Rob Baker
@robnitm.bsky.social
Author of two London history books - 'Beautiful Idiots and Brilliant Lunatics' and 'High Buildings, Low Morals' - I'm currently doing up a 18th Century cottage in the Brecon Beacons which seems to be taking an inordinate amount of time.
My late stepfather was evacuated from Folkestone to Merthyr Tydfil during WW2. Here’s a page from his diary in December 1940. “Went out to dig up incendiary bombs” as you do.
December 26, 2025 at 11:03 PM
My late stepfather was evacuated from Folkestone to Merthyr Tydfil during WW2. Here’s a page from his diary in December 1940. “Went out to dig up incendiary bombs” as you do.
Bob Dylan playing at the Singers Club at the Pindar of Wakefield pub, 328 Grays Inn Road December, 1962. The pub was said to be a favourite of Lenin’s some 60 years previously. Photo by Brian Shuel.
December 26, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Bob Dylan playing at the Singers Club at the Pindar of Wakefield pub, 328 Grays Inn Road December, 1962. The pub was said to be a favourite of Lenin’s some 60 years previously. Photo by Brian Shuel.
Jon Pertwee and his wife Ingeborg Rhoesa entertaining Pertwee’s brother and his wife, Boxing Day, 1966.
December 26, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Jon Pertwee and his wife Ingeborg Rhoesa entertaining Pertwee’s brother and his wife, Boxing Day, 1966.
Boxing Day, Hampstead Heath in 1938
December 26, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Boxing Day, Hampstead Heath in 1938
Hampstead Heath, December 1938. Photograph by Frederick G Roper
December 25, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Hampstead Heath, December 1938. Photograph by Frederick G Roper
Reposted by Rob Baker
One of my all-time best movie experiences was watching IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE with my kids a few years ago, and feeling their awe at just how captivating, rich and incredibly moving it is.
December 24, 2025 at 3:50 AM
One of my all-time best movie experiences was watching IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE with my kids a few years ago, and feeling their awe at just how captivating, rich and incredibly moving it is.
Christopher Lee, Hazel Court and Anton Diffring at the Hammer Christmas party in 1958. They were filming The Man Who Could Cheat Death at Bray Studios.
December 23, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Christopher Lee, Hazel Court and Anton Diffring at the Hammer Christmas party in 1958. They were filming The Man Who Could Cheat Death at Bray Studios.
Reposted by Rob Baker
People who don’t believe there is such a thing as societal decline also have to answer why every day you go to the supermarket and more and more perfectly edible and enjoyable cheese is being ruined with pointless bits of dried fruit inside it.
December 23, 2025 at 8:19 AM
People who don’t believe there is such a thing as societal decline also have to answer why every day you go to the supermarket and more and more perfectly edible and enjoyable cheese is being ruined with pointless bits of dried fruit inside it.
Terence Rattigan in his apartment at Albany, Piccadilly in 1948. His ‘Playbill' opened at the Phoenix Theatre, London, on 8 September that year.
December 22, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Terence Rattigan in his apartment at Albany, Piccadilly in 1948. His ‘Playbill' opened at the Phoenix Theatre, London, on 8 September that year.
The actress Valerie Hobson in her drawing room at 3 Chester Terrace, Regent’s Park - her home was featured in House & Garden magazine in February 1961 - 5 months before her husband John Profumo embarked on an affair with Christine Keeler. Photo by Ray Williams.
December 22, 2025 at 6:15 AM
The actress Valerie Hobson in her drawing room at 3 Chester Terrace, Regent’s Park - her home was featured in House & Garden magazine in February 1961 - 5 months before her husband John Profumo embarked on an affair with Christine Keeler. Photo by Ray Williams.
