Leigh Stanford
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leighstanford.bsky.social
Leigh Stanford
@leighstanford.bsky.social
London addict, architecture, history, art, transport, gardening and craft
Reposted by Leigh Stanford
'New Towns Mark One' by the late Elain Harwood, edited by me, is now available for pre-order at £32 via www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/book/10..... It explores the origins of the new towns programme & the 'mark one' towns begun in the 1940s, concluding with Cumbernauld, the first mk 2 town.
New Towns Mark One | Home
Architecture and Planning in Post-War Britain
www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk
July 17, 2026 at 12:56 PM
Reposted by Leigh Stanford
This time next week!

Robert Elms on The Blitz - with @sian-superman.bsky.social
Walthamstow Trades Hall

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1989064960...
ROBERT ELMS - The Blitz - In Conversation
Robert Elms in conversation - Blitz The Club That Created The 80’s with Sian Pattenden
www.eventbrite.co.uk
June 15, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Reposted by Leigh Stanford
It was an enormous pleasure to interview @peteralanross.bsky.social about his work. His latest book, Upon a White Horse, is out in paperback today. mathewlyons.substack.com/p/memory-pla...
April 23, 2026 at 8:19 AM
A lot to do still but getting there at the allotment. Started some potato bags, more to do though and tidied the strawberry and raspberry bed. Parsnips, leeks and beetroot in. Wild flower and nasturtium seeds sown.

Broad beans are doing ok but again more to plant after Easter.
March 29, 2026 at 4:58 PM
It was a pleasure to see the @edwardsboys.bsky.social again in The Knight of the Burning Pestle at The Charterhouse. As always absolutely brilliant. Well done to everyone. We loved this bawdy tale with a surprising and funny soundtrack
March 29, 2026 at 12:50 PM
Reposted by Leigh Stanford
Excited to talk about this — finally — and to be working with Pan Macmillan. Better do some work.
Pan Macmillan has acquired a new cultural history of The Beatles' era, through the lens of the women who shaped the band and its members, by journalist Helen Barrett 👇 #BookSky
Pan Macmillan buys Helen Barrett’s book on the women who shaped The Beatles
ebx.sh
March 25, 2026 at 9:55 AM
Reposted by Leigh Stanford
🍻ANOTHER ROUND OF GOOD NEWS: Demolition of The Anglesea Arms has been refused!

🔔A few weeks ago, SAVE rang the bell to notify the public about the proposed razing of this 184 year old pub in South London.

📷Ewan M
March 12, 2026 at 3:44 PM
Reposted by Leigh Stanford
“Unforgettable…” Almost 24 years ago Liza Minnelli didn’t so much play as slay the Royal Albert Hall. And I was there to witness it. And since she is 80 today, here are my thoughts from back then.
www.theguardian.com/theobserver/...
March 12, 2026 at 6:58 PM
Reposted by Leigh Stanford
Mexico’s disgraced saviour General Antonio López de Santa Anna completed his comeback #OnThisDay in 1839 as the Pastry War came to a close.

✍️ Mathew Lyons explains

www.historytoday.com/archive/mont...
End of the Pastry War
www.historytoday.com
March 9, 2026 at 9:24 AM
Reposted by Leigh Stanford
Thrilled to get a copy of this exquisite book in the post at lunchtime. Now I just need to find someone who wants me to write about it…
February 26, 2026 at 1:43 PM
Reposted by Leigh Stanford
I loved writing this article about art deco, transports and the interwar years. It brings together some of my real passions!

If you find this interesting then the exhibition at London Transport is definitely worth visiting, or join @artdecosocuk.bsky.social :-)

www.artfund.org/explore/get-...
February 24, 2026 at 11:55 AM
Reposted by Leigh Stanford
Have you ever wondered what a hardback book looks like without pages!? Here are our two latest titles, book n@ked, so to speak! #booksky #publishing
February 18, 2026 at 12:10 PM
Reposted by Leigh Stanford
New on the Writer’s Bookshelf this morning: eight questions about writers, books, and reading with the great @chrisnaunton.bsky.social.
The writer's bookshelf: Chris Naunton
Eight questions about writers, books, and reading…
open.substack.com
February 16, 2026 at 7:49 AM
Reposted by Leigh Stanford
BREAKING NEWS: We’re absolutely thrilled to announce that the Southbank Centre - the Hayward Gallery, Purcell Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall and skaters undercroft - has finally been Grade II listed by DCMS after a 35 year long campaign.

