On protecting what matters. @ihr.bsky.social @royalhistsoc.org @histassoc.bsky.social History UK www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

Looking forward to leading this course in a couple of weeks! It's really informative for students, an unparalleled opportunity to meet archivists and discuss your research sources, but also fascinating and fun!

'The University of London is facing mounting unrest among member institutions about the federation’s direction as the suspension of its vice-chancellor stretches on for nearly a year.'

Fully-funded AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership project: 'The Dispersal of the Cotton Collection' - British Library & University of Birmingham www.findaphd.com/phds/project... Deadline for student applications: 10 May

This Wednesday! @laurajcleaver.bsky.social on medieval manuscripts in the age of Modernism! Online and in-person at @ihr.bsky.social 17.30 GMT. There's still time to register for what will be a fantastic treat!

For our next seminar we're thrilled to have @laurajcleaver.bsky.social speaking on 'The market for medieval manuscripts in the age of Modernism, 1914-45'. 17.30 GMT Wed 25/03/26 at @ihr.bsky.social or online. Further details/registration at: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

#Skystorians - New to medieval and early modern #Palaeography? Looking to improve your skills? Then the 49th Latin and Palaeography Summer School - to be held in #Birmingham (rather that Keele, as previously), might just be for you. Please share widely.

Organised by Prof Susan Breau (IALS), this, coming up on Tues 3 March, is the first of three free online training workshops on the vital topic of Scholarship at Risk, a collaboration with @scholarsatrisk.bsky.social, with participation from @penamerica.bsky.social. www.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...

I'll be talking about the messy and difficult (but fun!) processes for making medieval manuscripts on Wednesday. There will also be guest appearances from cats in my presentation 😺 #bookhistory #medievalsky @ihr.bsky.social @ies-sas.bsky.social

Not too late to sign up for this terrific seminar with @saracharles.bsky.social speaking about her fascinating experiments in crafting medieval-style manuscripts. Free online and in-person at the IHR, W 25/02/26 at 17.30 GMT. www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

Next Wednesday 25 February I'm giving a talk at Magdalen College, Oxford, entitled 'Doing Onomancy in the Later Middle Ages'. All welcome, more details below. #MedievalSky www.torch.ox.ac.uk/event/doing-...

My amazing colleague @saracharles.bsky.social is giving this seminar on her fantastic experiments in medieval manuscript production on Wednesday 25 February at the IHR. Will be an absolute treat for anyone interested in the history of the book or in getting their hands dirty making things!

What is a Digital Humanities PhD? Seminar with DH colleagues from Cambridge, Edinburgh, London and Manchester, open to all students or others considering a DH PhD at some point. Monday 9th March 2026, 16:30 GMT. Online only. Register at: www.sas.ac.uk/digital-huma...

For anyone interested in our 18-month post in British Studies please follow the link below. @ihr.bsky.social www.jobs.london.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...

We’ve still got a few open places for this brilliant hands-on mosaic making training event next week at @ics.bsky.social in London! Come along to have fun making, while thinking about ancient/modern practice and research with leading experts Ruaidhri Ryan and Will Wootton. @sas-news.bsky.social

Full schedule for this term's 40+ seminars (free and open to the public) here. If you're studying, researching or just interested in History, have a look, and do book. Most seminars can be attended virtually; many are hybrid and you are welcome to join the Institute's London audience in person. 2/2

PhD scholarship in History or Geography at Dublin City University - applicants with an interest in medieval Ireland are particularly encouraged to apply. #MedievalSky www.dcu.ie/historygeogr...

Our first seminar of 2026 is coming soon! On Fri 28/01 @linseyhunter.bsky.social will be speaking on 'Landscapes and Location in the Retellings of the Legend of Finella, Lady of the Mearns, c.1900-c.1960' 17.30 UTC in person at the IHR or online. Abstract & details: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

It’s not too late to book for this online short course later this month 👇 #medievalSky @warburginstitute.bsky.social @ies-sas.bsky.social palaeography.uk/study/short-...

I’m looking forward to this at the end of the month. There are still a couple of places if anyone has students who would benefit. #MedievalSky @ihr.bsky.social palaeography.uk/study/short-...

Are you a PG research student based outside of London? Did you know that you may be eligible for a bursary of up to £500 to take one of our short courses in 2026? Find out more on our IHR Research Training and Short Courses page: www.history.ac.uk/study-traini... Applications open until 31 Jan 2026

Can’t get to London for summer school? In Jan we are running online courses. Forget the cold by exploring medieval manuscripts. Classes are small so book now! 👇 @ies-sas.bsky.social @warburginstitute.bsky.social @senatehouselib.bsky.social @ihr.bsky.social #MedievalSky ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...

I've been interviewed by Historie magazine about modern popular understandings of the Vikings. Mostly on this I was trying to avoid the academic voice-of-authority-debunking-errors approach in favour of asking 'how strong are the foundations of what we think we know?' historienet.dk/civilisation...

Did medieval people buy each other Christmas gifts? New Year's Day was the main gifting day, but little is known about everyday people's present giving. Our project on London's customs records has uncovered a wealth of affordable items imported around this time: gloves and hats to toys and rattles🧵

#Medieval Christmas shopping? Check out this fantastic research from my @chppc.bsky.social colleague @justincolson.bsky.social and team!

