Brian Groom

Wheatley Hill, mining village, County Durham, photo by Mary Gillens. She began photographing with a box brownie camera from the 1920s when her children were young, documenting her family and friends (via @sidegallery.bsky.social).

Bradford's Wool Exchange, December 1964. Opened 1867, ceased trading later in the 1960s. Now it's Waterstones Bradford.

Roseberry Topping sunset, north Yorkshire, photo by Harrogate-based landscape photographer Paula Beaumont.

Queue for bread in Wigan as bakeries and supermarkets rationed loaves during the bakers' strikes of 1974 (Wigan Today).

Remembering Anthony Burgess, who died on this day in 1993.

Word of the day is ‘quockerwodger’ (19th century): a puppet politician whose strings are pulled entirely by someone else.

Hexham fire station demolition plans to be probed by councillors Sculptor Sir Antony Gormley is interested in turning the site into a storage space and gallery.

Row over plan to demolish Hexham fire station that Angel of the North creator Sir Antony Gormley wanted to store his work and potentially exhibit it. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

'I greatly enjoyed Northerners and Made in Manchester, especially the latter, and eagerly await the next book.'
'Absolutely crackin' book!'
'Can’t put it down. So interesting to read about where you were born & grew up. Amazing talent & diversity.'
'A truly excellent read.'

Ynys Llanddwyn ('Llanddwyn Island'), small tidal island off the west coast of Anglesey, photo by Catherine Chambers.

Hope you enjoy it, Mike!

Are the days of traditional British fish and chip shops numbered? One Hull fish and chip shop owner says he is now selling chilli and curry

Are the chips down for traditional fish supper? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

👍🙂

Tomorrow, all welcome.

Men of the South, 1921, painting by Séan Keating (Crawford Art Gallery). North Cork Brigade of the IRA during the Irish War of Independence.

Cromwell Avenue.

Yorkshire, 1965, photo by John Bulmer (b.1938).

Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, painting by Lucy Pittaway. #WomensArt #NorthernArt

Consett Iron Works, County Durham, 1978, photo by Graham Smith (b.1947).

Swizzels Matlow sweet factory, New Mills, Derbyshire, on a winter’s morning, photo by @andrewpbrooks.bsky.social.

Me with our family car, Whalley Range, Manchester, 1959-60.

King Street, Manchester, painting by Jane Braithwaite. #WomensArt #NorthernArt

Good luck to bookshops everywhere as they approach the busy season, including Waterstones Deansgate, Chorlton Bookshop @chorltonbookshop.bsky.social, Read Holmfirth, Waterstones Newcastle.

Red Road flats, Glasgow, May 1993, photo by Jeremy Sutton Hibbert (Café Royal Books).

Ken Burns on his American Revolution documentary: ‘We won’t work on a more important film’ The acclaimed documentarian’s latest epic series has been in the works for a decade and features A-list contributions from Meryl Streep to Tom Hanks

Ken Burns on his American Revolution documentary: ‘We won’t work on a more important film’. www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

I'll be talking about 'Manchester Portraits - 20 Fascinating Figures from the Region's Past' at Saddleworth Historical Society, Weds 10th December 7.30, Saddleworth Museum, Uppermill. Visitors £3. (Pic Saddleworth Viaduct by Edwin Bottomley)

Bonding, painting by Claudia Williams (1933-2024), English-born artist who spent most of her life in Wales. #WomensArt

Borough by borough - exactly what the £1bn growth fund will bring to your area More than 30 projects across Greater Manchester have been identified

Borough by borough - exactly what the £1bn growth fund will bring to your area of Greater Manchester @manchestereveningnews.co.uk

North Shields statue to woman who escaped slavery in America A statue is unveiled to Mary Ann Macham who fled from Virginia to North Shields in the 1830s.

Statue to 'remarkable' woman who escaped slavery unveiled in North Shields. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Best Friends on a Night Out, painting by Lucy Manfredi (b. 1974).

Manchester, 1964, photo by Shirley Baker.