Elizabeth Darling
@archhistdarling.bsky.social
Architectural historian, curator, author specialising in histories of modernist cultures in Britain, esp 20s/30s; expert on women & architecture 1890s to the present. Currently freelance. Also Chair of the Society of Architectural Historians of GB
On Armistice Day I remember my granpop Andrew Darling (on the left in pic 1) , member of the BEF, captured at St Valery and then a POW. Recently found this photo of a poster he designed while a POW at Stalag 383 - in catalogue of National Library of NZ.
November 11, 2025 at 10:23 AM
On Armistice Day I remember my granpop Andrew Darling (on the left in pic 1) , member of the BEF, captured at St Valery and then a POW. Recently found this photo of a poster he designed while a POW at Stalag 383 - in catalogue of National Library of NZ.
Tidying up and reunited with no 32 of @themodernist.bsky.social journal as edited by #RuthLang. My contrib was an exploration of the contemporary not-seeing of Elizabeth Denby.
November 10, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Tidying up and reunited with no 32 of @themodernist.bsky.social journal as edited by #RuthLang. My contrib was an exploration of the contemporary not-seeing of Elizabeth Denby.
Super time yesterday evening learning all about early cinema in Hove - within weeks of the Lumieres’ films being shown in London, Bertie & Laura Smith had started film making in St Ann’s Well Gardens! #filmarchivesoutheast
November 9, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Super time yesterday evening learning all about early cinema in Hove - within weeks of the Lumieres’ films being shown in London, Bertie & Laura Smith had started film making in St Ann’s Well Gardens! #filmarchivesoutheast
Reposted by Elizabeth Darling
Just up: a great contribution to CST's ongoing Defending the WAC series by James Jordan. Thoughts on Cartier, Dimbleby and the unknowns of archive research. cstonline.net/defending-th...
Defending the WAC: Filling the gaps which some never knew existed by James Jordan
In common with the other authors of this series of blogs, I am a regular user who knows first-hand the importance of the BBC’s Written Archives. When I first visited in 2006 it was to research a…
cstonline.net
November 7, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Just up: a great contribution to CST's ongoing Defending the WAC series by James Jordan. Thoughts on Cartier, Dimbleby and the unknowns of archive research. cstonline.net/defending-th...
Enjoyed this programme about one of my favourite book series: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Artworks - When Kevin Met Sadie - BBC Sounds
Chris Page explores the influence of Joan Lingard’s Kevin & Sadie novels on young readers.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Enjoyed this programme about one of my favourite book series: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Nice to see my name in the local paper - tho’ I prefer
To think of my work as germinal!
To think of my work as germinal!
November 2, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Nice to see my name in the local paper - tho’ I prefer
To think of my work as germinal!
To think of my work as germinal!
www.sahgb.org.uk/whatson - @thesahgb.bsky.social has a busy autumn events programme - our seminar series with @IHR kicks off this Thursday!
Architectural History Events - SAHGB
Throughout the year, the society hosts numerous hybrid seminars, face-to-face visits and study days.
www.sahgb.org.uk
October 26, 2025 at 9:32 AM
www.sahgb.org.uk/whatson - @thesahgb.bsky.social has a busy autumn events programme - our seminar series with @IHR kicks off this Thursday!
Reposted by Elizabeth Darling
MUST READ! In the latest CST blog about the damaging changes going on at the BBC Written Archives Centre, @marklewisohn.bsky.social delivers his cri de cœur squarely at those who came up with or are signing-off on this policy shift. Please read and share widely.
cstonline.net/defending-th...
cstonline.net/defending-th...
DEFENDING THE WAC: MARK LEWISOHN LOOKS AT WHY RENEWED APPRECIATION IS URGENTLY REQUIRED
I was asked to write an op-ed piece saying why I think the BBC’s Written Archives Centre (WAC) is a unique and brilliant resource, which I can do because it’s both – and why, therefore…
cstonline.net
October 24, 2025 at 11:44 AM
MUST READ! In the latest CST blog about the damaging changes going on at the BBC Written Archives Centre, @marklewisohn.bsky.social delivers his cri de cœur squarely at those who came up with or are signing-off on this policy shift. Please read and share widely.
cstonline.net/defending-th...
cstonline.net/defending-th...
RIP Dave Ball.
Dave Ball, one half of 'Tainted Love' hitmakers Soft Cell, dies, aged 66
Dave Ball, one half of 'Tainted Love' hitmakers Soft Cell, dies, aged 66
Synth-pop musician Dave Ball, who was one-half of the popular 1980s band Soft Cell, has died at the age of 66.
news.sky.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:20 PM
RIP Dave Ball.
Looking forward to speaking about the multiple modernities of BBC Broadcasting House next Feb.
October 20, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Looking forward to speaking about the multiple modernities of BBC Broadcasting House next Feb.
Reposted by Elizabeth Darling
Just out: Factory tourism in inter-war Britain: the spectacular construction of social-democratic mass production: academic.oup.com/tcbh/article...
Factory tourism in inter-war Britain: the spectacular construction of social-democratic mass production
Abstract. In the 1920s and 1930s, British mass-manufacturers opened their factories to hundreds of thousands of ordinary consumers. As the market for brand
academic.oup.com
October 12, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Just out: Factory tourism in inter-war Britain: the spectacular construction of social-democratic mass production: academic.oup.com/tcbh/article...
📯📯 Important blogpost!
My campaign colleague Kate Murphy has written today about the plight of women's studies in light of the BBC Written Archives Centre's withdrawal from the world of independent study. The policy changes, in her view, are 'nothing short of catastrophic'. cstonline.net/defending-th...
