The last in the series of Triskele Heritage online talks will be in 3 weeks - a look at The Surprising Secrets of Ancient Corridors... More info & bookings: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-surpri...

The last in the series of Triskele Heritage online talks will be in 3 weeks - a look at The Surprising Secrets of Ancient Corridors... More info & bookings: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-surpri...

I find myself in the uncharted territory of having a whole 6 days off work. This has not happened for around two years. I have acquired beer. I have acquired curry. I shall ruminate on what happens next.

Happening tonight! More info & bookings... www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-folklo...

Happening tonight! More info & bookings... www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-folklo...

I'll be online tomorrow night talking about the interplay between elite culture and folk traditions during The Folklore of Ancient Buildings event. It will include mention of the daisywheels on this trunk at Haddon Hall (Derbys). More info & bookings: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-folklo...

As is tradition, Tiny Son is the fella that sent off the completed manuscript of The Buildings Archaeologist to my publishers. It. Is. Done.* * Apart from all the edits, layout, indexing and other pesky bits that happen next!

On Thursday evening I'll be online talking about The Folklore of Ancient Buildings. One theme will be the belief that blue flames indicated the presence of spirits, such as this Bluecap. More info & bookings: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-folklo... 📸Tiffany Turill

On Thursday evening I'll be online talking about The Folklore of Ancient Buildings. One theme will be the belief that blue flames indicated the presence of spirits, such as this Bluecap. More info & bookings: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-folklo... 📸Tiffany Turill

The penultimate talk in the Triskele Heritage lecture series takes place on Thursday. Afterwards, I'm taking a year off to concentrate on the book tour next winter - so this week is one of the last chances to catch me online 🙂 Bookings & more info: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-folklo...

The penultimate talk in the Triskele Heritage lecture series takes place on Thursday. Afterwards, I'm taking a year off to concentrate on the book tour next winter - so this week is one of the last chances to catch me online 🙂 Bookings & more info: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-folklo...

I finished writing The Buildings Archaeologist this morning by quoting a 1910 description of Lydes House in Malvern (Worcs): 'a most desirable dwelling. Its the case study which closes the book and dates to 1447-77 with remodelling in 1625-35, early 18thC, late 19thC & 1960s.

Just what is it about the phrase "a living wage with dignity" that causes so many events organisers to ghost me after they get a reply to their enquiry? Its almost as if they never really intended to pay anything for services. Surely not? 👏All👏Labour👏Should👏Be👏Remunerated👏

Been writing about the experience of the Triskele Heritage online talks, which I started 5 years ago, for The Buildings Archaeologist book. Its been amazing. Directly led to getting published, touring, broadcasting & fieldwork. The next talk is in a week: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-folklo...

Today, I am writing up a survey of a house in Worcestershire for The Buildings Archaeologist book. Its complicated. Can't see the wood for the trees? Somewhere in that lot is a mid-15th century cruck apex buried among mid-17th and early-18th century roof structures...

I don't often get to do my talk on Walking the Weirdstone: Alan Garner & Archaeology... but I'll be repeating it as a fundraiser for the Folklore Library and Archive on 18 April 🧙‍♂️🌳👹 Bookings and more info: www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-folklo...

Been writing about the experience of the Triskele Heritage online talks, which I started 5 years ago, for The Buildings Archaeologist book. Its been amazing. Directly led to getting published, touring, broadcasting & fieldwork. The next talk is in a week: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-folklo...

NEW ONLINE TALK Saturday 18th April, 8pm UK via Zoom WALKING THE WEIRDSTONE Archaeology and the works of Alan Garner An illustrated lecture, presented by buildings archaeologist @jpwarchaeology.bsky.social Tickets £5 plus booking fee from bit.ly/flaevents All tickets support our work #folklore

In 1909, the elderly resident of a Staffordshire Moorlands farmhouse reported knocking on the panelling by a benign household spirit named Old Nancy. Such folktales are common & will form part of The Folklore of Ancient Buildings online event on 2 April: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-folklo...

Yesterday, I wrote so much that a splinter from my keyboard got lodged in my finger ⌨️☝️🫆🩸📍 #truestory

In 1909, the elderly resident of a Staffordshire Moorlands farmhouse reported knocking on the panelling by a benign household spirit named Old Nancy. Such folktales are common & will form part of The Folklore of Ancient Buildings online event on 2 April: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-folklo...

7 days to finish The Buildings Archaeologist. 1.25 chapters left. Approximately 10,500 words. I got this!

A further problem with the suggestion that King Harold sailed his army to Hastings: www.marcmorris.org.uk/2026/03/king...

Keen garderobe-gogglers may be interested to learn that I've spent part of today writing a good chunky section on latrines for The Buildings Archaeologist book, including this reconstructed one in the parlour chamber of Bayleaf (now at the Weald & Downland Living Museum).

