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pasttensehistories.bsky.social

@pasttensehistories.bsky.social

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London radical histories & mysteries. Obsessions: open space, gentrification, strikes, riot, music, drink, spycops. https://pasttense.co.uk/

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pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · Jan 5

Some of our publications about London radical history (and more!) can be ordered from our online shop.
Pamphlets, books, maps & posters.
Much of our back catalogue is out of print but we’re working on making it available again…
pasttensehistories.bigcartel.com

Past Tense Histories

DIY Radical history publications from London's turbulent past... Self-published pamphlets, posters, pamphlets and the London Rebel History...

pasttensehistories.bigcartel.com

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pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 5h

#OnThisDay in radical history, 1869: the first preliminary meeting takes place to set up the Land & Labour League,
More on the League:
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Today in London radical history, 1870: a Land & Labour League unemployed demonstration.

On 15th April 1870, a Land and Labour League unemployed demonstration took place in London. The winter of 1869-70 had seen a large rise in unemployment, and on Good Friday the League organised a de…

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pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 5h

#OnThisDay in London military history, 1977: Royal Air Force troops are used as scabs to cross picket line in air traffic controllers strike, West Drayton.

pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 5h

Harrison was involved in repression of more radical elements in the English Revolution (including the army mutiny at Burford), but later was involved with the Fifth Monarchists and c accused of plotting against Cromwell
spartacus-educational.com/STUharrisonT...

Thomas Harrison

A detailed biography of Thomas Harrison that includes includes images, quotations and the main facts of his life. Key Stage 3. The Reformation. The English Civil War. GCSE British History. A-level. La...

spartacus-educational.com

pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 5h

#OnThisDay in judicial history, 1660: Thomas Harrison, who voted for the execution of king Charles I, is himself executed under the restored monarchy, at Charing Cross.

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pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 5h

#OnThisDay in radical history, 1921: There is fighting at Cambridge Circus, between unemployed demonstrators & police, while National Unemployed Workers Movement leaders meet the Prime Minister.

pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 5h

#OnThisDay in London radical herstory, 1908: Suffragettes stage a “rush on Parliament”
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Today in London herstory, 1908: Suffragettes rush on Parliament

1907-8 saw a sharp stepping up of the campaign by UK women to win the vote. Successive rejections of lobbying of MPs, attempts to get political parties onside and other conventional measures had pu…

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pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 5h

#OnThisDay in London radical history: John Goodwyn Barmby founds the Communist Propaganda Society, 1841
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Today in London radical history: John Goodwyn Barmby founds the Communist Propaganda Society, 1841

John Goodwyn Barmby was a utopian communist, influenced by the ideas of Robert Owen and the early 19th century French Utopian socialist theorists, who launched propaganda organisations to spread th…

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Reposted by pasttensehistories.bsky.social

The #SpyCopsBot @spycopsbot.bsky.social · 1d

Went to see the new play ‘Demand the Impossible’ at the Corn Exchange in Newport. Got to chat with the cast, including Saul, the actor who plays a #blacklisted construction worker targeted by #spycops. (@DaveBlacklist)

pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 1d

#OnThisDay in London radical history, 1831: a huge procession demanding political reform, in response to rejection of second reform bill
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This week in London radical history, 1831: riots break out as House of Lords reject the Reform Bill

The long campaign for reform of the British political system went through many phases, especially in the 19th century. Between 1830 and 1832 a powerful agitation for political change revived, follo…

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pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 2d

“To the wide Ebro river, young Jamie has gone
To stand by the side of the workers of Spain”
‘Jamie Foyers’, Ewan Mac Coll

pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 2d

#OnThisDay in London radical herstory, 1872: Suffragette Emily Wilding Davison born, Blackheath.
One of the most active militants in the Women’s Social & Political Union, she died in 1913 after being hit by a horse while protesting at the Epsom Derby
spartacus-educational.com/Wdavison.htm

Emily Wilding Davison

A detailed biography of Emily Wilding Davison that includes includes images, quotations and the main facts of her life. Key Stage 3. GCSE. A-level. Women's History. Last updated: 14th June, 2022

spartacus-educational.com

pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 2d

“for which Offence two were secured, and carried to the Sun Alehouse [in Fetter Lane]; but the Mob re-assembled, broke the Windows, pulled down the Sign, and rescued their Companions.”
Gentleman's Magazine, October, 1738

pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 2d

#OnThisDay in London radical history, 1738: “Being the King's Coronation, at the Bonfire in Cheapside, the Mob were guilty of great Outrages, and much abused the City Marshall in executing his Office, by throwing Squibs, etc”

pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 2d

A PDF of Hardy’s autobiography, covering the founding of the Corresponding Society & his arrest, trial and acquittal on a charge of treason (for campaigning for a more democratic voting system) is online:
www.marxists.org/history/engl...

