I have an article in the @theguardian.com today about winter solstice in West Penwith – includes a stunning picture by Carolyn Kennett of Chûn Quoit with the midwinter sun setting into Carn Kenidjack! www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/dec/18/west-cornwall-perfect-place-celebrate-winter-solstice

Another #FestiveFriday offering, and this time we’re heading to Cornwall, to the St Just area to find some ‘merriment holes’! These were drilled into stones by miners and quarrymen in the 19th century.

J.M.W. Turner who died on 19 December in 1851 was deeply inspired by Yorkshire, visiting the region to sketch its coastlines and dales, He would often stay at Farnley Hall, home of his friend Walter Fawkes.

Ravenserodd or Ravenser Odd was a settlement around Spurn point. It was was founded around 1230 and became a borough in the 1240s. It was a successful port. Sadly storms during the 14th century caused many to leave. A storm In the winter of 1356–57 completely flooded the town

Required 10 minutes of just staring at water over granite So peaceful #Dartmoor

Tins of biscuits are an essential part of the festive season but that is nothing new. The British biscuit tin emerged in 1861, following the Licensed Grocer’s Act, which allowed groceries to be packaged and sold individually. Around the same time, the duty #BiscuitTin #FoodHistory #Christmas

#OTD 1536, Thomas Boleyn wrote to Cromwell from Penshurst Place. This is notable as it is the only time after Anne and George's executions that Thomas wrote a letter not from Hever or London. Perhaps he and Elizabeth moved from Hever ahead of their first Christmas without Anne and George.

Really proud of this. The complete story of Che Guevara: from wannabe Jack Kerouac drifter, to freedom fighter, to executioner, to secretary of state, to doomed guerrilla. An immense, complicated, fascinating life.

Grade 2* listed Paignton Picture House, Devon which dates from 1914 & associated with Agatha Christie awarded £675,000 by Historic England to carry out works to stabilise the building & restore architectural features. 👇 BBC News Historic picture house awarded £675k grant www.bbc.com/news/article...

Linguists start compiling first ever complete dictionary of ancient Celtic www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

Long-lost Rubens painting sells for $2.7m at auction. www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

Offline, I've been asked why the Dark Ages isn't an appropriate term for the Early Medieval period. Bottom line, you'd be hard pressed to make something as stunning as the Alfred Jewel if you couldn't see what you were doing. End of. www.ashmolean.org/alfred-jewel

'I wrote this story for you, but when I began it I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books. As a result you are already too old for fairy tales...' The Dedication to 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' by Clive Staples Lewis, born #OTD 29 November 1898.

One of the gems of Leeds is most certainly Temple Newsam and one of its most famous residents was Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley who was born at the house in December 1545. His mother was Lady Margaret Douglas, the daughter of Archibald Douglas, sixth Earl of Angus, and Margaret

Freezing temperatures? Tick. Snow? Tick. Nights drawing in? Tick. Must be winter right? Well not so hasty. www.bbc.co.uk/weather/arti...

A fifth woodland is to be created in Lincolnshire, Forestry England has said. The 252 acre woodland near the village of Hagworthingham will join four others at Cadney, North Carlton, Newball and Mickleholme. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

#OnThisDay 1272 Edward I became king of England. (Although he wouldn't know this for several weeks, because he was in Sicily at the time). He was the first king since 1066 whose reign did not commence with his coronation. bit.ly/2rcGnME

Jed Mercurio’s police drama Line of Dutyis getting a comeback – which gives it the chance to be TV’s greatest cop show once more. Here’s what it needs to do. www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

Five thousand trees and planting packs to create about 16,000ft (5,000m) of hedgerow are being given away in Lincolnshire. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

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.

The area around Howden and Selby is remarkably rich in its history and heritage but is often overlooked. That includes Wressle Castle which was constructed in the 14th century for Sir Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester, who was executed in July 1403 after taking part in a

An ancient box tomb, thought to be built in the 1700s, has collapsed in a church cemetery, exposing a large underground crypt. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Today is also the feast of St Hugh of Lincoln, 12th Century bishop, transferred from yesterday because it was Sunday. He appears with the wild swan which was his friend and protector on Ninian Comper's 1912 reredos at Great Ryburgh, Norfolk. On the left, St George is less friendly to a dragon.

Lincoln Castle named one of the best visitor attractions in the country. The castle received Visit England's Gold Award, receiving praise for its "thought-provoking historic displays" and the "enthusiasm and commitment" of staff. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

East Coast Fish and Chips, painting by Tracy Savage, Scarborough artist. #WomensArt #NorthernArt

York's Clifford’s Tower is to be given a new setting. York Council approved plans for a £10 million redevelopment of the surrounding area, replacing the Castle car park with green parkland, walkways and "spaces for reflection." The mound beneath the tower was the site of the 1190

Research Image of the Day: The 13th-century Combpyne Rousdon Church of St Mary. In the mid-12th century, the manor of Combpyne was held by the Coffin family (then Combe Coffin). In 1278, it passed to Thomas Pyne, Sheriff of Devon. His daughters Alys and Hawise were his heirs. #researchbreakthrough

John Robartes, 2nd Baron Robartes of Truro (later Earl of Radnor): reading in the revolution. historyofparliament.com/2025/10/27/j...

