Dr Fern Riddell
@drfernriddell.bsky.social
Historian. Author. On your TV/Radio.
**Victoria’s Secret: The Private Passion of a Queen OUT NOW**
Expert: Suffragette Terrorism, Music Hall, 19thC Sex + Culture, Queen Victoria & John Brown.
www.fernriddell.com
https://lnk.to/victoriassecretbook
**Victoria’s Secret: The Private Passion of a Queen OUT NOW**
Expert: Suffragette Terrorism, Music Hall, 19thC Sex + Culture, Queen Victoria & John Brown.
www.fernriddell.com
https://lnk.to/victoriassecretbook
Pinned
Victoria's Secret
Go to Victoria's Secret.
lnk.to
Thank you for the lovely reaction to ‘Queen Victoria: Secret Marriage, Secret Child?’. It’s not easy to distill a 140,000 word book into 58 mins, but Impossible Factual did a fantastic job. And if you want to know EVERYTHING I’ve found, Victoria’s Secret came out today: lnk.to/victoriassec...
Reposted by Dr Fern Riddell
One of my dads mates went a bit off the rails with Masquerade. Late night inspitation found him digging up random fields at midnight on several occasions.
One of the most beautiful bits of english eccentricity and glorious design is coming back to Sotheby’s and should be bought by a musuem (or me) for THE NATION. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Jewelled golden hare that sparked national treasure hunt set for auction
Artist and author Kit Williams hid a golden hare with clues to its precise location given in his 1979 book
www.independent.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 11:20 AM
One of my dads mates went a bit off the rails with Masquerade. Late night inspitation found him digging up random fields at midnight on several occasions.
Reposted by Dr Fern Riddell
I was obsessed with this book as a kid. Couldn't do ANY of the puzzles in it, mind, but it was just so gorgeous. Actually saw Kit Williams at a book fair and he autographed my copy and wrote "FAIRE FORTUNE BE YOURS" or something like that. 🥰
One of the most beautiful bits of english eccentricity and glorious design is coming back to Sotheby’s and should be bought by a musuem (or me) for THE NATION. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Jewelled golden hare that sparked national treasure hunt set for auction
Artist and author Kit Williams hid a golden hare with clues to its precise location given in his 1979 book
www.independent.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 11:00 AM
I was obsessed with this book as a kid. Couldn't do ANY of the puzzles in it, mind, but it was just so gorgeous. Actually saw Kit Williams at a book fair and he autographed my copy and wrote "FAIRE FORTUNE BE YOURS" or something like that. 🥰
Reposted by Dr Fern Riddell
In my second year in secondary school, our English teacher devoted so many lessons to (obviously non-syllabus) Masquerade. He was desperate to find it.
When the hare was found, he read a long newspaper report on it to us. I've never heard anyone read something out loud in such a heartbroken manner.
When the hare was found, he read a long newspaper report on it to us. I've never heard anyone read something out loud in such a heartbroken manner.
One of the most beautiful bits of english eccentricity and glorious design is coming back to Sotheby’s and should be bought by a musuem (or me) for THE NATION. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Jewelled golden hare that sparked national treasure hunt set for auction
Artist and author Kit Williams hid a golden hare with clues to its precise location given in his 1979 book
www.independent.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 10:33 AM
In my second year in secondary school, our English teacher devoted so many lessons to (obviously non-syllabus) Masquerade. He was desperate to find it.
When the hare was found, he read a long newspaper report on it to us. I've never heard anyone read something out loud in such a heartbroken manner.
When the hare was found, he read a long newspaper report on it to us. I've never heard anyone read something out loud in such a heartbroken manner.
Reposted by Dr Fern Riddell
This should be in the V&A. It’s an essential artefact of UK late 20th century culture.
One of the most beautiful bits of english eccentricity and glorious design is coming back to Sotheby’s and should be bought by a musuem (or me) for THE NATION. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Jewelled golden hare that sparked national treasure hunt set for auction
Artist and author Kit Williams hid a golden hare with clues to its precise location given in his 1979 book
www.independent.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 10:38 AM
This should be in the V&A. It’s an essential artefact of UK late 20th century culture.
One of the most beautiful bits of english eccentricity and glorious design is coming back to Sotheby’s and should be bought by a musuem (or me) for THE NATION. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Jewelled golden hare that sparked national treasure hunt set for auction
Artist and author Kit Williams hid a golden hare with clues to its precise location given in his 1979 book
www.independent.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 9:18 AM
One of the most beautiful bits of english eccentricity and glorious design is coming back to Sotheby’s and should be bought by a musuem (or me) for THE NATION. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
My milkshake brings Rachel Reeves to the yard, and she’s like:
‘This is how we save the NHS’
‘This is how we save the NHS’
November 25, 2025 at 11:01 AM
My milkshake brings Rachel Reeves to the yard, and she’s like:
‘This is how we save the NHS’
‘This is how we save the NHS’
Reposted by Dr Fern Riddell
As a survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, Viola Ford Fletcher bravely shared her story so that we’d never forget this painful part of our history. Michelle and I are grateful for her lifelong work to advance civil rights, and send our love to her family.
