Simon Briercliffe's Avatar

Simon Briercliffe

@simonbriercliffe

Historian at the Black Country Museum and elsewhere: talk to me about the Black Country, Shropshire, modern and local British history, the Irish in Britain, museums, local heritage and all stops in between. Baby gaeilgeoir. https://simonbriercliffe.com/

2,220
Followers
1,483
Following
694
Posts
25.02.2024
Joined
Posts Following

Latest posts by Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe

Very legit

06.03.2026 14:13 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Just wanting to relive the fever dream over and over?

06.03.2026 13:48 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

You can either suspend all cynicism or treat it as a historical source, there's no middle ground.

06.03.2026 06:54 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I'm jealous of anyone getting to watch Highlander for the first time in 2026.

06.03.2026 06:46 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Walsall – Cannock Walk from the centre of Walsall into former mining country along the McClean Way greenway, and across the remarkable surivivals that are Pelsall and Pelsall North Common, before crossing the Staffo…

This week's new walking route is:

Walsall - Cannock

9.8 miles via Pelsall's two commons, Pelsall Common and Pelsall North Common, exceptionally rare survivals of common land on the edge of West Midlands county

Check it outπŸ‘‡

walkmidlands.co.uk/2026/03/05/w...

05.03.2026 22:33 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Ooh would love to know more, thank you!

05.03.2026 18:00 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Finally getting round to a talk on these with my linguist pal Esther Asprey, at University of Birmingham next Weds. Still keen to hear any thoughts about this kind of source!

They're generally very apolitical, but occasionally a bit creeps through. I really like "Not you Mosely, sit down."

05.03.2026 10:29 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Finally getting round to a talk on these with my linguist pal Esther Asprey, at University of Birmingham next Weds. Still keen to hear any thoughts about this kind of source!

They're generally very apolitical, but occasionally a bit creeps through. I really like "Not you Mosely, sit down."

05.03.2026 10:29 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

People like Goodwin hate Britain. They want to drag it to antiquity because a backwards, discriminatory society is the only society they can thrive in. Without discrimination and disadvantage for others, they are nobodies

04.03.2026 07:19 πŸ‘ 319 πŸ” 58 πŸ’¬ 5 πŸ“Œ 2

'It takes more then a piece of paper to make someone British' well yes it does. It takes years and years, lengthty piss taking application forms, a test, qualifications, employment and £££££££. What did Goodwin do other than be born here?

04.03.2026 07:16 πŸ‘ 614 πŸ” 96 πŸ’¬ 12 πŸ“Œ 5

Fully in favour. I used to work admin on a golf management degree and can confirm that golfers are the worst.

03.03.2026 19:29 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Green area with green sign stating "no golf"

Green area with green sign stating "no golf"

I'm hoping for an upcoming chapter specifically on "no golf" signs

03.03.2026 17:08 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1

Dr. Kwoba will be in Birmingham to give a talk about this important book on 16 March.

Free to attend. All welcome!

03.03.2026 16:16 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
A large, decorated house with a garden and path in front. A small black dog is playing in the puddles.

A large, decorated house with a garden and path in front. A small black dog is playing in the puddles.

Maude playing in the puddles at Gregynog.

28.02.2026 17:21 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Black and white photo of young people in a protest crowd in West Bromwich, 1979

Young black man in the centre with a short afro with bleach streaks is holding a large sign on a long stick which reads "NO TO NAZIS  IN WEST BROMWICH

28 APRIL 4PM HARDWARE ST

MASS PICKET OF NF" (National Front)

Young white man with close cropped hair has his arm protectively around the sign holder and a defiant grimace on his face 

Anti-Nazi Demo, West Bromwich, 1979.
Photo Β© Virginia Turbett, all rights reserved
https://britishculturearchive.co.uk/virginia-turbett-uk-protests-1970s/

Black and white photo of young people in a protest crowd in West Bromwich, 1979 Young black man in the centre with a short afro with bleach streaks is holding a large sign on a long stick which reads "NO TO NAZIS IN WEST BROMWICH 28 APRIL 4PM HARDWARE ST MASS PICKET OF NF" (National Front) Young white man with close cropped hair has his arm protectively around the sign holder and a defiant grimace on his face Anti-Nazi Demo, West Bromwich, 1979. Photo Β© Virginia Turbett, all rights reserved https://britishculturearchive.co.uk/virginia-turbett-uk-protests-1970s/

British Culture: Anti-Nazi Demo, West Bromwich, 1979.

