On Christmas Day 1066, in a ceremony conducted in French and English, William I (the Conqueror) was crowned in Westminster Abbey

Merry Christmas to followers, clients, suppliers and friends!

News | Overseas entry fees, a new NPO model and a long-term plan for museums: Our breakdown of the Arts Council England review We round up the key implications for museums and reactions from across the sector. #ArtsCouncilReview #ArtsCouncilEngland

On 17th December 1903, Orville Wright completed the first powered flight of a heavier-than-air aircraft - the Wright Flyer - near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Read more in my book 'The History of Flight' (2004)

On this day in 1773 the Sons of Liberty protested against the new Tea Act in what came to be known as the 'Boston Tea Party'. It was a precursor to the American Revolutionary War which began in April 1775. Read more: www.bostonteapartyship.com/boston-tea-p...

On this day in 1918 women in Britain voted for the first time. 8.5m women were allowed to vote and 17 women stood for Parliament. Find out more: www.londonmuseum.org.uk/collections/...

***NEW ARTICLE*** Museums and their communities: Why partnerships matter dcs-heritage.uk/museums-and-...

On this day in 1941, the Japanese Imperial Navy attacked Pearl Harbor. U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt called it "a date which will live in infamy".

Happy International Volunteer Day! Volunteers are the true lifeblood of the heritage and culture sector. Contact your local museum and discover opportunities to get involved.

🔍 Succession of Titles Project: The latest document charts the Royal Artillery (current regiments). Thanks to Dave Simons, Danielle & Emma (Royal Engineers Museum), and Siân (Royal Artillery Museum) for their invaluable work! 📄 View here: www.armymuseums.org.uk/military-res...

The Mapping Museums Lab ‘Closed Museums and Their Collections 2000-25’ report & database have been published. Such fascinating insight & I’ve only just scratched the surface of the available info! Report - mapping-museums.bbk.ac.uk/wp-content/u... Data - mappingmuseums.shinyapps.io/mappingmuseu...

Christmas markets trace their roots to late-medieval German-speaking Europe, where winter trading fairs gradually merged with religious festivities. By C14th & C15th towns like Dresden, Frankfurt & Vienna were hosting seasonal markets offering meats, baked goods & handmade gifts for Christmas

Museum Shop Sunday is about community, connections and collaboration. Find out more: culturalenterprises.org.uk/museum-shop-...

On this day in 1859, the seminal text 'On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life' was published by Charles Darwin.

Following a piracy career of just a couple of years, on this day in 1718 Edward Teach - Blackbeard - was killed following a battle with the Royal Navy. The image of the tall, fearsome-looking Teach became the epitome of the pirate.

Though tanks had been deployed at Flers-Courcelette (Sep 1916) and Ypres (July 1917), it was at the Battle of Cambrai on 20th Nov 1917 that 476 British tanks found success penetrating the German lines and supporting the advance. Find out more at @tankmuseum.bsky.social

Such an important (updated) report to share on International Men’s Day. ‘Research into using heritage to tackle loneliness experienced by older men’ tacklinglonelinesshub.org/resources/he...

On this day in 1477 William Caxton printed 'The Dictes and Sayengis of the Phylosophers', one of the first books to be printed in the English language and the first to be printed in England. Copies can be found at the @britishlibrary.bsky.social and @lampallib.bsky.social

On this day in 1800, the U.S. Congress met at the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. for the first time. On 1st November President John Adams had moved into the Executive Mansion, later renamed the White House.

Great @kentfhs.bsky.social talk last night on the West Kent Regiment. QORWK Regiment is included in my @armymuseumsuk.bsky.social 'Regimental Succession of Titles' resources. Half are published, other half being finalised. www.armymuseums.org.uk/military-res...

On this day in 1992 the @churchofengland.org voted to allow women to become priests. Receiving Royal Assent in November 1993, the first women priests were ordained on 12th March 1994.

#RemembranceDay #LestWeForget

With victory at El Alamein, Churchill addressed the Lord Mayor's Banquet at the Mansion House OTD 1942: "This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." Nine days later the Russian Army launched a massive counter-offensive at Stalingrad.

The dismantling of the Cold War 'Iron Curtain' began in Austria in Aug 1989, but it was the fall of the Berlin Wall on the night of 9th Nov that became the symbol of the end of any remaining Soviet Communist control in E. Europe. You can see this section of Berlin Wall at the Royal Engineers Museum

#RemembranceDay #LestWeForget

The Government have published the Curriculum and Assessment Review report and their own response. We have a short statement expressing our views. www.history.org.uk/secondary/ne...

Published yesterday, the Annual Museum Survey 2025 regional reports for the North, Midlands, London, South West & South East provide a more granular local insight into challenges & opportunities. Get in touch to discuss your priorities for 2026. southwestmuseums.org.uk/what-we-do/a...