Viola Fletcher, Oldest Survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, Dies at 111
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:45 AM
As a survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, Viola Ford Fletcher bravely shared her story so that we’d never forget this painful part of our history. Michelle and I are grateful for her lifelong work to advance civil rights, and send our love to her family.
Reposted by Dr Fern Riddell
narrator: 50 years ago...
me: [nods] in 1945
narrator: in 1975...
me: what
me: [nods] in 1945
narrator: in 1975...
me: what
November 25, 2025 at 2:11 AM
narrator: 50 years ago...
me: [nods] in 1945
narrator: in 1975...
me: what
me: [nods] in 1945
narrator: in 1975...
me: what
"The truth was that finally, space was — albeit awkwardly — being made for women’s writing. Men had to budge over..."
and
"Ireland has excellent trans writers such as William Keohane and Soula Emmanuel, who are digging into what gender means."
👏👏👏
www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...
and
"Ireland has excellent trans writers such as William Keohane and Soula Emmanuel, who are digging into what gender means."
👏👏👏
www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...
Stop calling David Szalay’s Booker win a victory for male literature
The acclaim for the winning novel, Flesh, has exposed the dubious notion that women had somehow ‘taken over’ literature
www.thetimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:09 PM
"The truth was that finally, space was — albeit awkwardly — being made for women’s writing. Men had to budge over..."
and
"Ireland has excellent trans writers such as William Keohane and Soula Emmanuel, who are digging into what gender means."
👏👏👏
www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...
and
"Ireland has excellent trans writers such as William Keohane and Soula Emmanuel, who are digging into what gender means."
👏👏👏
www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...
Reposted by Dr Fern Riddell
There are plenty of links between the anti-trans “women’s rights” movement & anti-feminist conservatism. And opposing abortion is a logical conclusion for a movement that says no, you should not have agency over your own body; no, you do not know best about yourself; no, you have no choice.
No way I’m sharing Stock’s UnHerd article. But I am going to point to this bit which amply demonstrates the anti-trans=>anti-women’s rights pipeline. “Abortions should only be done for a highly restricted set of reasons. They should not be just nodded through for any reason a pregnant woman likes.”
November 22, 2025 at 10:40 AM
There are plenty of links between the anti-trans “women’s rights” movement & anti-feminist conservatism. And opposing abortion is a logical conclusion for a movement that says no, you should not have agency over your own body; no, you do not know best about yourself; no, you have no choice.
Reposted by Dr Fern Riddell
“He would sidle up to me and growl: ‘Hitler was right,’ or ‘Gas them,’ sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers" www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
‘Deeply shocking’: Nigel Farage faces fresh claims of racism and antisemitism at school
Bafta-winning director among contemporaries urging contrition and apology from Reform UK leader, who denies the allegations
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:28 PM
“He would sidle up to me and growl: ‘Hitler was right,’ or ‘Gas them,’ sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers" www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
Donald Trump is on camera saying ‘Quiet, Piggy’ to a female reporter, after she asked him about the Epstein files while travelling on Air Force One.
November 18, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Donald Trump is on camera saying ‘Quiet, Piggy’ to a female reporter, after she asked him about the Epstein files while travelling on Air Force One.
*slaps roof of history*
Just seeing how much more fascism we can fit in this decade.
Just seeing how much more fascism we can fit in this decade.
November 17, 2025 at 1:08 PM
*slaps roof of history*
Just seeing how much more fascism we can fit in this decade.
Just seeing how much more fascism we can fit in this decade.
This sounds incredibly exciting www.theguardian.com/books/2025/n...
‘A girl of genius’: archives unsealed of Amy Levy, queer Jewish writer admired by Oscar Wilde
Levy’s work was ‘ahead of her time’ and speaks to current debate around feminism, LGBTQ+ literature and Jewish identity, say researchers
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 6:28 PM
This sounds incredibly exciting www.theguardian.com/books/2025/n...
Reposted by Dr Fern Riddell
The women who actually use Kenwood Ladies Pond spoke clearly: the 900 members democratically voted to maintain their trans+ inclusive policy, in place since 2019. 🏊♀️
notinourname.org.uk/nion-women-r...
#TransInclusion #KenwoodLadiesPond #TransRightsAreHumanRights @nionwomen.bsky.social
notinourname.org.uk/nion-women-r...
#TransInclusion #KenwoodLadiesPond #TransRightsAreHumanRights @nionwomen.bsky.social
NION Women Rejects Anti-Trans Narrative at Kenwood Ladies Pond - Not in our name
NION women supports the previous decision by members to keep the Kenwood ponds inclusive, and calls for people to engage in the consultation
notinourname.org.uk
November 7, 2025 at 12:00 PM
The women who actually use Kenwood Ladies Pond spoke clearly: the 900 members democratically voted to maintain their trans+ inclusive policy, in place since 2019. 🏊♀️
notinourname.org.uk/nion-women-r...