Photo Β© Virginia Turbett

via @britcultarchive.bsky.social
britishculturearchive.co.uk/archive-gall...

22.10.2025 08:45 πŸ‘ 170 πŸ” 35 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 6

Not to mention you could subtract all the Workers Party votes from 2024 and the Greens would still have won, and Labour still have come third.

27.02.2026 13:59 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

This feels like implied racism to me. He knows that Galloway has polled high with Muslim voters in the past, so he's insinuating it's their fault. Grossly entitled too, but talk about dividing and encouraging sectarianism...

27.02.2026 13:59 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I suppose you Could consider the Greens β€œdivisiveβ€œ in that they’re the only major party not buying in to the establishment’s normalisation of right wing bigotry and hypercapitalism

27.02.2026 13:29 πŸ‘ 126 πŸ” 19 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 2
a lonely Matt Goodwin texting on his phone

a lonely Matt Goodwin texting on his phone

β€˜hi, grandma? can u come pick me up from my rap battle? it's over. no, i lost. he saw u drop me off & did a pretty devastating rhyme about it’

27.02.2026 08:03 πŸ‘ 701 πŸ” 161 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 2

We had it donated along with umpteen variations of retrospectives of George V, mostly in gold.

26.02.2026 16:57 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
A book cover, 'These Tremendous Years'

A book cover, 'These Tremendous Years'

A photo of a book page, showing Princess Margaret Rose and The Cecil Demolished

A photo of a book page, showing Princess Margaret Rose and The Cecil Demolished

Photo of a book page showing The Year Of The Flapper Vote

Photo of a book page showing The Year Of The Flapper Vote

A photo of a book page showing the Zinoviev Letter

A photo of a book page showing the Zinoviev Letter

Think I've found the most @tricksterprince.bsky.social -coded book ever.

26.02.2026 11:57 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

These will keep on coming to me, but my instinctive reaction is "Over to Arnie Pie with Arnie In The Sky"

24.02.2026 19:26 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

"An introduction to Dudley Canal and Caverns". A talk focusing on the canal network within Dudley, its heritage and its industry. Presented by Rhi Edwards, Programme and Events Manager at DCTT.
Dudley Canal and Caverns, Wednesday 25th February at 7.30pm.

22.02.2026 19:02 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

oh yeah, how much did that cost you?

22.02.2026 13:15 πŸ‘ 173 πŸ” 21 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 0

We called our garage a carhold.

22.02.2026 13:56 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

We probably overlapped! El Rincon was a regular when I worked at the university.

21.02.2026 19:17 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Instagram Create an account or log in to Instagram - Share what you're into with the people who get you.

Here. Look. Right to the end.

www.instagram.com/reel/DU_K0ex...

21.02.2026 08:58 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Freelance Work Transcription, scholarly editing, archival visits Joanne is available for freelance work: transcriptions and editions of late medieval and early modern Latin, English and Anglo-Norman manuscript te…

A reminder that I do freelance work: transcription, archival visits and more. My rates are here (subject to surcharges or discounts):

joanneedge.co.uk/freelance-wo...

20.02.2026 09:41 πŸ‘ 35 πŸ” 21 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1

If you can believe it, we watched Alive during a wet games lesson in about year 10. I think because it was about rugby players?

20.02.2026 17:50 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

"An introduction to Dudley Canal and Caverns". A talk focusing on the canal network within Dudley, its heritage and its industry. Presented by Rhi Edwards, Programme and Events Manager at DCTT.
Dudley Canal and Caverns, Wednesday 25th February at 7.30pm.

17.02.2026 19:02 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1