On this day in 1890, the first electrified underground railway system - the City & South London Railway (C&SLR) - was officially opened by the Prince of Wales. Find out more at the London Transport Museum

Trustees Week (3rd-7th November) is an opportunity to celebrate, support and inspire almost 1m charity trustees across the UK that give their time and expertise so generously. Read more: trusteesweek.org

OTD 1947 the Hughes H-4 Hercules made its first & only flight at Long Beach Harbor, California Made entirely of wood due to materials diverted to war effort, it was nicknamed 'Spruce Goose' Read more in my bk 'The History of Flight' You can visit Spruce Goose at Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum

Loved seeing all the spook-tacular half term activities that museums have offered over the last fortnight! What have been your favourites?

Museum Closure in the UK 2000–2025: an invitation. Monday 1 December, 6:00pm, London Professor Fiona Candlin, Director of the Mapping Museums Lab, Birkbeck. free booking required mapping-museums.bbk.ac.uk/2025/10/15/m... #UKMuseums

Beyond nostalgia: Storytelling to preserve historic pubs dcs-heritage.uk/beyond-nosta... @camraofficial.bsky.social

OTD in 1971 the House of Common voted to join the European Economic Community. ...and everyone lived happily ever after.

"Into the valley of Death, Rode the six hundred." OTD in 1854 the British light cavalry charged Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War suffering devastating losses. Image: 'Charge of the Light Brigade' by Richard Caton Woodville Jr.

If you've followed highlights of Annual Museum Survey over last wk, what are your thoughts? Do they match your experiences? Where will you expand & strengthen? Get in touch to discuss your 2026 plans Regional rpts will be published on 5th Nov Read more: southwestmuseums.org.uk/what-we-do/a...

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. Read more: www.un.org/en/observanc...

Roles recruited into last yr were varied & included visitor exp, volunteer coordination, learning & engagement, project mgmt, ops & fundraising, & marketing & digital. Where will you expand & strengthen? Get in touch to discuss your plans for 2026 Read more: southwestmuseums.org.uk/what-we-do/a...

OTD in 1942 the Second Battle of El Alamein began. It was to become a decisive victory for the British Eighth Army in North Africa. The tide of the Second World War was turning. Read more: www.nam.ac.uk/explore/batt... Visit the NAM, IWM & Tank Museum to discover more Image: NAM. 2008-12-200-72

Large museums are particularly likely to use a range of digital tools: - 84% (of large museums) have an email newsletter - 84% use online ticketing - 30% use AI tools Get in touch to discuss your plans for 2026. Read more: southwestmuseums.org.uk/what-we-do/a...

Happy International Museum Workers Day 2025! Let's celebrate all those full time and part time professionals and volunteers that keep our heritage alive. Read more: imwd2030.org/blog/ #IMWD2025

Four-fifths of museums provided on-site sessions to education providers during 2024/25 • 44% of museums to fewer than 10 providers • 10% of museums provided digital sessions for education providers Get in touch to discuss your plans for 2026. Read more: southwestmuseums.org.uk/what-we-do/a...

21 Oct 1805: The Battle of Trafalgar was a decisive British naval victory against the French & Spanish. Nelson secured British naval supremacy for the next century. HMS Victory was built at Chatham Dockyard & can be visited @phdockyard.bsky.social Painting: The Fall of Nelson, Denis Dighton

Two-thirds of museums consider their overall outlook for the coming year to be very/quite positive, with volunteer-run museums more likely to be positive. Get in touch to discuss your plans for 2026. Read more: southwestmuseums.org.uk/what-we-do/a...

Some great conversations and engaging talks at the 'Medway History Showcase' at the Royal Engineers Museum over the weekend! Excited for some talks I've been invited to give.

The Future of Military Museums: From Bourne-May to the Landscape Beyond 2025 dcs-heritage.uk/future-milit...

🎉#ICOM UK's next annual conference will be in #Oxford on April 16-17, 2026! The theme, 'Museum Diplomacy in Action,' focuses on #museums using cultural diplomacy to bridge divides and address global challenges. buff.ly/J54XxlE

Fascinating insight into 'Greenfinches' & 'Petticoat Patrols' from @hannahrwest.bsky.social at the @armymuseumsuk.bsky.social conference a couple of weeks ago Take a look at the virtual exhibition: nifty-fox.shorthandstories.com/petticoat-pa... #NorthernIreland #TheTroubles #OpBanner #BritishArmy

Encouraging findings from the Annual Museum Survey 2025 as "Two thirds (67%) of museums feel the outlook for the coming year is positive" The national report is out now and the regional reports will be published on 5th November. southwestmuseums.org.uk/what-we-do/a...

Bringing this post on the IWM website to people’s attention (in case you haven’t seen it) www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...