Part of the 'golden mile' section of the GWR at #Coalbrookdale (1862-64), so called because of the colossal cost of building an elevated railway on a sloping curve, over a large pool, larger works & around. It is quite a sight. #WallsOnWednesday #IndustrialHeritage #Shropshire 📷 My own

A crew of 'tributary princes' (elsewhere 'kings') rowing King Edgar on the #RiverDee at #Chester in 973, as imaged by a Victorian artist, in the side entrance to the Bull & Stirrup Hotel. Based on C12 accounts, it is fanciful, but Edgar's power was real enough. #TilesOnTuesday #Cheshire 📷 my own

A close look at Castle Hill, Newton-le-Willows. Excavations in the 80s were inconclusive, partly thanks to the construction of the nearby M6 having disturbed the surrounding topsoil. Maybe a Motte, perhaps on an earlier burial mound. Inconclusive, sadly. #MotteMonday #Castles #Lancashire 📷 my own

The scene in the street light, just now. #Cheshire #Snow

The magnificent 9th century #Sandbach Crosses, dominating the market-place. Originally erected somewhere else (but presumably nearby), they were moved there in the C16, broken up in the C17 & reassembled in the C19. #Cheshire #StandingStoneSunday #StoneworkSunday #SaxonSunday 📷 my own

The next online talk will look at life on the road in the mediaeval period. What was it like to travel, who could be found on the road, and what observations did they leave us? I'll be live online at 7pmGMT on Wednesday 28 January. Booking & more info: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-mediae...

St. Oswald's, Winwick, #Lancashire. It stands by the modern A49, a major route since at least the Roman period, just three miles north of the historic crossing of the #RiverMersey at #Warrington. The church featured in the 1648 Battle of Winwick Pass. #SteepleSaturday #ChurchCrawling 📷 my own

Time Team's return has been one of the few pure pleasures in the 2020s. I recall watching the first new ep. whilst away working on a difficult project: my stresses dissolved at first contact with the theme tune alone. Long may it contine. #TimeTeam #Archaeology www.theguardian.com/science/2026...

The 1st century Hawkedon Helmet (plus reconstructed face-guard), for a 'provocator' class of gladiator. It is one of the highlights of the #GladiatorsofBritain exhibition at the Grosvenor Museum in #Chester, open until Jan 25th. Recommended. #RomanBritain #Gladiators 📷 mine

For my first post & first #AdoorableThursday of the year, here's the view from the reconstructed Roman villa at #Wroxeter: it looks out onto what was the forum and across the road to the bath house. You can just see the Wrekin in the distance. All the best for 2026! #RomanBritain #Shropshire 📷 mine

Shucks. I lack lackeys.

I'm proud to have been part of such a good year for the club, along with everyone else - we're nothing without teamwork. We'll have more teamwork next year. All the best! #StHelens #NonLeague

The outer bailey walls and gatehouse at #BeestonCastle, built onto the ramparts of an earlier hillfort. The mediaeval works disrupted the prehistoric, though evidence of the earlier banks and ditches remains. #HillfortsWednesday #Cheshire #Castles 📷 my own

One last chance to win one of my hand-painted Trail related items, coming soon. Not doing anymore, due to lack of interest. Answer to my easy question about Portgate to Heavenfield section of Trail will be pinned to my profile. #hadrianswall #followtheacorn

The remains of #Bridgnorth Castle keep, #Shropshire. It was built in the 12th century & blown up/down by Parliamentarian troops following a three week siege in 1646. It makes one hell of a feature in the town park. #Castles #TowerTuesday 📷my own

Feb 2020: the Museum of the Gorge, #Ironbridge about to be flooded again, whilst still recovering from the previous flood. Seeing it happen in person was a start reminder of the increasing threat water ingress poses to historic buildings. #MuseumMonday #RiverSevern #Flooding #Shropshire 📷 my own

Thank you to @raypurvis.bsky.social for this terrific hand-painted Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail acorn - and for all his volunteer work on the trail. Volunteers make such a difference to it. #HadriansWall #RomanBritain

The Beast of Moreton Corbet: one of several mythical creatures decorating features of the castle, in this case a ground floor corner of the 16th century extension. Well worth a detour from the A49 or A53, close to RAF Shawbury. #Shropshire #StoneworkSunday #Castle 📷 my own

St. Mary's, #Stamford, viewed across the #RiverWelland on an autumnal day. The tower is early 13th century, the spire a little later. St. Mary's is one of of twelve historic churches in the town, which is one of the loveliest in the country. #SteepleSaturday #Lincolnshire #ChurchCrawling 📷 my own

Bloody Christians, banning #Christmas.

Merry Christmas, friends, illustrated with the card used by the 5th Battalion South #Lancashire Regiment 107 years ago. Thankfully, most of us are enjoying the season at peace, though I'm conscious that not everyone is so fortunate. Thinking of them, and hoping for a brighter future.

Welcome news from Historic England re. Winstanley Hall. #Wigan #Lancashire www.placenorthwest.co.uk/historic-eng...

Mediaeval tile pieces relaid together to form a fragment pavement, at #WenlockPriory. It has several areas like this. #TilesOnTuesday #Shropshire #Medieval 📷 my own.

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Whilst researching the movements of a particular infantry brigade during the First World War, I happened upon original letters from Conan-Doyle attempting to persuade a senior officer to send him files off the record. Rabbit hole ahoy! #Archives #FWW

Leon Rosselson's song covered here by Bragg: youtu.be/apWE0puBAPY?...

