Thanks to all those who have submitted abstract/summaries for What's the Point Two 2026 on the 14th of April in York. Booking is now live here: lnkd.in/eex5Rg4w but do get a wiggle on because in person places are limited and are going like hot cakes – you can come along online as well.

Some of the wonderful 14th century domestic wall paintings that cover the interior of Longthorpe Tower, Peterborough…complete with birds and bunnies (top left)! 🥰

Calling @jamestaite.bsky.social this is in Fife. You can see the droved surface on the raised margin and the broaching on the tail. In this example the droved surface has lost its functional purpose, but the tail has not. You can also see how the margin is supposed to cast a shadow onto the harl.

Wonderful ride yesterday on my scrappy £1500 blue hardtail and bumped into a guy riding a new E-bike at £12,300😱

Oh well.

I have been out on the bike over the past few weeks, but it has been with a sense of duty and an attempt to stave off decay. Today was different.

No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition. Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...

I am fortunate to be part of the team bringing the event together with our partners Historic England, and so I get to see the abstracts as they are coming in and believe me there are some fantastic and ground breaking talks. Joining details for the day will released in the next coupe of weeks.

Inside the incredible Skelmorlie Aisle, Largs, North Ayrshire. Commissioned in 1636 by Sir Robert Montgomerie & Dame Margaret Douglas, it was a private chapel and burial place. The main church was demolished in the C19 but the aisle survived - and thank goodness, because it’s an absolute gem! 😍

@idacolumite.bsky.social 👀👀 www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p... 👌

So many people & causes need your support, asking for support to keep archaeology accessible seems churlish. Nonetheless, the Internet Archaeology Open Access fund makes crucial new research accessible. If you can, the link is here intarch.ac.uk/about/donate...

Painted panels of the early C16th rood screen dado within Salthouse, St Nicholas, on the north Norfolk coast #norfolk #churches #medieval #art #roodscreen #history #heritage #architecture

Those Cistercians really knew how to build their medieval monasteries - river in the way? No problem, we’ll make the most of it! 🤩 The ruins of amazing Fountains Abbey, Ripon, North Yorkshire

This has been pointed out by @limefinishes.bsky.social many times in other contexts and now it’s hard to look at bare sculpture without imagining how it would be improved and brought to life with a bit of paint!

This fantastic C17th monument to Sir Marmaduke & Mary Wyvil is a great illustration of how the application of polychromy makes a huge difference to sculpture - he still looks animated and characterful, whereas unfortunately the loss of her paint has made her look the opposite! 😬 St. Mary’s, Masham…

Austin A40 c.1950 I reckon. Like I'd know. Cromarty, south Sutor today.

Chimney stack. The Black Isle.

I remember coming into our office at Stirling Uni one day and finding this pinned above my desk. It's true.

Someone just sent me this. Stents have just had a really good workout. www.instagram.com/reel/DS2hl5L...

For those of you who watched the penultimate Traitors episode, you will delighted to know it was harled and limewashed. You are welcome. #Harl #Limewaash #LimeFinishes #Heritage #RossShire

What an incredible doorway! One of the many 12th century delights at Fountans Abbey, North Yorkshire 🤩 The abbey was highly decorated and traces of the painted scheme can still be found throughout.

We have some excellent abstract/summaries for the WtPTwo2026 event and you will soon find out what a great day this will be. We have had only one contribution from an architectural practice, and this is surprising given how many of you are conservation accredited and specifying lime -do get in touch

Eight minutes ago these were tiny droplets of ice. A little sun and everything changes and that includes the birdsong.

On the Black Isle just now

Wonderful and atmospheric Easby Abbey, nr. Richmond, North Yorkshire 😍 It was founded in c.1152 by the Premonstratensian order, and is one of the best preserved examples in the country!

It froze then it snowed, then melted and has frozen again.

Now, these are something special! 🤩 Mid-13th century wall paintings at St. Agatha’s Church, Easby, Richmond, North Yorkshire. A photo thread…

Here's another in series of 'this makes complete sense to me'. Everything coated, and protected, sitting culturally within a northern European context. Calm and unspoiled not livid with a thousand exposed joints. #Heritage #Lime #LimeFinishes #Limemortar

✨Diana✨ The goddess of the hunt prepares her bow and arrow in this scene from the Villa Arianna in Stabiae and now held by the MAN Napoli. Image credit @chapps.bsky.social

I like the idea that we can have our names cut at the beginning as well as the end.

The tides at Rosemarkie are perfect just now.

Just finished this for my young neighbours. It’s nice to be cutting again. In another life this is what I’d have done for a living. With spell check.

I have absolutely no idea what this is but I really like it. We all do.

Been to the beach. All of us.

These medieval wall paintings in the Franciscan church, Salzburg , show how late medieval masons worked to build our churches

Everything about this makes complete sense to me.

We leave this particular apple on the tree for many reasons. They actually store well in situ and those that fall off feed the birds. But I also like the look of them when there is little other vibrant colour at this time of year.

Scotland wants back in Europe!

Images of a proper winter

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!

First proper fall of snow. Nell mid shake. Good moon.

Here’s a cheery one… found this inscription inside a 2nd hand book

'In Our Time' has been for me, a touchstone for a curious mind. The diversity of subjects is outstanding and like Melvin Bragg himself the programme awakened in me the sense of the cruciality of science and the associated methodologies and how these can be applied to archaeology and history.

Small disused boat shed, with lots of narrative development just from its surviving snippets of surface finish. #drivebyarchaeology #archaeology #finishes #LFG #livelaughlime #Scotland

"The CR [community rebuilds] experience was intended to inspire a cultural change in the broader building world, moving the paradigm of stressful, macho, conventional construction site culture towards an inclusive and healthy site with natural materials." #strawhouse #strawbuilding

I enjoyed the frankness of Lee Child on Dessert Island Discs this morning. And he left the US on the re-election of Trump.