Medievalist friends! Applications are open until end of Feb for a fully-funded PhD in Arthurian Literature with the brilliant Louise D'Arcens @medievalafterlives.bsky.social and myself, based between Sydney (Australia) and Groningen (The Netherlands). Please share widely! tinyurl.com/f7su6urv

Booking is now open for Making Medieval Manuscripts! A practice-based course where we make ink, cut quills, illuminate, make pigments and bookbind, using #medieval techniques and materials. We also explore early medieval art. No experience necessary! #bookhistory ies.sas.ac.uk/study-traini...

Unfortunately the HE 2025 ballot failed at 39% turnout. I have written about why and about what desperately needs to change in UCU's national structures off the back of this result. Some HEC members need to chi up and understand their role in all this, and how disconnected they are from members.

Want to use archaeology in your local history research? In my new @ihr.bsky.social 'Discovery' short course (29 April-1 May 2026) you will learn where to locate and how to use records of surveys, excavations and finds in your area. Plus a visit to the @antiquaries.bsky.social library and...

I'm really delighted to say that the three sessions that a group of us have proposed for Leeds IMC 2026 in celebration of Prof Edward James and his many contributions not just to the history and archaeology of the early Middle Ages but also to the academic study of fantasy and sf have been accepted!

Want to start the new year by learning new things? In January 2026 Anna Somfai will teach an online course on medieval philosophical and scientific manuscripts. More information here 👇 @warburginstitute.bsky.social @ies-sas.bsky.social #MedievalSky please reskeet! ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...

Good grief, my unassuming little piece about mead has been picked up by The Independent (www.independent.co.uk/life-style/f...) and The Times (www.thetimes.com/uk/history/a...), which is gratifying.

I've written about mead and its popular perception for The Conversation. theconversation.com/the-truth-ab... Mildly concerned that by pointing out that the Vikings (probably) didn't drink (much) mead, I will have annoyed all the re-enactors, many of whom have swords oh dear.

I've written about mead and its popular perception for The Conversation. theconversation.com/the-truth-ab... Mildly concerned that by pointing out that the Vikings (probably) didn't drink (much) mead, I will have annoyed all the re-enactors, many of whom have swords oh dear.

This Wednesday (5/11/25) 17.30 UTC, we're delighted to welcome Dr Peter Jones (Plymouth), who will be speaking on William Morris's travel in Iceland. Free to attend in person in the IHR or online, but please register in advance. Details, abstract and registration: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

Just back from a little holiday in unwontedly sunny Pembrokeshire. Pentre Ifan looking so perfect here that even the inadequacies of my cheap phone camera don't detract!

A fabulous looking new book from Tonicha Upham exploring all the Arabic and Persian evidence on Rus burials and sacrifices, complete with translations! #medievalsky #vikings www.cambridge.org/core/element...

A piece in The Conversation, contextualising our results from the Bedale hoard theconversation.com/vikings-were... @unioxarchaeology.bsky.social @yorkmuseumstrust.bsky.social @bgs.ac.uk

Anglo-Saxons with West African roots: DNA analysis of 7th century burials reported in @antiquity.ac.uk today reveals long-distance connections reached across continents and cultures. Read about it @science.org:

Not too late to sign up for this excellent seminar on Wednesday! And we are very happy to welcome our wonderful speaker, @maggiepavleszek.bsky.social, to Bluesky. Come and hear all about her work!

For our next seminar, Maggie Pavleszek (York) will be speaking on '"Resolved into ashes": Norse Medievalism and Cremation in C19th Britain'. Weds 30/04, 17.30 GMT (online only). Free but please register to attend. Further details, abstract and registration at: www.history.ac.uk/events/resol...

And obviously, this is corrosive: it's not only friends and colleagues at Cardiff, it's - at this point - half of every contact, collaborator, people you know from conferences, library shelves, catalogues, a cuppa or a meeting. Friends. A whole sector of the economy being trashed in real time.

Wonderful to be able to welcome @themamoconf.bsky.social to Bluesky! MAMO London is coming up 24-26 June 2025 and the programme and details of how to register are at: themamo.org

For our next seminar, @craighambling.bsky.social will be speaking on 'How Real is Too Real? Public History and the Interpretation of Medieval Martial Arts'. Weds 12/03, 17.30 GMT in person at @ihr.bsky.social and online. Further details and registration at: www.history.ac.uk/events/how-r...

Attention, #UCU members in HE! We are bringing this motion to defend jobs and call off a ballot for IA over last years' pay to this Wednesday's emergency HEC. We will keep it open as long as we can but do not delay - sign and share today! 👇👇👇

Do you have a proposal for an innovative new seminar to join the IHR Research Seminar programme? We are looking for 3 fresh seminar series to launch in 2025-26. Applications are open now - deadline of 31 March. Full details of what we are looking for and how to apply here:

An exciting find by Duncan Wright and my colleague Ollie Creighton! news.exeter.ac.uk/faculty-of-h...

Just out: I'm interviewed here by Metal Hammer alongside Einar Selvik from Wardruna and JB Christofferson from Grand Magus about heavy metal's love affair with the Vikings. This was great fun to do! www.loudersound.com/features/why...

Really looking forward to @mareganlefay.bsky.social at the @ihrmedievalism.bsky.social next week. Still only just coping with writing 2025 as the date, though.

I'd never realised that these were the Lewis chessmen I wanted until this evening. At the rather wonderful Longleat Festival of Light.