www.marxists.org

pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 2d

#OnThisDay in London radical history, 1832: Veteran campaigner for political reform Thomas Hardy dies, Pimlico.
A founder of the London Corresponding Society:
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Today in London radical history, 1792: working class political reformers found the London Corresponding Society

In the last three decades of the eighteenth century, pressure for reform of the political system grew throughout Britain. The electoral system was entirely designed to reinforce the power of the do…

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Reposted by pasttensehistories.bsky.social

Partizan Dulwich @partizandulwich.bsky.social · 3d

Also - Norwich
Cult of saint William
Paid for new Norwich cathedral by pushing antisemitism
Blood libel, extortion, and forced Jews to wear identification - later mass program against Norwich Jews - yet not in history books and not referred to in Cathedral history

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pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 3d

#OnThisDay in London theatrical history, 1983: Possibly the first play about AIDS, Anti Body, opens at London’s Cockpit Theatre.
www.gayinthe80s.com/2018/07/1983...

1983: Theatre: ‘Anti Body’ - Gay in the 80s

Possibly the first play about AIDS, Anti Body was staged at London's Cockpit Theatre from 10th-22nd October 1983. Documenting the experience of William Davis - a gay man with AIDS - it preceded Larry ...

www.gayinthe80s.com

pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 3d

#OnThisDay in anti-Semitic history, 1290: After king Edward I orders the expulsion of all Jews from England, London jews begin travelling to the continent. Some board ships; but a whole shipful are maliciously drowned by the captain at mouth of the Thames & their property stolen.

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pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 3d

#OnThisDay in London's parklife history, 1897: 15,000 people demolish fences after One Tree Hill, Honor Oak, is enclosed by a golf club. Eventually the Hill is re-opened as a park.
More in our pamphlet Rights of Common, on sale in our online shop:
pasttensehistories.bigcartel.com/product/righ...

Rights Of Common

The Fight Against the Theft of Sydenham Common and One Tree Hill... and other open spaces in the Great North Wood A5 pamphlet 36 pages Many open...

pasttensehistories.bigcartel.com

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pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 3d

#OnThisDay in London's rebel history: Mass escape attempt from Newgate Prison foiled, 1771.
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Today in London’s rebel history: Mass escape attempt foiled, Newgate Prison, 1771.

For 100s of years Newgate Prison was the most potent symbol and reality of state repression in London, the ultimate representation of terror for the poor. From those driven to crime by the economic…

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pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 3d

This week in London radical history, 1831: riots break out as House of Lords reject the Reform Bill, blocking the extension of the right to vote to a wider section of the British population
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This week in London radical history, 1831: riots break out as House of Lords reject the Reform Bill

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Reposted by pasttensehistories.bsky.social

Jack Saundrs @jacksaundrs.bsky.social · 4d

Bourgeois nativists spend a lot of time pretending their opposition to immigration is about working-class jobs/wages, but show them a society where all the real work is done by foreign guestworkers with fuck all rights and they're like "omg this is paradise"

Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 4d

UAE has no democratically elected institutions, no free speech and an appalling human rights record.

Its economy functions on completely different metrics to the ours & ranks well below us for GDP

No serious person would ever think that we should emulate it.

But here's Tice calling us decadent

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Pete Cookson @pete-cookson.bsky.social · 4d

'Universities in the UK reassured arms companies they would monitor students’ chat groups and social media accounts after firms raised concerns about campus protests, according to internal emails.'

www.theguardian.com/education/20...

UK universities offered to monitor students’ social media for arms firms, emails show

Loughborough, Heriot-Watt and Glasgow corresponded with companies concerned about campus protests

www.theguardian.com

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pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 4d

#OnThisDay in London racist history: a xenophobic riot in Haymarket theatre, 1738.
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Today in London history: a somewhat xenophobic riot, Haymarket theatre, 1738.

“Monday 9. Was a great Disturbance at the New Theatre in the Haymarket, where some French Players newly arriv’d from Paris, attempting to act the Comedy of L’Embarras des Riches, met with suc…

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pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 4d

#OnThisDay in publishing history, 1643: Further attempts to control the press, with an act of Common Council prohibiting hawking pamphlets in London

More on pamphleteering & censorship:
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Yesterday in publishing history: scandalous and seditious pamphlets banned, 1643.

“Oh printing! How has thou disturb’d the Peace of Mankind!” (Andrew Marvell) The spread of printing, the beginnings of regular challenge to the social, religious, political status quo, is intimatel…

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