➡️ c20society.org.uk/news/southba...
February 10, 2026 at 7:03 AM
Reposted by Leigh Stanford
Objections have to be in before the end of Tuesday 3 February
On 10 February the City of London planning committee will meet and hope to to receive the go-ahead for its plans to demolish the old station concourse at London Liverpool Street. There is still time to object.
25/00494/FULEIA | Phased development comprising partial demolition and alterations, including station concourse, trainsheds, and truss/columns, demolition of 50 Liverpool Street, demolition of Bishopsgate Square entrance and Hope Square entrance; works to Sun Street Passage; Works of reconstruction and remodelling of station basement, lower and upper concourse levels, new station columns/truss and roof (in part); introduction of new lifts, escalators and stairs and service spine at basement; increased operational space; insertion of new ticket gates; creation of new station entrances from Hope Square and Bishopsgate Square; creation of new units at lower and upper concourse levels for Class E (shops, cafe, restaurants),hot food takeaway (Sui Generis) and pub/bar (Sui Generis); creation of new upper concourses and associated new public access from Exchange Square including new walkways; provision of over-station development reaching a maximum height of 97.67m AOD to accommodate Class E use (commercial, service and business); and creation of an auditorium (Sui Generis) at Level 18 with ancillary terrace; creation of a public amenity terrace (Sui Generis) at Level 18 with access from Hope Square entrance; provision of private office terraces; provision of cycle parking and associated access ramp, servicing, refuse and ancillary plant; alterations to pedestrian and vehicular access including provision of new ramp; public realm works to Hope Square and Bishopsgate Square; and associated works. | Site Comprising Liverpool Street Station, 50 Liverpool Street, Sun Street Passage, 40 Liverpool Street (in Part), Hope Square, And Bishopsgate Plaza London EC2M 7PY
You can make a comment supporting or objecting to this planning application. Your comment will be submitted to the planning authority and immediately made available online to the public. We will not display your telephone number or email address to the public.
www.planning2.cityoflondon.gov.uk
January 28, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Reposted by Leigh Stanford
Looking forward to talking at the legendary Dillons aka Waterstones on Gower Street this coming Thursday, about Atomic Albion and the very strange world of nuclear.
January 26, 2026 at 9:44 AM
Reposted by Leigh Stanford
I have LOADS of Tales of the Suburbs events coming up! Announced so far: Foyles (with Luke Turner), Bookseller Crow (with Karen McLeod), Curious Minds festival in Bath and The Portobello Bookshop in Edinburgh. Loads more to come! www.johngrindrod.co.uk/events
January 27, 2026 at 7:50 PM
Reposted by Leigh Stanford
Pimp Hall Farm, Chingford, c.1890. This was a working farm until the mid 1930s. The farm house was subsequently demolished and the site became a Council run nursery and allotments. The 17th cent Dovecote survives and is Grade II listed. #ImageoftheMonth
January 21, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Reposted by Leigh Stanford
Terrific story!
January 21, 2026 at 10:44 AM
I found a Stanford Road in Woodford Green / Highams Park in a 1940s A to Z. I know this area well but didn’t know about it. It was a road of pre-fabs that were demolished in 1960. There are still echoes in The Highams Park today. Humphry’s was the community Centre
January 18, 2026 at 7:38 PM
New on the Writer’s Bookshelf: eight questions about writers, books, and reading with the brilliant Keith Lowe.
The writer's bookshelf: Keith Lowe
Eight questions about writers, books, and reading…
open.substack.com
January 5, 2026 at 9:01 AM
Good morning Normandy!
December 27, 2025 at 7:45 AM
I always seek out arcades they are wonderful. There is a lovely coffee shop halfway along Burlington arcade which allows for top notch people watching if you sit outside
Might sound an odd Christmas piece but here’s me on why arcades are the essence of London at Christmas, and of urbanity itself. www.ft.com/content/e6cd... When the shopping arcade sparkles back to enchanted life
When the shopping arcade sparkles back to enchanted life
These remarkable remnants of early modernism find their true calling at Christmas
www.ft.com
December 24, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Reposted by Leigh Stanford
Concrete churches of the year so far. Looking forward to seeing more in Milan this weekend.
1. Notre Dame du Raincy, outskirts of Paris
2. Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Piedade, Loulé, Portugal
December 8, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Reposted by Leigh Stanford
Explore the best of the West End’s #ChristmasLights and shop windows on one of my popular Foodie themed Christmas Lights walks. Walking dates on Tue 2nd, Thu 4th & Mon 15th all at 7pm and virtually on Monday 29th at 6 www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/foodie-th...
November 25, 2025 at 8:17 AM