Simon Ward
@simonward.bsky.social
UK media magnet and follower of sport, news, retro music, cinema, history, travel etc. London and West Country vibes. #thingilearnedtoday
The Italian Gardens on the north side of Kensington Gardens in London were created in the 1860s purportedly as a gift from Prince Albert to Queen Victoria, and restored in 2011 with the support of The Tiffany Foundation. (The Royal Parks) #thingilearnedtoday
November 2, 2025 at 9:55 AM
The Italian Gardens on the north side of Kensington Gardens in London were created in the 1860s purportedly as a gift from Prince Albert to Queen Victoria, and restored in 2011 with the support of The Tiffany Foundation. (The Royal Parks) #thingilearnedtoday
Albert Road Recreation Ground in Haringey was renamed O.R. Tambo Recreation Ground in 2021 in honour of former local resident and anti-apartheid campaigner Oliver Tambo. #thingilearnedtoday
September 5, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Albert Road Recreation Ground in Haringey was renamed O.R. Tambo Recreation Ground in 2021 in honour of former local resident and anti-apartheid campaigner Oliver Tambo. #thingilearnedtoday
Ravi Bopara scored his third T20 century to guide Northants to Vitality Blast Finals Day. Surrey won the first edition in 2003 but haven't triumphed since. #thingilearnedtoday
September 4, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Ravi Bopara scored his third T20 century to guide Northants to Vitality Blast Finals Day. Surrey won the first edition in 2003 but haven't triumphed since. #thingilearnedtoday
Brockwell Hall in Lambeth was built in 1811-13 and officially reopened following restoration in May 2025. #thingilearnedtoday
August 17, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Brockwell Hall in Lambeth was built in 1811-13 and officially reopened following restoration in May 2025. #thingilearnedtoday
Hughenden Manor, the former home of British PM Benjamin Disraeli, was requisitioned by the Air Ministry during World War II, renamed Hillside and used to produce maps for bombing raids. #thingilearnedtoday
July 24, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Hughenden Manor, the former home of British PM Benjamin Disraeli, was requisitioned by the Air Ministry during World War II, renamed Hillside and used to produce maps for bombing raids. #thingilearnedtoday
The Cinema Museum near Elephant and Castle in South London was formerly part of the Lambeth Workhouse. #thingilearnedtoday
July 10, 2025 at 10:45 PM
The Cinema Museum near Elephant and Castle in South London was formerly part of the Lambeth Workhouse. #thingilearnedtoday
St Chad's Cathedral in Birmingham, consecrated in 1841, was the first Catholic cathedral built in England since the reformation. #thingilearnedtoday
July 6, 2025 at 7:33 AM
St Chad's Cathedral in Birmingham, consecrated in 1841, was the first Catholic cathedral built in England since the reformation. #thingilearnedtoday
The park of the Château de Versailles covers 800 hectares, compared with 8,000 before the French Revolution of 1789. #thingilearnedtoday
June 29, 2025 at 7:30 PM
The park of the Château de Versailles covers 800 hectares, compared with 8,000 before the French Revolution of 1789. #thingilearnedtoday
The Tuileries Garden in Paris was created for Catherine de Medici in 1564 and in the grounds of the Tuileries Palace demolished in 1883. #paris #thingilearnedtoday
June 27, 2025 at 9:46 PM
The Tuileries Garden in Paris was created for Catherine de Medici in 1564 and in the grounds of the Tuileries Palace demolished in 1883. #paris #thingilearnedtoday
Muppets creator Jim Henson lived in Hampstead in north London from 1979. #thingilearnedtoday
June 15, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Muppets creator Jim Henson lived in Hampstead in north London from 1979. #thingilearnedtoday
The zebra finch hails from Australia and Indonesia and typically lives for 2-3 years in the wild and 5-15 years in captivity. #thingilearnedtoday
June 1, 2025 at 5:15 PM
The zebra finch hails from Australia and Indonesia and typically lives for 2-3 years in the wild and 5-15 years in captivity. #thingilearnedtoday
