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).
Walkers at Ardvrek, Loch Assynt, ripped down a 500-year-old castle wall to make stepping stones across a large puddle. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Ardvrek Castle wall 'ripped down' for use as stepping stones
Ardvrek Castle in Assynt is a 500-year-old former clan seat, and reputed to be haunted.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Walkers at Ardvrek, Loch Assynt, ripped down a 500-year-old castle wall to make stepping stones across a large puddle. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
IRA guns fall silent, photo by Brendan Murphy, Irish News picture editor and photographer, who died recently.
November 22, 2025 at 7:25 PM
IRA guns fall silent, photo by Brendan Murphy, Irish News picture editor and photographer, who died recently.
I’ll be signing copies of ‘Made in Manchester’ and ‘Northerners’ for the next hour at the wonderful Waterstones Altrincham. Six customers so far.
November 22, 2025 at 5:48 PM
I’ll be signing copies of ‘Made in Manchester’ and ‘Northerners’ for the next hour at the wonderful Waterstones Altrincham. Six customers so far.
In Christmassy Altrincham for book signing later.
November 22, 2025 at 4:17 PM
In Christmassy Altrincham for book signing later.
'A long time coming' - £1.49m plan to transform Glasgow's riverside. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
£1.4m plan to revamp historic Govan dockside landmark
The Pump House, the last surviving building at the Govan Graving Docks, has lain dormant since the late 1980s.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 1:50 PM
'A long time coming' - £1.49m plan to transform Glasgow's riverside. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Red on the Cuillins, Skye, painting by Pam Carter (1952-2022), Scottish landscape and seascape artist. #WomensArt
November 22, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Red on the Cuillins, Skye, painting by Pam Carter (1952-2022), Scottish landscape and seascape artist. #WomensArt
Wheatley Hill, mining village, County Durham, photo by Mary Gillens. She began photographing with a box brownie camera from the 1920s when her children were young, documenting her family and friends (via @sidegallery.bsky.social).
November 22, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Wheatley Hill, mining village, County Durham, photo by Mary Gillens. She began photographing with a box brownie camera from the 1920s when her children were young, documenting her family and friends (via @sidegallery.bsky.social).
Bradford's Wool Exchange, December 1964. Opened 1867, ceased trading later in the 1960s. Now it's Waterstones Bradford.
November 22, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Bradford's Wool Exchange, December 1964. Opened 1867, ceased trading later in the 1960s. Now it's Waterstones Bradford.
Roseberry Topping sunset, north Yorkshire, photo by Harrogate-based landscape photographer Paula Beaumont.
November 22, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Roseberry Topping sunset, north Yorkshire, photo by Harrogate-based landscape photographer Paula Beaumont.
Queue for bread in Wigan as bakeries and supermarkets rationed loaves during the bakers' strikes of 1974 (Wigan Today).
November 22, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Queue for bread in Wigan as bakeries and supermarkets rationed loaves during the bakers' strikes of 1974 (Wigan Today).
Remembering Anthony Burgess, who died on this day in 1993.
Made in Manchester: Anthony Burgess (1917-93), one of many northern writers who sought fortune elsewhere, left at 23 and returned only occasionally, yet the city’s accents and landmarks pervade his work. He also composed more than 200 musical works. 1/11
November 22, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Remembering Anthony Burgess, who died on this day in 1993.
Reposted by Brian Groom
Word of the day is ‘quockerwodger’ (19th century): a puppet politician whose strings are pulled entirely by someone else.
November 21, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Word of the day is ‘quockerwodger’ (19th century): a puppet politician whose strings are pulled entirely by someone else.
Row over plan to demolish Hexham fire station that Angel of the North creator Sir Antony Gormley wanted to store his work and potentially exhibit it. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Hexham fire station demolition plans to be probed by councillors
Sculptor Sir Antony Gormley is interested in turning the site into a storage space and gallery.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Row over plan to demolish Hexham fire station that Angel of the North creator Sir Antony Gormley wanted to store his work and potentially exhibit it. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Brian Groom
'I greatly enjoyed Northerners and Made in Manchester, especially the latter, and eagerly await the next book.'
'Absolutely crackin' book!'
'Can’t put it down. So interesting to read about where you were born & grew up. Amazing talent & diversity.'
'A truly excellent read.'
'Absolutely crackin' book!'
'Can’t put it down. So interesting to read about where you were born & grew up. Amazing talent & diversity.'
'A truly excellent read.'
November 13, 2025 at 1:48 PM
'I greatly enjoyed Northerners and Made in Manchester, especially the latter, and eagerly await the next book.'
'Absolutely crackin' book!'
'Can’t put it down. So interesting to read about where you were born & grew up. Amazing talent & diversity.'
'A truly excellent read.'
'Absolutely crackin' book!'
'Can’t put it down. So interesting to read about where you were born & grew up. Amazing talent & diversity.'
'A truly excellent read.'
Ynys Llanddwyn ('Llanddwyn Island'), small tidal island off the west coast of Anglesey, photo by Catherine Chambers.
November 21, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Ynys Llanddwyn ('Llanddwyn Island'), small tidal island off the west coast of Anglesey, photo by Catherine Chambers.
Are the chips down for traditional fish supper? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Are the days of traditional British fish and chip shops numbered?
One Hull fish and chip shop owner says he is now selling chilli and curry
www.bbc.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Are the chips down for traditional fish supper? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Tomorrow, all welcome.
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 21, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Tomorrow, all welcome.
Men of the South, 1921, painting by Séan Keating (Crawford Art Gallery). North Cork Brigade of the IRA during the Irish War of Independence.
November 21, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Men of the South, 1921, painting by Séan Keating (Crawford Art Gallery). North Cork Brigade of the IRA during the Irish War of Independence.
Yorkshire, 1965, photo by John Bulmer (b.1938).
November 21, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Yorkshire, 1965, photo by John Bulmer (b.1938).
Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, painting by Lucy Pittaway. #WomensArt #NorthernArt
November 21, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, painting by Lucy Pittaway. #WomensArt #NorthernArt
Consett Iron Works, County Durham, 1978, photo by Graham Smith (b.1947).
November 21, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Consett Iron Works, County Durham, 1978, photo by Graham Smith (b.1947).
Swizzels Matlow sweet factory, New Mills, Derbyshire, on a winter’s morning, photo by @andrewpbrooks.bsky.social.
November 21, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Swizzels Matlow sweet factory, New Mills, Derbyshire, on a winter’s morning, photo by @andrewpbrooks.bsky.social.
Me with our family car, Whalley Range, Manchester, 1959-60.
November 21, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Me with our family car, Whalley Range, Manchester, 1959-60.
King Street, Manchester, painting by Jane Braithwaite. #WomensArt #NorthernArt
November 21, 2025 at 8:22 AM
King Street, Manchester, painting by Jane Braithwaite. #WomensArt #NorthernArt
Reposted by Brian Groom
Good luck to bookshops everywhere as they approach the busy season, including Waterstones Deansgate, Chorlton Bookshop @chorltonbookshop.bsky.social, Read Holmfirth, Waterstones Newcastle.
November 2, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Good luck to bookshops everywhere as they approach the busy season, including Waterstones Deansgate, Chorlton Bookshop @chorltonbookshop.bsky.social, Read Holmfirth, Waterstones Newcastle.