I’m sharing this in recognition of Gladys Mae West’s work on GPS because it’s been a transformational technology for archaeology and that lady deserves to be lauded.

I love it when a plan comes together. Together with @cmackie.bsky.social in April I will be running two on-Island public facing events in the run up to the 2026 General Election - one aimed at voters aged 16-18, and one aimed at people considering standing for the Keys.

I'm absolutely delighted to share that I have just been appointed Project Officer for Lincolnshire County Council's new Mud and Stud project. Really looking forward to getting stuck into the first proper county-wide study of its indigenous building technique!

This is thought to be the earliest photograph of a snowman in the world ⛄ ❄ It was taken at Penllergare by Mary Dillwyn in c.1853 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mary is thought to be one of the earliest female photographers in the world 📷 museum.wales/articles/972... #Wales #History

Historic England is seeking memories and stories of listed pubs. Wakefield has a number of listed pubs, for instance the Elephant and Castle on Westgate, or the Black Swan on Silver Street. Can you help? More information: www.wakefieldhistoricalsociety.org.uk/historic-eng...

Your annual reminder that the most revealing difference between Irish and Scottish Gaelic is definitely in the words for December: Mí na Nollag (Month of Christmas) in Ireland, and An Dubhlachd (the Blackness) in Scotland. So once again may I wish you all a lovely Blackness.

This is wonderful news! www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...

Are you a PhD student & interested in using museum collections in your teaching or research? We're running a *free* doctoral training programme for students at any institution to learn about working with collections. Find out more: collections.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/

Now this is how to start a history book. A Wiltshire story teller 1890s. "There were a time, 'tweren't in my time, neither in your time, nit (nor yet) in anybody else's time; 'twere when magpies builded in old men's beards and turkey-cocks chewed bacca”.

An interesting paper of an under researched topic which invites further discussion. It brought to mind family stories of a Grandmother who worked in a steel foundry during WW2. While that wasn't exceptional but her refusal to leave at the end of the war was & more so, the management's capitulation!

Rosalind Franklin was born #OTD in 1920. Her X-ray diffraction work was critical for establishing the helical nature of DNA. 👩‍🔬 🧪 Work carried out by Franklin (with doctoral student Raymond Gosling) was given to Watson and Crick without her consent. Image: Vittorio Luzzati / Jewish Women’s Archive

We had a feeling the press would love the first findings from our survey - and we’ve been getting some wonderful coverage! Take a look at the press page on our website to see how it’s been reported so far.

A snippet of folklore for #Halloween 🎃 If you sit on a church porch at midnight on Halloween, you will see a procession of all the people who are destined to die in the parish during the next year 💀 #Wales #History

Published today: 'Atlantic Isles: Travel and Identity in the British and Irish West, 1880–1940', by Gareth Roddy bit.ly/4nwj9Y2 Gareth's book is the latest title in the Society's New Historical Perspectives series @uolpress.bsky.social. Available Open Access and in paperback print #Skystorians 1/2

The #ScottishGaelic Texts Society Annual #CannaLecture will take place at the University of Edinburgh on 21 November 2025, delivered by Dr Martin Macgregor. llc.ed.ac.uk/celtic-scott...

Absolutely delighted to see this paper published and particularly pleased that it's open access! 'Environmental patriarchy in a small democracy: Women politicians’ experiences of patriarchy in Manx politics' is available here: www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/...

There is a moment at this time of year when the word ‘apricity’ really comes into view. For those who don’t know it, it was recorded only once, in 1623, before slipping out of view. Apricity is the warmth of the sun on a chilly day.

The home of the O'Donovan family is being used as a polling station in Coolmoyne, Co Tipperary. Around 250 people are eligible to vote at the house and after they cast their ballot, they will be treated to a cup of tea, a slice of apple or rhubarb tart, or a scone | More: rte.ie/b/1540324

Folk explanations of place name derivations. Just finished revising a short study of them. Some were serious & others humorous. A favourite: The Shropshire village of Selattyn on the Welsh border was thought to derive from a local schoolmaster who advertised "I sell Latin".

Research by @emvchung.bsky.social one of @camunicampop.bsky.social brilliant PhD students in the Guardian today www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Hybrid 🙏 Looking forward to attending the Intangible Cultural Heritage Scotland Conference next month: tracscotland.org/news-post/ne...

Thanks, New Yorker

Great news! JSTOR now have a free account with an Independent Researcher category. You can access 100 documents per month www.jstor.org/action/showL...

Isn’t it splendid that the pub that ACTUALLY has a good claim to be the oldest pub/ inn in England is called the New Inn.

