Great piece @fayboundalberti.bsky.social! www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Following my @balhnews.bsky.social blogpost about #scoriabricks, I've heard from David Heath, sending me photos from Drummond Place in Edinburgh. While most of its road surface retains its whin setts, there are scoria bricks lining the edges, carrying the name of the Tees Scoria Brick Co.

This is an amazing resource for anyone working on their York family history, and we're pleased to say the Society is running a second weekly drop in session here at the Borthwick on the main university campus, every Friday from 10am-4pm for all your local history needs 😊 @balhnews.bsky.social

Our latest blogpost features the changing fortunes of Micklegate House in York. Built by the #Bourchier family, visited by #AnneLister, painted by #MaryEllenBest, then became a chemical factory. Later housed first @uoylibrary.bsky.social @balhnews.bsky.social @yorkfhs.bsky.social shorturl.at/0Pwpm

Jon Kenny telling us about DNA and archaeology @yorkfhs.bsky.social.

Just added “nape” to my list, originally a #Top10, of Words Used Only With One Other Word

Two things to learn from this. 1. The rightwing newspapers are lobby groups whose purpose is to advance the class interest of their proprietors. 2. Lobbyists for the rich and powerful lose their jobs if they are not prepared to lie. www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-...

“If you invest in council homes, you save massive amounts on the housing benefit bill...You make savings on people’s health because people are living in homes that are warm, safe and dry. You provide space for children to do their homework.” www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Do you live in the #Clementhorpe area of #York? Have you ever wondered about the history of your house in the area? Would you like to explore it through time, and find out who was living there? See www.clementshallhistorygroup.org.uk/blog/local-h... for free event coming up on 8 February.

Some breaking art historical news for you - a lost portrait of Robert Burns by Sir Henry Raeburn was unveiled today at the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh. It’s been missing for more than 200 years. 1/3

Thanks to @deadsleuth.com who included it in the Bishophill walk with details of some of the inmates who stayed here. 19 Bishophill Senior, Bishophill, York is an early 18th century house with a 19th century extension & 20th century modernisation. With a front of pink orange in Flemish bond with /1

A reminder about our next talk at Clements Hall #York this Friday 23 Jan, “Blossom Street through Time”. Susan Major explains its historic significance over many centuries, scene of tragic events, and highlights buildings, significant residents and some modern traders. Details at shorturl.at/4NNkO

Tactless of them not to award it to Trump rn since he is actually doing a lot for European unification.

Common Sense, published 250 years ago today.

If pumping indecent images of children into our news feeds, isn’t enough to force the Government to finally take action against Musk then nothing ever will be. New post on how Musks useful British idiots are trying desperately to stop the Government from acting www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/elon-musks...

Our next event is @suemajor.bsky.social talking about Blossom Street through time, on 23 Jan 2026, details at shorturl.at/5Aci8. One of York’s early suburbs, historically the important route into the city, it has interesting modern elements such as the old Forsselius Garage and the Odeon Cinema.

There's a new series about #railwaystations starts tomorrow night on #More4, with Si King. #YorkStation features in the first programme. www.facebook.com/reel/2536617...

Thanks Sunderland AFC Banter!

“Survey after survey has shown that business owners overestimate how many customers drive to their stores vs walking or biking. In a 2012 Los Angeles study, more than half of the store owners on the bike-laned part of the boulevard thought most of their customers drove. The actual number was 15%.”

The ratings from the SoL. Thought Mukiele and Alderete superb, and a massive night for Dennis Cirkin #SAFC www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/footba...

New TV programme about #railwaystations starts this Thursday on #More4. First one features York, when I'll have a few words to say. www.channel4.com/programmes/b...

"I think 80-90% of the country just want to get on with their lives, be friendly with their neighbours They don't look at people of different religions, skin colours, beliefs, traits, and think badly of them. I think we're divided deliberately to distract" - Gary Lineker 2026, the year of hope.

I had a go at explaining it here (though its my interpretation rather than reporting). samf.substack.com/p/identity-c...

Our local shops! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

cardcatalogforlife.substack.com/p/how-to-spo... All hail the reference librarian!

Closing out my year with a journal editor shocker 🧵 Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...

RT @SunderlandAFC: I CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU ❤️‍🔥

Our latest blogpost highlights a new independent trader in our area of #York, tracing the 150yr history of its premises, from fish to wine. @balhnews.bsky.social @yorkfhs.bsky.social www.clementshallhistorygroup.org.uk/blog/from-fi...

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...?

This is so impressive. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...?

Home Office Ministers state publicly, on the record, that they are deliberately making life worse for older people and people with disabilities who depend on care services, but it's worth it because it reduces net migration.

Absolutely amazing chart from @peterkellner.bsky.social's piece in @thenewworldmag.bsky.social today: www.thenewworld.co.uk/peter-kellne...

Credit @andertoon.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/books/2025/n... This is really interesting.

This is an excellent, level-headed, informative piece. I'd kill for a government which could discuss the issue with the same sense of objectivity and calm.

Well worth a listen, an amazing panel!

This really needs emphasizing. The entirety of the UK media ecosystem is utterly fixated on a 100% fabricated "crisis".

Now over 61,000 🚀

We've got a new free walk leaflet about #York "A historic walk around Micklegate", details on our website at www.clementshallhistorygroup.org.uk/blog/new-mic... @balhnews.bsky.social @yorkfhs.bsky.social

WATCH: If you really STILL don’t understand how car-dependent suburbia is HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED by downtown & all the urban parts of your city, please watch this EXCELLENT video by #NotJustBikes helped by #UrbanThree & @StrongTowns.org. And then please SHARE it as much as possible. youtu.be/7Nw6qyyrTeI

Shabana Mahmood's Indefinite Leave To Remain Culture War 3 years - if you're earning £125k+ 15 years - if you're e.g. a nurse, or a teacher Labour's two tier system which rewards high earners and insults those who work just as hard but don't earn as much - really sad to see Labour fall

Compare and contrast the Government language. £3,750 EV grant on a £35k car: ‘helping families’. Cycle to Work: ‘subsidising leisure’. And yet cycling delivers TEN TIMES the impact of electric cars for reaching net zero. It’s almost like narrative, not data, is driving policy.

#DisabilityHistoryMonth starts today! The Railway Work, Life & Death project is an important resource for understanding occupational disability in the past, via the railways. Read more about just a few of the people whose life stories we've explored: www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk?s=disability

As the shadows around the old York prison loom large upon an evening - the spirits of those once housed within begin to stir and their tales await the curious. We walk the long months of NOVEMBER and DECEMBER in YORK from 7pm. Our Box Office Awaits. #PoliteTourist #LadyBrigante #StillSleuthing 🔍

Many thanks Tee!

Did you know that York used to have a Festival Concert Hall behind the Assembly Rooms? Ian Tempest is giving a #YAYAS talk about these large concert rooms,l in Museum St, long gone.

The real BBC bias story, narrated by Anna Ford

This is very much the majority/median position in the Labour Party, among Labour voters and the general public.