Sri Venkateswara (Balaji) Temple, Tividale (Wikimedia Commons) I submitted my thesis on Wolverhampton and its diasporic Irish space at the beginning of December, and my brain is slowly starting to unclog so that I can think about things outside the four walls of my home office again. With a bit of luck I might have … Continue reading Farm to Vaccination Centre: geographies of industry, politics and religion in Tividale
Category: History
A bibliography of the Irish in Britain: first thoughts
As a historiographical exercise, I recently put together a bibliography of the Irish in 19th century Britain - you can find it here: https://uptheossroad.wordpress.com/bibliography-local-studies-of-the-irish-in-19th-century-britain/ There's also a map, below: I don't presume to make any sweeping statements about this, particularly because there's bound to be odd articles I've missed - it would be just my … Continue reading A bibliography of the Irish in Britain: first thoughts
The teens
I've been meaning to write an update here for ages - my last post was, unbelievably, over a year ago. But now I'm here, I'm twiddling my thumbs a bit because I don't have a particular research topic to write about. Or, rather, I have too many. I'm busy writing up my PhD research, which … Continue reading The teens
Maps for the National Plan
Over December I was the very fortunate recipient of a book advent calendar from my lovely wife. I could rhapsodise about some of the books but to avoid losing the reader, I'll concentrate on just one. It wasn't a hint when I retweeted Otto Saumaurez-Smith, but also it wasn't subtle: WANT https://t.co/KMKWgGPu2q — Simon Briercliffe … Continue reading Maps for the National Plan
Slavery and the Black Country: collars and chains
Last week I looked at money: finance that filtered from Africa to Jamaica to Britain through the holdings of wealthy landlords such as the Earls of Dudley. This week I want to look at things: the industrial links that the Black Country had with enslavement and unfree labour. These are not easy to trace, just as … Continue reading Slavery and the Black Country: collars and chains
The Black Country flag and the uses of history (again)
In 1897, Robert Sherard published a collection of his Pearson's Magazine articles documenting the exploitation and suffering of the working men and women of Britain in some of the 'sweated' trades - he visited chemical works in Widnes, white-lead works in Newcastle, nailmakers in Bromsgrove, chainmakers in Cradley Heath, and more. The title, The White Slaves of England, has … Continue reading The Black Country flag and the uses of history (again)
Pragmatism not idealism
keeping in contact with old friends It was twenty years ago today, went one of the contenders for greatest album ever. It was twenty years ago today since I and my friend Nathan made the eager after-school trip to MVC in the Brooks Centre in Winchester to buy Radiohead's brand new album, OK Computer. It was … Continue reading Pragmatism not idealism
Josephine Butler and spaces of reform in Winchester
There ought to be a word for the mixture of thrill and dread that comes with hearing someone talk about your home town on the radio or TV. Coming from Winchester, it's usually dread that someone in red cords is suggesting feeding the poor to their rare-breed pheasants or something. In fact (of course) the town is, … Continue reading Josephine Butler and spaces of reform in Winchester
Distance and Strangeness: the murder of Anne Spencer
I sometimes feel like I've spent the last three years trying to figure out my place within history. I still feel like there's probably a huge mountain of scholarship that I've completely missed, but in general I'm starting to work out what historiography is (I'm not a historian by background - everyone else just calls it 'the literature' … Continue reading Distance and Strangeness: the murder of Anne Spencer
Telling family stories
As part of my research I will inevitably have to tell you some family histories. I say have to - it's a vital, fascinating and relevant part of my research. But have you ever had someone try to tell you their family history? I'm guilty of this, because my own family history is really interesting - to … Continue reading Telling family stories