Lou Bell
LightNews LightNews
louisebell.bsky.social
Lou Bell
@louisebell.bsky.social
480 followers 480 following 100 posts
Researches artificial limbs in #ww1 and #ww2 | PGR rep @socialhistsoc.bsky.social | co-founder @ukdishisthub.bsky.social | goes to a lot of gigs | she/her
Posts Replies Media Videos
louisebell.bsky.social
Can’t believe it’s been one whole year since I originally submitted this for examination…
Title page of my PhD thesis. Black text on a white background says: Institutions, Individuals and Artificial Limb Provision in the Two World Wars in Britain Louise Gail Bell Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy The University of Leeds School of History September 2024 Gold text on a dark green background reads: Institutions, Individuals and Artificial Limb Provision in the Two World Wars in Britain
September 30, 2025 at 12:06 PM
louisebell.bsky.social
It honestly felt like forever since I’d done the @womenslibrary.bsky.social Gorbals walk?! So it was a joy to get to do it again at the weekend!
Front cover of the pamphlet for the Women of the Gorbals Heritage Walk. The cover shows a sepia image of three women with their arms linked. From right side of the Citizens Theatre. Six statues stand on plinths near the top with the Citizens Theatre sign beneath. Top of an old mill building. The chimney has a sculpture on top that looks like it has smoke billowing from it. War memorial in the shape of a black rose.
September 23, 2025 at 7:45 PM
louisebell.bsky.social
Another mixed afternoon weather-wise, but really enjoyed being out for the @womenslibrary.bsky.social Merchant City walk!
Handing holding the bottom corner of the leaflet for the Women’s Merchant City Heritage Walk Looking down over a green space to the buildings of the uni below. The sky is blue with lots of fluffy white clouds. Standing in between two tall buildings looking up at the blue sky above. Grey sky and wet ground. There is a tall building with lots of windows to the right, and on the building to the left of it a mural of a figure with pink hair is emerging from above the trees.
September 13, 2025 at 5:18 PM
louisebell.bsky.social
It's been a great day for fascinating events! Really enjoyed hearing @chriskempshall.bsky.social, @mimi-mortmain.bsky.social, @drtimpeacock.bsky.social & Fruzsina Pittner (chaired by @enwright.bsky.social) discussing history and fantasy in video games (and books) tonight!
Opening slide for an event. It has a colourful background with a pair of hands holding a game controller (in the top right corner). White text says: Talk Unreal pasts, playful presents: history and fantasy in games and media 10 September 2025
September 10, 2025 at 6:33 PM
louisebell.bsky.social
Live music really does make everything better! And Liam Cromby was sounding wonderful last night!
September 9, 2025 at 1:10 PM
louisebell.bsky.social
Using a mixture of formats, the exhibition explores the story of forced migration through the history of Forster’s family.
White cabbages (with their leaves nibbled by humans) sitting in a base of spent rifle cartridges. Six woodcuts displayed on a white wall. These six birchwood panels tell the story of the deportation of the family to the labour camp where the adults had to cut down trees in the forest to be floated downstream to mills. Scan of a section of a skirt from National Polish dress, made of bright reds and greens. Print showing rows of railway carriages.
September 4, 2025 at 2:33 PM
louisebell.bsky.social
Managed to pop into Callendar House this morning to see Diana Forster’s powerful, yet beautiful, Somewhere To Stay exhibition.
Poster for Diana Forster’s Somewhere to Stay exhibition, sitting in a display board on the path outside of Callendar House (which you can see a wing of in the background) Intricate cutout artworks with lights shining onto them creating beautiful shadows on the white wall behind. Intricate cutout artworks with lights shining onto them creating beautiful shadows on the white wall behind. Intricate cutout artworks with lights shining onto them creating beautiful shadows on the white wall behind.
September 4, 2025 at 2:19 PM
louisebell.bsky.social
What a joy it was to be out guiding the @womenslibrary.bsky.social Garnethill tour this afternoon! (Even if it was a bit damp…)
Front of the pamphlet for the Women’s Garnethill Heritage Walk. It shows a black and white image of a shopfront with Women in Profile on the sign. Looking across a park to the side of a building where a faded mural is visible. The grande entrance to the synagogue in Garnethill, masked somewhat by the green leaves on the trees either side of it. Small section on a lamppost which had GARNET in gold letters.