Good morning. I don't know who did this, but I love you.

Everybody knows of the role played in the Gunpowder Plot by Yorkshireman Guy Fawkes whose escapades we remember every 5 November. Fewer people are aware of the role played by two other Yorkshiremen John (Jack) and Christopher (Kit) Wright, brothers from Welwick near Withernsea

A extraordinarily wonderful photograph that says so much. Coal Miner's Daughter, Yorkshire, 1952 Carl Mydans (1907-2004) Image courtesy Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, Texas, Gift of the artist #SocialHistory #WorkingClass #Yorkshire

Good article by Steve Boggan about Richard Taylor about the impact on Richard & his family as a result of him being defamed in The Lost King. It's taken years to resolve. A judge ruled the film was defamatory last year but settlement only this week. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

Sir David Attenborough has championed a bid by conservationists to raise £30m to buy the entirety of a vast upland estate. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

#richardIII - A university academic is to be awarded "substantial damages" after a court ruled the portrayal of him in a Steve Coogan film about the discovery of a Richard III's remains did have a defamatory meaning. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Polperro's net loft building, a converted chapel used in 19th century for pilchard fishing. And yes we did some rock hopping here today! #Cornwall #Polperro

On this day in 1460, the Act of Accord was ratified. This act acknowledged Richard, Duke of York, as the heir to Henry VI and effectively disinherited Henry's son Edward. It was hoped that this agreement would put an end to political tension, but it was not to be.

Secret Maps opens today! 🤫 🗺️ From medieval manuscripts to Cold War espionage, our new exhibition explores how maps have hidden as much as they revealed for over 600 years. Book now: bit.ly/BLSecretMaps

Was Manchester really as segregated as Engels said? What kept the rich and poor apart.... if anything? My first article is out today in @historicaljnl.bsky.social and I'm so pleased to share it with you all! doi:10.1017/S0018246X25101246 @stjohnscollege.bsky.social @camunicampop.bsky.social

The life of Emily Langton Massingberd, a pioneering women's rights campaigner is being remembered at her home, Gunby Hall near Spilsby, Lincs. 👇 BBC News - The life of pioneering women's rights campaigner www.bbc.com/news/article...

A disaster at Levant Mine near St Just killed 31 men on this day in 1919. The Man Engine - a form of mechanical ladder which brought miners to the surface - broke and plunged down the shaft with many men still on it. www.cornwallforever.co.uk/history/the-...

In 1893, the Yorkshire coalfield was gripped by bitter industrial unrest. Around 300,000 miners were either locked out or on strike, depending on one’s loyalties after employers demanded a drastic 25% cut to the wage rates agreed in 1888. Tensions ran high throughout the summer,

🧵Whitby was chiefly a whaling, shipbuilding & collier coastal trade port for many years. It was often dangerous work, sometimes for unexpected reasons "A Dutch dogger has forced into Runswick, four miles to the north, three Whitby vessels laden with coals for the 1/4

Now this is rather fabulous. Multiple ingots, tools etc. 1st thoughts - Yay, a chance to provenance the lead! Was it desilvered? What's it doing in Norfolk & how did it get there?? One of those REALLY useful finds. Nice! #Archaeology 🏺 finds.org.uk/database/art... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Gothic revival castle goes on sale for £2m. Grade II listed Gyrn Castle and estate in Llanasa, Flintshire, was once owned by Liverpool merchant and ship owner, Sir Edward Bates. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

🦇 Nocte Volamus = We Fly by Night 🦇 The best motto to have around #Halloween time for your heraldic bookplate. This particular bookplate comes from our Charles Hall Crouch collection of heraldic bookplates, which encompasses around 30-40,000 bookplates in 73 boxes!

Today in #31DaysofGraves it's Notable Women - so how about Gwladus Ddu, a power behind the scenes in C15 SE Wales. The poet Lewys Glyn Cothi described her as ‘y seren o Efenni ... braich i Went a Brychandir’, ‘the star of Abergavenny, the strength of Gwent and Brecon’s land’. At Abergavenny Priory.

John Atkinson Grimshaw was a master of moonlit streets and mist-draped docks, a painter who captured the very texture of the Victorian dream. His cityscapes, illuminated by the soft glow of gaslight, startled viewers with their precision and poetry, scenes where realism met reverie. Though

We have just joined BlueSky! Since our foundation in 1880, we have reproduced an unrivalled selection of historic maps, plans and views of London. We also publish books and monographs containing original research. See more of what we have to offer at: londontopsoc.org

Ayton Castle is the ruins of a fortified manor house, originally built on the site in the 12th century. A pele tower, the structure visible today, was constructed around 1410 by Sir Ralph Eure for defence against Scottish raiders. The castle was abandoned and became a ruin by the late 17th