in Stromness, Orkney, with the shops to either side and the distinctive road surface of stone slabs on either side of a narrow band of setts. The shop and its neighbour have their gable ends facing the street. The former coffee salon has 'coffee saloon' in mosaic tiles above the plate-glass windows. detail of the former soda fountain shopfront, showing the curved corner entrance and window to side, both have mosaic panels over, the facing of the rest of the ground-floor is of black terazzo-type finish. Upper floors harled. Within the shop was this framed poster announcing the opening of the new Soda Fountain coffee saloon in Victoria Street. G. Fugaccia, Proprietor - the proprietor's name was also in the entrance hearth in mosaic tiles. View of the interior of the shop, showing some of the mosaic decoration set in the terrazzo floor - geometric designs with leaf or floral motifs in slate grey edging, orange and olive grey. Racks of jumpers and jackets, hooks with colourful bags.
June 28, 2025 at 10:45 AM
harrietrichardsonb.bsky.social
'Caution Unstable Cliff'
Just back from a week on Orkney. Here a view of Churchill Barrier number one, from Lamb Holm (taken from outside the Italian Chapel).
photograph looking towards the Churchill barrier that links Orkney mainland with the island of Lamb Holm, on which stands the Italian Chapel. White sand of beach to left of barrier, scrubby grass in the foreground and small sign warning of unstable cliff. Big sky, mostly cloudy, but with enough blue to make a pair of sailor's trousers ... as the saying goes.
June 27, 2025 at 1:29 PM