From The Independent this morning: 'Prince Andrew’s coat of arms banner has reportedly been removed from its position in Windsor Castle in a fresh blow for the royal. [...] This normally only happens in situations like when someone commits high treason or takes up arms against the Crown.' Wow. 😮

#Skystorians: any recommendations for the best recent biography of the 1st Duke of Wellington?

I share the same photograph every Trafalgar Day, but I make no apologies for the repetition because it's so very apt. In the foreground, Southern Railway No. 850 Lord Nelson; in the background, British Railways No. 70000 Britannia. Ropley, Mid Hants Railway, February 2015.

The Battle of Trafalgar happened on this day in 1805. One hundred years later, on this day in 1905, as part of Southampton’s celebration of Trafalgar Day, the Trafalgar Dry Dock was opened by the Marquess of Winchester. It was the largest dry dock in the world at the time. 1/4

I well remember that portrait of Queen Charlotte--when I worked at Uppark there was an enormous copy of it hanging above the fireplace at one end of the Saloon. One winter I had to get up on the scaffolding and clean it...happy days! 😄

Heartbreaking 😥

Many moons ago, during my undergrad days in Southampton, I did an internship at Tudor House, helping to prepare it for reopening following it refurbishment. It helped to set me up for my subsequent heritage career--so I have reason to be grateful to Cllr Spranger for saving this house!

Just retweeting my earlier question as still looking for the answer - does anyone at #Museums2025 know?

Bravo to the Northern Rail conductor who just asked a passenger to turn her mobile phone volume down. Surveys show the majority of passengers find electronic device noise a nuisance--and for autistic travellers like myself, it's particularly stressful.

Born #OTD 1691 Arthur Onslow. MP for Guildford 1720-1727, then representing Surrey until 1761, Onslow holds the record for the longest-serving Speaker of the Commons, holding onto the seat for 33 years Read his bio here: ow.ly/48YM50KRcIX

Do any #Arthur Wellesley #DukeofWellington expert/enthusiasts know where he writes about the 4 yr old Salabat Khan who he left money for after his troops defeated the boy's father Dhoondiah on 10 Sept 1800?

Support your amenity societies, folks. They DO make a difference.

THE REFORM CLUB?

"My school saves thousands of pounds every year from those solar panels." The TUC directly takes on Reform, a party funded by the fossil fuel Industry. Posted on IG by tradesunioncongress

The interior of the grand church of All Saints on the corner of Southampton High Street and East Street. It was built between 1792 and 1795, replacing a dilapidated medieval church on the same site that was also referred to as All Hallows. 1/2

“The reality is that the Israelis are fast destroying the remaining chances of Palestinian statehood and there is little the UK can do about it.” I wrote about the UK’s recognition of Palestine for @engelsbergideas.bsky.social

A pair of old HST power cars have appeared at the south end of York station. Anyone know why?

For this week's #PreGroupingWednesday, another shot from the Bluebell Railway's recent 65th anniversary event. London, Brighton & South Coast Rly No. 72 Fenchurch at Sheffield Park station. Built in 1872, Fenchurch was the oldest locomotive on British Railways when it was finally retired in 1963.

61 of her fellow Democrats signed permission slips and left her behind.

Campaign for Better Transport: 71% of people would be more likely to take the 🚅 if fares were cheaper. I'll say it once again: if this government were serious about tackling climate change, they would use taxes and subsidies to make rail travel affordable and incentivise its use wherever possible.

TLDR: Macron has learned the lessons of Appeasement, Trump hasn't (or doesn't want to)...

A rare 18th-century survivor of piecemeal efforts to reconstruct the Palace of Westminster in neo-classical guise. This is 6-7 Old Palace Yard, once the home of the Clerk of Parliaments, there was even a tunnel joining it to the Jewel Tower beyond. commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ol...

A bit late in the day, but today marks the 57th anniversary of the end of steam on British Rail. 1945-built 5MT class 4-6-0 No. 44871 hauled the Carlisle–Manchester leg of the 'official' last train, #OTD in 1968. Seen here on the @worthvalley.bsky.social in March 2023.

'Demolition of the Blitzed House of Commons' (1945) by Frank Ernest Beresford (Parliamentary Art Collection)

For this week's #PreGroupingWednesday, a miniature masterpiece spotted at last weekend's Greatest Gathering, Derby. Ken Woodham's 10 1/4" gauge model of the broad-gauge Great Western Railway 4-2-2 Dragon. The original was built in 1880 and withdrawn on the abolition of the broad gauge in 1892.