#TransInclusion #KenwoodLadiesPond #TransRightsAreHumanRights @nionwomen.bsky.social
notinourname.org.uk/nion-women-r...
#TransInclusion #KenwoodLadiesPond #TransRightsAreHumanRights @nionwomen.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr Fern Riddell
Yes it's a really important detail this.
I'm not sure if others have noticed this, but interesting that one of the Prescott criticisms of the BBC is based on those of the 'History Reclaimed' group, which is also associated with the 'Restore Trust' group's attacks on & so far unsuccessful attempts to take control of the National Trust. 1/3
November 12, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Yes it's a really important detail this.
What is ‘The Problem’ for Victorianists and why does it begin with E.
i fully agree with this theory and in my actual field, british architectural history, The Problem is that Salisbury Cathedral is built on top of a lake and no i am not exaggerating
between this and the FSO Safer (another ship at serious risk of exploding) I’m convinced every field has its “yeah, this is the problem that keeps me up at night” and I’m on a quest to learn about all of them
November 12, 2025 at 1:30 PM
What is ‘The Problem’ for Victorianists and why does it begin with E.
Reposted by Dr Fern Riddell
yes yes we all know about the Edmund Fitzgerald, rest her soul, but did you know about the ship laden with explosives that sank in the mouth of the Thames in 1944 and could explode at any minute and which attempts to disarm keep failing
November 11, 2025 at 3:12 PM
yes yes we all know about the Edmund Fitzgerald, rest her soul, but did you know about the ship laden with explosives that sank in the mouth of the Thames in 1944 and could explode at any minute and which attempts to disarm keep failing
Reposted by Dr Fern Riddell
This US goverment poster is from 1943. The Nazis burned books - this US goverment is banning them. Hard to imagine such a poster being produced now.
November 11, 2025 at 6:28 PM
This US goverment poster is from 1943. The Nazis burned books - this US goverment is banning them. Hard to imagine such a poster being produced now.
Reposted by Dr Fern Riddell
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
November 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
Reposted by Dr Fern Riddell
It takes an obscene amount of hubris to lecture the BBC when you have The Telegraph’s record on truth-telling.
Some of the paper’s errors this year are so bad they’re almost laughable 👇🏻
Some of the paper’s errors this year are so bad they’re almost laughable 👇🏻
The Telegraph’s BBC hypocrisy
A paper that knows a thing or two about editorial f*ck-ups...
writesbright.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:48 PM
It takes an obscene amount of hubris to lecture the BBC when you have The Telegraph’s record on truth-telling.
Some of the paper’s errors this year are so bad they’re almost laughable 👇🏻
Some of the paper’s errors this year are so bad they’re almost laughable 👇🏻
Reposted by Dr Fern Riddell
i feel like this is a reasonable take that i would have held pre-2024 (the BBC did screw up therefore there should be accountability) but the fact that this trivial editing mistake should have such terrible consequences, while right wing media lies with impunity constantly, makes my head explode
Exactly, so the BBC didn't need to shoot themselves in the reputation by editing it that way. But they did, and here we are
He explicitly encouraged the Capitol riot
November 10, 2025 at 9:29 AM
i feel like this is a reasonable take that i would have held pre-2024 (the BBC did screw up therefore there should be accountability) but the fact that this trivial editing mistake should have such terrible consequences, while right wing media lies with impunity constantly, makes my head explode
Reposted by Dr Fern Riddell
For the story of Kitty Marion and a detailed picture of the extent of such ‘Suffragette Outrages’ see @drfernriddell.bsky.social's ‘Death in Ten Minutes’.
November 11, 2025 at 8:03 AM
For the story of Kitty Marion and a detailed picture of the extent of such ‘Suffragette Outrages’ see @drfernriddell.bsky.social's ‘Death in Ten Minutes’.
Reposted by Dr Fern Riddell
11 November 1913 In the early hours, a bomb destroyed the cactus house at Alexandra Park Manchester, planted by Suffragette Kitty Marion. This was part of an escalating, violent campaign of bombs, arson, and chemical attacks, by the WSPU under the direction of Christabel Pankhurst.
November 11, 2025 at 8:02 AM
11 November 1913 In the early hours, a bomb destroyed the cactus house at Alexandra Park Manchester, planted by Suffragette Kitty Marion. This was part of an escalating, violent campaign of bombs, arson, and chemical attacks, by the WSPU under the direction of Christabel Pankhurst.
Reposted by Dr Fern Riddell
I mean, what kind of legal action would this be exactly? Defamation? I would truly love to see it. 'They made it look like I instigated a coup during my very well recorded coup attempt.'
The US president has sent a letter to the corporation threatening legal action.
Donald Trump Preparing To Sue BBC Over Panorama Speech Row
The US president has sent a letter to the corporation threatening legal action.
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 2:12 PM
I mean, what kind of legal action would this be exactly? Defamation? I would truly love to see it. 'They made it look like I instigated a coup during my very well recorded coup attempt.'