As Stanley Baldwin also attended Mason College, this means it is the English HE institution that educated the most prime ministers after Oxbridge. As it was dissolved in 1900 (becoming part of B’ham university) I’m not sure what that says about modern Britain

Sort of how I feel about craft beer right now

This dog, whenever there’s food being served

Incredible story that really highlights the difference in attitudes to landownership in the UK and the US. The lack of rights of way, the idea of criminal trespass (which does not exist in the UK) and the weird checkerboard set up to fund railroads podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beh…

If anyone’s interested in more about the phenomenal George Dawson (bafflingly under celebrated today) I’d recommend the podcasts by Ewan Fernie on History WestMidlands

Joseph Chamberlain, hailed as 'father figure of modern Birmingham,'transformed the city.

But is it time to rethink this narrative? Jon Neale urges a deeper look. 🧵

I wrote something for Birmingham Dispatch on the legend of Joseph Chamberlain and why Birmingham’s obsession with a slightly problematic figure obscures its rich and radical history

Just popped up on my timeline. Barafundle Bay, Pembrokeshire, almost three years ago

You’re a no-nonsense watering hole? Right. Just one that also serves “Peruvian street food”

Leicester Square in 1964

The South Downs from one of the High Weald ridges

Half of all the world’s bluebells are in Britain - and maybe half of those are in Sussex, judging by my bike ride through the Weald today. Every bit of woodland (and there are many) carpeted a hallucinogenic purple

So looking at this site this morning, I’ve concluded that Britain is apparently really poor and terrible to live in except it’s also rich because we stole everything from other people amirite?

Some truth here but for France and Germany more about Paris and Berlin (and maybe a few other large cities) than the country as a whole

Birmingham
Leeds
Birmingham
Walthamstow
Camden Town
Shepherds Bush
Melbourne
Edinburgh
Cardiff
Guisborough, North Yorkshire
Highbury
Stoke Newington (x 2)
Streatham Hill
Crouch End
Lewes

The first and last account for about 70% of my life though

80% of housing is social housing
Land value tax
All freeholds owned by the state