Student perceptions of history We’re inviting GCSE and A-level students to take part in a quick survey about their views on history and future careers. By sharing their perspectives, students will help shape more relevant, inspiring support for careers linked to history. shorturl.at/SseM6

In a new article for the #HistParl site today, Dr Simon Payling explores the theme of extreme weather in medieval chronicles, and whether the authors truly believed they could be manifestations of divine interaction: historyofparliament.com/2025/09/01/c...

Interested in the historic environment? Want to help research, support and develop histories of place with the oldest and most ambitious (arguably) national local history project anywhere? Come and work with us!

We have one last surprise for #AskAnArchaeologist... To keep the discoveries flowing & to celebrate #FestivalOfArchaeology, we’re unlocking the British Archaeology archives for ONE WEEKEND ONLY - totally OPEN ACCESS! 🔓👉 shorturl.at/7uZaD Let us know what you uncover!

University College Isle of Man will no longer be offering a degree in History & Heritage, so we're focused on supporting our current students through the remainder of their degree. I want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who’s supported us over the years – it really is very much appreciated!

I'm really pleased to have been able to contribute to the second part of the New History of the Isle of Man, Vol. IV. This volume has been a very long time coming and I'm delighted it's finally published and available to share with students! #isleofman culturevannin.im/news/landmar...

Please share this call for participants from @sineadcarter.bsky.social, who is doing a brilliant PhD project with me and @nataliethomlinson.bsky.social -- and do get in touch with her if you were involved with Reclaim the Night, squatting/housing activism or feminist architecture c. 1968-1990!

We are fundraising to secure the future of the Folklore Library & Archive. Thanks to everyone who helped us over the weekend. We have hit 3% of our target already. Please take a look at our story at www.gofundme.com/f/secure-the... Help if you can and share the post. Rewards for you are below!

Our event today with heads of selected UK #History societies is a reminder of the dedication, expertise, civic sense, dynamism and, yes, value of these subject societies. If you'd like to keep in touch with them, we've a Starter Pack bit.ly/4jKumCE which now lists 125 such groups #Skystorians 1/2

CFP: Are you working on any aspect of folklore and want to publish your research as a short book of 20-30k words? @cambridgeup.bsky.social's new series Elements in Folklore is now seeking proposals - please email me [email protected] if you'd like a proposal form #cfp #folklore

Two upcoming @britishacademy.bsky.social 'Folklore Reimagined' talks (free/hybrid 🙏): Memory Through Melody: Celebrating sung histories. Thu 22 May 18:30 - 20:00 (tinyurl.com/SungHistories) Lore of the Land: stories of wetlands, woods & weather. Thu 29 May 18:00 - 19:45 (tinyurl.com/3hawyha7)

Warm cow dung round the waist anyone? #springfashion

UPDATE: OPEN LETTER - HISTORIANS FOR TRANS RIGHTS In just 10 days, over 700 historians signed to demand MPs stand up for trans rights. I'll send the emails to MPs tomorrow, so you have until 5pm GMT *today* to sign + share. Thank you all 🏳️‍⚧️🫂🏳️‍⚧️ Letter: tinyurl.com/879vuver Sign: tinyurl.com/4p7wktrn

Ouch!

I love this … and flying saucers … of both varieties … 👽

Bravo!

This is happening tonight! If you're on the #IsleofMan and are considering standing for election to the House of Keys, come along to The Nunnery and find out more with me and @edge-law.bsky.social!

@edge-law.bsky.social and I talked to Phil Gawne for Manx Radio's Perspective which aired last Sunday. You can have a listen here. We spoke about the Women in #Manx Politics project and tomorrow evening's event at the Nunnery for anyone considering standing for election to the House of Keys 👇

Fantastic to present some of our Women in Manx Politics work to the #isleofman Antiquarian society on Saturday. Even managed a quick photo op with the Lieutenant-Governor and the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture! More to come later this week with @edge-law.bsky.social!

Great to have the opportunity to discuss the project! Looking forward to speaking about the project to the #isleofman Natural History & Antiquarian Society on Saturday too!

Sign up now for our upcoming Short Writing Course designed specifically for PhD researchers in the humanities. We aim to help you with your writing skills with a particular emphasis on style and structure. Led by the historian and writer Lisa Pine.

If you're interested in learning more about what MHKs do, or if you're thinking about standing for election to the House of Keys, come along to this event with me and @edge-law.bsky.social! #isleofman

Really looking forward to this on Friday!

It's fantastic to see some of the results from our 'Women in Manx Politics' project published in this issue of The Parliamentarian! @edge-law.bsky.social @apowelllaw.bsky.social @tynwald.bsky.social issuu.com/theparliamen...