Teresa, Countess of Portugal, granted a charter to Ponte de Lima in 1125, meaning it is the country's oldest town. #thingilearnedtoday
May 26, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Teresa, Countess of Portugal, granted a charter to Ponte de Lima in 1125, meaning it is the country's oldest town. #thingilearnedtoday
Gil Vicente FC is named after a Portuguese playwright and plays at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos. #thingilearnedtoday
May 25, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Gil Vicente FC is named after a Portuguese playwright and plays at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos. #thingilearnedtoday
Porto's Super Bock Arena stands on the site of what was once the city's Crystal Palace. #thingilearnedtoday
May 22, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Porto's Super Bock Arena stands on the site of what was once the city's Crystal Palace. #thingilearnedtoday
At 172m the Ponte de Dom Luis I in Porto was the longest metal arch bridge in the world when built in 1886. (DK Eyewitness - Portugal) #thingilearnedtoday
May 21, 2025 at 8:40 PM
At 172m the Ponte de Dom Luis I in Porto was the longest metal arch bridge in the world when built in 1886. (DK Eyewitness - Portugal) #thingilearnedtoday
Nymans is a National Trust property in Handcross, West Sussex comprising a garden and home formerly owned by the Messel family. #thingilearnedtoday
May 15, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Nymans is a National Trust property in Handcross, West Sussex comprising a garden and home formerly owned by the Messel family. #thingilearnedtoday
A Northern Line tube train from Mangapps Railway Museum in Burnham-on-Crouch featured in Darkest Hour. #thingilearnedtoday
May 4, 2025 at 9:47 PM
A Northern Line tube train from Mangapps Railway Museum in Burnham-on-Crouch featured in Darkest Hour. #thingilearnedtoday
The historic Holy Tavern in Clerkenwell in London was renamed from Jerusalem Tavern after a change of ownership in 2022. #thingilearnedtoday
April 26, 2025 at 1:25 PM
The historic Holy Tavern in Clerkenwell in London was renamed from Jerusalem Tavern after a change of ownership in 2022. #thingilearnedtoday
A tight football title race that could double up as a league table for retirement towns.
April 22, 2025 at 9:31 AM
A tight football title race that could double up as a league table for retirement towns.
Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland represents Bebbanburg in the Netflix series 'The Last Kingdom'. #thingilearnedtoday
April 20, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland represents Bebbanburg in the Netflix series 'The Last Kingdom'. #thingilearnedtoday
The now-ruined Etal Castle in Northumberland was built in the mid-14th century by Robert Manners as a defence against the Scots. (English Heritage) #thingilearnedtoday
April 18, 2025 at 7:11 PM
The now-ruined Etal Castle in Northumberland was built in the mid-14th century by Robert Manners as a defence against the Scots. (English Heritage) #thingilearnedtoday
Samuel Taylor Coleridge and J.B. Priestley both lived at 3, The Grove in Highgate. #thingilearnedtoday
April 12, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Samuel Taylor Coleridge and J.B. Priestley both lived at 3, The Grove in Highgate. #thingilearnedtoday
Ocean Colour Scene were formed in 1989 but only hit the big time after being invited to support Oasis on their 1995 tour. #thingilearnedtoday
April 5, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Ocean Colour Scene were formed in 1989 but only hit the big time after being invited to support Oasis on their 1995 tour. #thingilearnedtoday
The Mary Rose was in service for 34 years before it sank off Portsmouth in 1545. #thingilearnedtoday
March 22, 2025 at 10:53 PM
The Mary Rose was in service for 34 years before it sank off Portsmouth in 1545. #thingilearnedtoday
HMS Victory has been in a dry dock at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard since 1922. #thingilearnedtoday
March 21, 2025 at 6:12 PM
HMS Victory has been in a dry dock at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard since 1922. #thingilearnedtoday