Defending the WAC: recovering the invisible women of the BBC by Kate Murphy
My first visit to the BBC’s Written Archives Centre was in 2002. I was working as a producer on Woman’s Hourand had applied for a three-month attachment to what was then the Diversity Centre…
cstonline.net
October 10, 2025 at 3:12 PM
📯📯 Important blogpost!
Well it’s with the publisher! My manuscript & its many marvellous illustrations is now at the beginning of the production process. Look out for a new history of #BBC Broadcasting
House early next summer.
House early next summer.
October 2, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Well it’s with the publisher! My manuscript & its many marvellous illustrations is now at the beginning of the production process. Look out for a new history of #BBC Broadcasting
House early next summer.
House early next summer.
Important new update on RIBA collections move on @thesahgb.bsky.social website. www.sahgb.org.uk/features/the...
The RIBA Collections Move: An Update - Sep 2025 - SAHGB
The Society has sought some further information about access to archival material during the interim closure period of the RIBA Study Room.
www.sahgb.org.uk
September 29, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Important new update on RIBA collections move on @thesahgb.bsky.social website. www.sahgb.org.uk/features/the...
In town yesterday for the launch of @ejngee.bsky.social excellent new book. Beautifully researched & with great illustrations. An important contribution to our understanding of how working women occupied the late Victorian and Edwardian city.
September 25, 2025 at 8:07 AM
In town yesterday for the launch of @ejngee.bsky.social excellent new book. Beautifully researched & with great illustrations. An important contribution to our understanding of how working women occupied the late Victorian and Edwardian city.
‼️‼️‼️‼️⬇️⬇️⬇️‼️‼️‼️
And paging all those involved in practising architectural history in the U.K. and indeed elsewhere! Whether that be in an academic context, in practice or in the museums and archives sector.
And paging all those involved in practising architectural history in the U.K. and indeed elsewhere! Whether that be in an academic context, in practice or in the museums and archives sector.
Calling All Students!
Join the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain and enjoy a reduced student membership rate of just £23 per year.
Membership is ideal for students who want to support their studies and demonstrate their commitment to the discipline.
sahgb.org.uk/join-renew
Join the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain and enjoy a reduced student membership rate of just £23 per year.
Membership is ideal for students who want to support their studies and demonstrate their commitment to the discipline.
sahgb.org.uk/join-renew
September 22, 2025 at 8:53 AM
‼️‼️‼️‼️⬇️⬇️⬇️‼️‼️‼️
And paging all those involved in practising architectural history in the U.K. and indeed elsewhere! Whether that be in an academic context, in practice or in the museums and archives sector.
And paging all those involved in practising architectural history in the U.K. and indeed elsewhere! Whether that be in an academic context, in practice or in the museums and archives sector.
Enjoying the 90th birthday celebrations at Embassy Court today.
September 20, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Enjoying the 90th birthday celebrations at Embassy Court today.
Reposted by Elizabeth Darling
Thank you to @theobserveruk.bsky.social for giving attention today to the campaign for independent access to the BBC Written Archives. The Corporation is still yet to engage with our argument and properly defend the policy shift. That is because it is indefensible. observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Historians dismayed by ‘scandal’ of BBC cutting access to...
Critics say new limit to trove of information sounds knell for independent research
observer.co.uk
August 24, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Thank you to @theobserveruk.bsky.social for giving attention today to the campaign for independent access to the BBC Written Archives. The Corporation is still yet to engage with our argument and properly defend the policy shift. That is because it is indefensible. observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
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.
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
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
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.
The Vanessa Bell show at Charleston in Lewes is worth a visit. The pre-1914 work is for me most interesting & convincing. Would like to know what her income was in these early years - how much came from private income (she can’t have sold enough work to live on those sales).
August 18, 2025 at 8:18 AM
The Vanessa Bell show at Charleston in Lewes is worth a visit. The pre-1914 work is for me most interesting & convincing. Would like to know what her income was in these early years - how much came from private income (she can’t have sold enough work to live on those sales).
Hoping what I wrote on Wednesday makes sense …
August 15, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Hoping what I wrote on Wednesday makes sense …
Reposted by Elizabeth Darling
With less than two weeks to go, now is the time to nominate work for SAHGB - IHBC Heritage Research Award.
The award celebrates the quality of architectural-historical research produced by colleagues in heritage and conservation practice.
Deadline: 18 August 2025
The award celebrates the quality of architectural-historical research produced by colleagues in heritage and conservation practice.
Deadline: 18 August 2025
SAHGB-IHBC Heritage Research Award 2025
We are delighted to announce the opening of the 2025 joint Heritage Research Award with The Institute Of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC).
sahgb.org.uk/heritage-research-award
We are delighted to announce the opening of the 2025 joint Heritage Research Award with The Institute Of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC).
sahgb.org.uk/heritage-research-award
SAHGB-IHBC Heritage Research Award - SAHGB
Celebrating the quality of architectural-historical research produced by colleagues in heritage and conservation practice, as private consultants or on behalf of Non-Governmental Organisations, public...
www.sahgb.org.uk
August 6, 2025 at 11:48 AM
With less than two weeks to go, now is the time to nominate work for SAHGB - IHBC Heritage Research Award.
The award celebrates the quality of architectural-historical research produced by colleagues in heritage and conservation practice.
Deadline: 18 August 2025
The award celebrates the quality of architectural-historical research produced by colleagues in heritage and conservation practice.
Deadline: 18 August 2025
Hurrah for housing activist Elizabeth Denby on #YorkshireDay - Born 1894 in Bradford to a doctor father and mother who was a former nurse. Educated at Bradford Girls Grammar before heading to LSE & then a career in housing.
August 1, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Hurrah for housing activist Elizabeth Denby on #YorkshireDay - Born 1894 in Bradford to a doctor father and mother who was a former nurse. Educated at Bradford Girls Grammar before heading to LSE & then a career in housing.