'The Earth Was Made a Common Treasury for All'. Memorial to Gerrard Winstanley, founder of The Diggers, in #Wigan. A radical reformer who believed in direct action, he founded short-lived 'colonies' in 1649-50. He is celebrated locally w. an annual festival. #MosaicMonday #Lancashire 📷 by me.

'From the rising of the sonne...to the setting of the same.' Excerpt from Psalm 113 on the beautiful early 17th century (note the clothing) painted ceiling at the church of St. Peter & St. Paul, Muchelney, #Somerset. #CeilingsOnSunday #ChurchCrawling 📷 my own

The complete Bayeux Tapestry has finally been released and proves that Bishop Odo had absolutely nothing to do with the illegal Norman invasion of England.

The grand staircase at the Grand Hotel, #Tynemouth. Built in 1872, lots of actors performing up the river in Newcastle stayed there - famously including repeat visitors Laurel and Hardy. That fact lent my visit the air of a pilgrimage. Shucks. #StaircaseSaturday #Northumberland 📷 my own, 2024.

Ryknild Street (18a), just west of Bourton-on-the-Hill, w. Bourton Hill Farm in the centre of the shot. Clear as day from above in 1977. #RomanRoadsFriday #Gloucestershire #RomanBritain Photo via Cambridge Air Photos, CUCAP CCF52

Nobody is going to look at your AI generated images 60 years from now and say “wow!”

The River Croal flowing over the weir at Moses Gate Country Park, earlier today. It was constructed in the C19 to provide water for nearby paper mills, & remains - #industrialheritage awash with the most natural of substances. The river flows into the Irwell at Nob End. #Bolton #Lancashire #Rivers

Terrific old brewery crest on a ceramic tile at the Red Lion in Knighton, Wales (about 250m from the border, at the River Teme). These were installed until the late 1960s. More recent brewery signs rather lack this vigour and craft. #TilesOnTuesday #TowerTuesday #Breweries 📷 mine, from 2014

One of the classic football stadium views, in the shadow of Bold colliery and power station and hard by the Liverpool-Manchester Railway (it is behind the stand). It symbolises our club's place and identity, and that of the town. @sthelenstownafc.bsky.social #StHelens #Lancashire

It is hard to convey the sheer scale of some earthworks in a photo, but this old shot of #ClunCastle has a good go. The works began with a simple motte and bailey soon after the conquest, though the Great Tower (pictured) is prob. early 14th century. #MotteMonday #Castles #Shropshire 📷 my own

My favourite Clash song, on my favourite Clash album. What a band. #TheClash

Memorial to physician John Snow, at his birthplace in North Street, #York. It is in the form of a water pump with the handle removed, honouring his work on the 1854 Broad Street cholera outbreak in London. The refined late 15th century spire of All Saints, #York, surveys the scene. #SteepleSaturday

"...the neglect and redundant heritage interpretation panel induces sadness – a sense of how these initiatives rapidly fade and are obscured. While only c. 25 years old, the panel...has faded from apprehension but also materialises the lack of sustained interest and engagement..." Too true. 😔

For fellow #BeatingTheBounds fans.

Oxmoor local nature reserve, earlier today. It is among what was once marshlands along the left bank of the #RiverMersey east of #Runcorn, now largely covered over with industrial and logistical concrete. Oxmoor is a haven for warblers and more, helps manage local flooding. #Nature #Cheshire

Wrynose Pass, looking east toward Little Langdale. The modern road follows the Roman line between #Ravenglass & #Ambleside for much of the route, with some deviations. It is tough but spectacular going, by wheel, foot or hoof. (Note the AA van - a common sight!) #RomanRoadsFriday 📷 my own

The algorithms are making it a lot harder to spread the word about these online talks. Although numbers are still reasonable, it would be a great help if folk were able to give the 30 December event a quick share 🙂 Booking available here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/buildings-...

One of the tourist trail markers on the city walls at #York, on the NE facing section - roughly where the Porta Decumana once gave access to the Roman fortress. That gate is long lost under the #medieval walls, with C14 Monk Bar a little to the east, having taken over. #RomanFortThursday #Thursgate

Darkness and light in the west tower undercroft, #HelmsleyCastle. I can't resist calling in, when heading for the Vale of Pickering and the #NorthYorkshire coast beyond. #WindowsOnWednesday 📷 my own

The (excellent) Three Fishes pub is on the right. I was in there one August night years ago that happened to be the last shift for a barmaid who was moving away. The locals handed out & donned animal masks & led songs to mark the occasion. Surreal. Is this local custom? #Shrewsbury #Shropshire

This was a pleasure. Thank you to @philipwblood.bsky.social for inviting me on, and for being such a good host.

The church of St. Mary, #Lastingham, #NorthYorkshire. Founded 1078 on the site of a 7thC monastery destroyed by the Danes. Bede wrote that the site is 'among some remote hills...more suitable for the dens of robbers & haunts of wild beasts than for human habitation'. #TowerTuesday #ChurchCrawling

Wansdyke, a huge boundary earthwork seen here between Tan Hill and Milk Hill in Wiltshire. A stunning landscape.

Memories of warmer days wit bumble bees and wood pigeons, at #WenlockPriory. #Shropshire #MedievalMonday