August 30, 2025 at 10:24 PM
louisebell.bsky.social
There was lots of great use of audio/visual material throughout, and it was very engaging for both kids and adults alike! @railway200.bsky.social
August 30, 2025 at 12:28 PM
louisebell.bsky.social
My main reason for paying a visit was to see @railway200.bsky.social’s Inspiration train, which was stationed at @railwaymuseum.bsky.social! 🤓 Honestly, I was really impressed with how they had transformed former carriages into a museum and learning space!
Inside of a train carriage which has been transformed into a museum. There is a display case to the far right and interpretation on the walls. Train window used as a space for knowledge with information about track circuits. Looking through between two carriages of the train. Again you can see interpretation on the walls, and a wooden bench on the left. The outside of the train also had information on it. This shows an image of a woman in uniform. White text says: 1979 Karen Harrison fights for rail employment on the same terms as men. She is one of the first women train drivers in Britain.
August 30, 2025 at 12:25 PM
louisebell.bsky.social
This time last week I was at @railwaymuseum.bsky.social 🚂
Two green locomotives displayed on tracks in the National Railway Museum. The striking blue front of Mallard. Section of the Euro tunnel with Eurostar made to look as though it’s passing through it. Wall filled with plaques showing the names of various trains and some station signs.
August 30, 2025 at 12:20 PM
louisebell.bsky.social
How had I never seen these wooden water pipes on display as you head into The Meadows (Edinburgh) before?! What a fascinating piece of history!
Wooden water pipe sitting above the surface of the dirt ground. Water is flowing through and creating a small pool in front.
August 29, 2025 at 3:32 PM
louisebell.bsky.social
Interesting to hear @1812andallthat.bsky.social present on disabled veteran Shadrack Byfield & the War of 1812 for @nationalarmymuseum.bsky.social this afternoon! Byfield had his arm amputated & later had an attachment made so that he could return to weaving (which obvs interested me lots) #DisHist
Opening slide of a presentation. The slide is predominantly green with black text reading: Searching for Shadrack Byfield. There is a drawing of two men to the left side of the slide: of notice is the man facing the viewers who has a wooden artificial leg.
August 29, 2025 at 1:31 PM
louisebell.bsky.social
Very much at my limit for applying for jobs this week/this month… So wine it is!
Wine glass half filled with a pale rose wine. It is sitting on a glass topped wooden table.
August 28, 2025 at 5:42 PM
louisebell.bsky.social
No matter how many times I’ve seen it, there’s always something mesmerising about the Millenium Clock at @ntlmuseumsscot.bsky.social!
August 27, 2025 at 8:26 PM
louisebell.bsky.social
These badges were definitely one of my favourite parts of the exhibition!
Five badges displayed against a grey background. The top right shows a black cat against a white background with red text underneath saying: Cats Against The Bomb. The other four are clustered together towards the bottom. Clockwise they show: 1) Drawing of a kangaroo and its baby saying: Kanga and Roo for Peace 2) Drawing of a donkey saying: Muffin the Mule Fans Against the Bomb 3) A drawing of Eeyore saying: Eeyores for Peace 4) A drawing of a tiger saying: Tiggers for Peace A collection of four badges against a grey backdrop. They are (from top to bottom): 1) Orange badge with a drawing of a bear holding a balloon with the peace sign on. Text reads: Parents for Peace. 2) Yellow badge with a smiling sun in the middle. Black text reads: Nuclear Power? No Thanks. 3) Orange badge with red text on saying: History is littered with wars that everybody knew would never happen. 4) White badge with a drawing of a teddy bear in the centre and text around it reading: Nurses Against the Nuclear Nightmare White badge against a grey background. In the centre is a red peace sign. Red text around it reads: Librarians say: Better Read Than Dead! Collection of three badges against a grey background. From top to bottom they are: 1) A white badge with an image of an explosion in the centre. Black text around it reads: Responsible person with Grave Reservations. 2) White badge with a peace logo in the centre. Black text around it reads: Anagram Lovers. Both Sting A Beam. 3) Yellow badge with green peace logo at the top. Green text below reads: Badge Fetishists Against the Bomb.
August 27, 2025 at 7:33 PM
louisebell.bsky.social
Finally got round to visiting the Cold War Scotland exhibition at @ntlmuseumsscot.bsky.social this afternoon! An interesting exploration of the role that Scots and Scotland played in the Cold War.