Peter Ustinov, Christopher Fry and Kenneth Tynan drinking in the Nag’s Head pub in Covent Garden, 1955
December 20, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Peter Ustinov, Christopher Fry and Kenneth Tynan drinking in the Nag’s Head pub in Covent Garden, 1955
From a Nancy Banks-Smith review of ‘Pennies From Heaven’ - "It has a quite remarkable performance by Bob Hoskins as Arthur, the traveller in dreams. A bun-faced man but with, as Potter says at one point, dilating on the delights of doughnuts, “quite half a pound of jam in him.”
December 12, 2025 at 11:06 AM
From a Nancy Banks-Smith review of ‘Pennies From Heaven’ - "It has a quite remarkable performance by Bob Hoskins as Arthur, the traveller in dreams. A bun-faced man but with, as Potter says at one point, dilating on the delights of doughnuts, “quite half a pound of jam in him.”
My 88 year old mum, despite the cold and non-stop rain, enjoying what Abergavenny ‘spoons has to offer.
December 1, 2025 at 9:10 PM
My 88 year old mum, despite the cold and non-stop rain, enjoying what Abergavenny ‘spoons has to offer.
The menu c.1955 at Wheeler and Co. on Old Compton Street. A year or so before, Donald Maclean ate oysters and drank Chablis for lunch there during his last day in London.
November 9, 2025 at 9:04 PM
The menu c.1955 at Wheeler and Co. on Old Compton Street. A year or so before, Donald Maclean ate oysters and drank Chablis for lunch there during his last day in London.
Menu at the Café Royal on Regent Street, June 1942. Only three courses allowed and Kipper sur Toast a mere 2 shillings…
November 9, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Menu at the Café Royal on Regent Street, June 1942. Only three courses allowed and Kipper sur Toast a mere 2 shillings…
The menu for the Vita Sun Café at the Coventry Street Lyons Cornerhouse, c.1926. The café was sponsored by the New Health Society whose main aim was 'to teach the advantages of the right food, fresh air, sunshine and exercise'.
November 8, 2025 at 3:18 PM
The menu for the Vita Sun Café at the Coventry Street Lyons Cornerhouse, c.1926. The café was sponsored by the New Health Society whose main aim was 'to teach the advantages of the right food, fresh air, sunshine and exercise'.
The British Museum’s ‘refreshment department’ menu from 1900
November 8, 2025 at 5:58 AM
The British Museum’s ‘refreshment department’ menu from 1900
Now in recovery Billy the Cat rewatches his favourite scene in Truffaut’s Day for Night.
June 22, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Now in recovery Billy the Cat rewatches his favourite scene in Truffaut’s Day for Night.
1960. Cleo Laine performing at the Flamingo Club’s 'Jazz Nursery' on Wardour Street.
June 20, 2025 at 4:20 AM
1960. Cleo Laine performing at the Flamingo Club’s 'Jazz Nursery' on Wardour Street.
Billy the cat went AWOL for 36 hours but came back this morning with terrible deep cuts all over. Just taken him to vets who said that he’s been run over but will be ok he thinks.
June 18, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Billy the cat went AWOL for 36 hours but came back this morning with terrible deep cuts all over. Just taken him to vets who said that he’s been run over but will be ok he thinks.
Sleeping lamb in the early morning sun up the road from my house in the Senni valley. bannaubrycheiniogbreconbeacons
June 17, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Sleeping lamb in the early morning sun up the road from my house in the Senni valley. bannaubrycheiniogbreconbeacons
Reposted by Rob Baker
Victoria Station in 1974, my first bank account was with Midland. In 1934, apparently, it was the biggest deposit bank in the world
June 16, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Victoria Station in 1974, my first bank account was with Midland. In 1934, apparently, it was the biggest deposit bank in the world
Preparing to build Sir Giles Gilbert Scott's Bankside Power Station (now the Tate Modern) in 1947
June 16, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Preparing to build Sir Giles Gilbert Scott's Bankside Power Station (now the Tate Modern) in 1947
Glass covered central heating tower on Pimlico council estate near Dolphin Sq, 1950.
June 15, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Glass covered central heating tower on Pimlico council estate near Dolphin Sq, 1950.