I'm really looking forward to talking folklore at this online event on 2 April. I've found an understanding of folk tradition hugely enriches the study of ancient buildings because it informs us about how people thought about them. Bookings here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-folklo...

And here is the completed war memorial that I did the archaeological monitoring for recently. It stands in the churchyard of St Swithin's at Wellow (Notts). Parts of me that shouldn't still be sore are still aching from the job! 🪏⛏️🪦🩼

I'm really looking forward to talking folklore at this online event on 2 April. I've found an understanding of folk tradition hugely enriches the study of ancient buildings because it informs us about how people thought about them. Bookings here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-folklo...

This week's "unmasking" of Banksy (confirming he was the same bloke identified in 2008) has reminded me of this long-forgotten piece that I penned on his Nottingham street art in 2020. For the record, I absolutely love this installation. triskeleheritage.triskelepublishing.com/2020/10/18/b...

A long-held tradition maintained that the Tower of London was built by Julius Caesar. It was even referred to by Shakespeare in the 1590s. To find out why, and much more about The Folklore of Ancient Buildings join us for an online event, 2 April: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-folklo...

One of the few things that makes the utter penury of archaeology worthwhile is the privileged access to private areas of buildings. I was recently allowed into the 1430s arch-braced roof space which was once visible from the hall of the George Inn at Norton St Philip (Somerset).

Villain.

Last week, I was digging foundations and monitoring archaeology in advance of a new churchyard war memorial. This week, the master mason has sent me a shot of the near-completed piece...

IDK, might include the 2nd comment as a testimonial quote on the cover of the new book?

Just time for a post-gig sharp 'un in Nottinghamshire's oldest pub, dated 1462. Authenticated by a bloke who wrote some book or other. triskeleheritage.triskelepublishing.com/historic-bui...

Doing a talk about pubs in a library tonight. Against all odds, the library has a bar. Take note, librarians, take note... 🍺

A long-held tradition maintained that the Tower of London was built by Julius Caesar. It was even referred to by Shakespeare in the 1590s. To find out why, and much more about The Folklore of Ancient Buildings join us for an online event, 2 April: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-folklo...

Puddle is auditioning potential cast members for Nottingham Shakespeare Company.

Its a very beautiful spring day out. So I am going to close the study blind, write about mediaeval buildings, and listen to Bauhaus.

A mysterious cipher on an infill panel of a gable in a mid-17th century Worcestershire house. Buildings archaeology is gradually revealing many examples of folk traditions. To find out more, join us online for The Folklore of Ancient Buildings on 2 April: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-folklo...

A mysterious cipher on an infill panel of a gable in a mid-17th century Worcestershire house. Buildings archaeology is gradually revealing many examples of folk traditions. To find out more, join us online for The Folklore of Ancient Buildings on 2 April: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-folklo...

Early twentieth century pink granite setts revealed during roadway resurfacing on Lord Nelson Street in Sneinton (Notts). Pretty much all of the older streets in our area retain their setts beneath modern tarmac. We usually see them at the bottom of the numerous potholes...

Just finished the chapter on tree-ring dating for The Buildings Archaeologist book. Includes a brief overview of techniques, a spot of mythbusting, and a look at how we can use it to test the accuracy of listed building entries. The book is due out over autumn 2026 🧐🌳🔬

I've had good speaker bookings recently for Lichfield, West Sussex & Bosworth Battlefield. The event organisers were straightforward and offered a wage with dignity, travel expenses and, where necessary, overnight accommodation and meals. I just wish all enquiries were this easy.

Coming to a screen near you on 2 April... For bookings and more info: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-folklo...

Coming to a screen near you on 2 April... For bookings and more info: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-folklo...

Nest.

Last summer, I spotted this previously unnoticed candle "writing" on the ceiling of a closet at Harvington Hall. It may have been left by one of the early modern cunning folk. To learn more, join us online on 2 April for The Folklore of Ancient Buildings: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-folklo...

Last summer, I spotted this previously unnoticed candle "writing" on the ceiling of a closet at Harvington Hall. It may have been left by one of the early modern cunning folk. To learn more, join us online on 2 April for The Folklore of Ancient Buildings: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-folklo...

A rare day of digging ready for a new war memorial in the churchyard of St Swithin's at Wellow (Notts). For someone who gamely avoids digging at all costs that wasn't too bad. We shall reassess that opinion tomorrow morning though...

After a week that has seen me in Bristol, London, Nottingham (briefly), Edinburgh, and Tayside today has been all about admin and regrouping. Now I'm just about ready for a rare day of digging up on the old Forest of the Clay tomorrow...