Yet another reminder that we have to be prepared to spend money on our historic buildings--otherwise, we're going to lose them. There is only so long that maintenance can be deferred. The question is: do we, as a society, value these places enough to maintain them?

This is very impressive. Half a million pax in 8 months, far exceeding expectations. Build (or reopen) railways and they will come...

This group photo shows the local branch of the South African War Veterans Association in Southampton in 1938. I had always wondered about the only woman in the photo and I’m glad to report that I’ve managed to find out. Her name is Nora Hamilton-Adams and her story is quite remarkable. 1/11

Nigel Farage: "Millennial snowflakes are so oversensitive! They're offended by everything! They need to develop a thicker skin!" Also Nigel Farage: "HOW DARE THIS MAN INSULT ME! I DEMAND AN APOLOGY!" 🤨

Another example of lost heritage being recreated. Truly magnificent.

Died #OnThisDay 1833, knowing that the Slavery Abolition Act for which he had long campaigned was soon to become law, William Wilberforce, MP for his native Hull 1780-4, for Yorkshire 1784-1812 & Bramber 1812-25. He was buried in Westminster Abbey. www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-...

To the gentleman who sent me an unsolicited marketing message on LinkedIn: it's a pleasure to hear from you. Please, tell me more about this fascinating STEM research I've been doing... 🤨

Morning everyone! For your #MondayMotivation, here's a view of the Great Hall at Castle Howard yesterday... #GeorgianArchitecture #ClassicalArchitecture

By getting express trains off the existing network, HS2 clears space for others - particularly FREIGHT. Fewer lorries on roads = major CO2 win. The northern legs, presently "cancelled", are the crucial part. We need to safeguard the routes and BUILD THEM. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

In case you missed it... #HS2

Very sad news indeed. Sadly I never had the pleasure of meeting Andrew, but his book Architect and Engineer: A Study in Sibling Rivalry was a major influence on my MA research.

Some railway architecture for this week's #PreGroupingWednesday. Platforms 3 and 4 at Keighley station, West Yorks., now the terminus of @worthvalley.bsky.social . The present buildings were designed by the Midland Railway's architect, Charles Trubshaw, and built 1883–85.

REMINDER: HS2, delivered in full, was the most effective single investment to reduce the UK's emissions. The last government cancelled it, this government doubled down. Until they reverse the cancellation, Labour cannot be taken seriously on the climate.

The Cross-Country Voyagers really need internal refurbishment. AFAIK their interiors haven't changed substantially since they were first introduced 25 years ago--and it's starting to show. (Also, the interiors were badly-designed in the first place... 😩)

Eight years of disruption for station users + local residents if this scheme gets planning permission. Object on the City of London Planning portal by 4th July. Our easy Guide to writing your own objection is here: bit.ly/3ZQRkk8 📷 Tim Brown the Station on 3 Feb 1989 when last developed. #London

It's been a day of surprises on my daily commute! Bahamas spotted at Keighley this morning; followed by Network Rail's OLE inspection train at York in the evening. @worthvalley.bsky.social

fascinating workshop for everyone at @histparl.bsky.social

Look, Metro, I hate to be a grammar fascist but we don't talk about "car routes", do we? We talk about roads. So can we please use the correct term, railways, rather than "train routes"? Ta!

Probably drawn by the same armchair 'experts' who keep telling us that we don't need #HS2... 🙄

Can we have weight-based car taxes too please? These are loathsome vehicles and they’re mushrooming all over London

Some art historians believe this painting depicts Viscount Goderich, Prime Minister August 1827–January 1828, on the morning of his resignation. He was in office for just 144 days; Britain's third-shortest premiership, after Truss and Canning. @georgianlords.bsky.social

One from North Wales for this week's #PreGroupingWednesday. Russell, built by Hunslet of Leeds in 1906, is the last surviving locomotive of the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways. Seen here at Porthmadog Harbour, Ffestiniog Railway, in April this year; it has since been withdrawn for overhaul.

Meta AI can't handle sarcasm. It also presents gibberish as fact. I will continue to call out its bull**** at every opportunity.

hi Sam, I was UK professional head of pway, am an award-winning engineer, chair multiple professional groups and bodies, have given evidence in parliament multiple times, lecture on this stuff, advise international governments, host panels, author papers... your quals?