Opening interpretation sign for the Cold War Scotland exhibition. The title is in white capital letters and the much smaller text below reads: After the Second World War, tensions between the USA and the Soviet Union led to a nuclear stand-off which lasted for over 40 years - the Cold War. Each side formed alliances - the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) for Western countries and the Warsaw Pact for Soviet-aligned states. Scotland's geography and landscape made it a vital strategic base for NATO. Many Scots were involved in the military and intelligence services or as civil defence volunteers. Others joined protests against the threat of war and the presence of nuclear weapons on Scottish soil. Scotland's Cold War legacy remains in the landscape, in culture, and in the memories of people who played a part. Grey backdrop with black text that reads: Peace Is A Human Right Projection on a laminate wooden floor that says RESTRICTED AREA Side of a small cube display case with an image of a black cat with text underneath reading: Cats Against The Bomb
August 27, 2025 at 7:21 PM
louisebell.bsky.social
Also huge congrats to @tortietabby.bsky.social for being runner up for the @socialhistsoc.bsky.social Book Prize, and Michael Roper for winning! #SHSConf2025
Three people standing on a stage. The man to the right is holding a mic and speaking.
July 8, 2025 at 6:53 PM
louisebell.bsky.social
Huge congrats to the winners of the @socialhistsoc.bsky.social PGR prize this year! 👏👏 @amyloulongmuir.bsky.social
#SHSConf2025
Five people standing on stage. To the left is a man speaking at the lectern, three people are standing in the middle, and then another man stands at the end with a mic.
July 8, 2025 at 6:50 PM
louisebell.bsky.social
Really enjoyed the session earlier exploring living history museums, with papers from Kate Hill, @natashaanson.bsky.social, @meg-sch.bsky.social, and Carys Tyson-Taylor! #SHSConf2025
Rows of blue chairs reaching towards the front of the room where four women are sitting on chairs on a stage. Behind an end PowerPoint slide is displayed largely on the wall.
July 8, 2025 at 4:13 PM
louisebell.bsky.social
Have you done some fun work with museums/archives/cultural spaces (anything beyond the academy, essentially) and want to tell people about it? Please do consider writing something for @socialhistsoc.bsky.social’s Community Exchange blog! #SHSConf2025
Screenshot for the Social History Society’s Community Exchange blog, which says: Our Community Exchange aims to foster links across history-making spaces-from museums and archives, streets and groups, stage and screen - and to open up dialogue between the many different audiences for social history. We welcome contributions showcasing public history events, as well as think pieces on community history, co-production, or how scholarship can be transformed by conversations beyond the academy.
July 8, 2025 at 3:40 PM
louisebell.bsky.social
Enjoyed getting to chair the “New Researchers in Social History” panel earlier - with papers from Stephen Radley, Matthew Bliss and Ian Lacey! #SHSConf2025
Three men sitting on chairs on a small stage. There is a lectern to the left of them and a PowerPoint slide projected largely on the wall behind.
July 8, 2025 at 1:28 PM
louisebell.bsky.social
If you’re a PGR at this year’s @socialhistsoc.bsky.social conference, come and join me for a PGR meet-up during today’s (Tuesday) lunch break! #SHSConf2025
Printed flyer for the PGR meet-up at the SHS conference. Taking place on Tuesday 8th at 12:45-2:15 in the Learning Centre, Exhibition Hall.
July 8, 2025 at 10:59 AM
louisebell.bsky.social
Kicked off my day with papers from Caroline Carver, @suejohn.bsky.social, and Hannah Speed on the theme of “New Approaches to Women’s Suffrage Militancy” #SHSConf2025
Large tv screen showing slides from a PowerPoint presentation. There are two postcards both depicting a young girl and policemen.
July 8, 2025 at 9:31 AM
louisebell.bsky.social
To be fair, a chippy tea and then access to the fairground makes for a pretty epic first night of a conference! #SHSConf2025
Portion of fish and chips sitting in white paper. Carousel with golden horses dancing around. My hand is holding a pint of beer in front of it (the focus has made this blurry) Fairground stall to knock down cans. There are four piles of six cans visible, as well as a row of potential soft toy prizes to be won. Picture of three fairground rides in the evening light with a dusky blue sky above.
July 7, 2025 at 10:01 PM