Painted gravestones, St Batholomew’s church at Benthall Hall in Shropshire. My thanks to Sarah Schmitz for these. Currently working on paint finishes to ashlar and grave markers; other contributions always welcome.

A bank of wild strawberries on the Black Isle today.

Do have a read of our paper and learn more about the impact of pressure difference on buildings and how lime finishes can help mitigate this… journals.uclpress.co.uk/ucloe/articl...

Have a read of our paper and learn more about the impact of pressure difference on buildings and how lime finishes can help mitigate this…

Our paper ‘Lime finishes: what's the point? Pressure difference in storm conditions in a changing climate’ is just out and you will find it here journals.uclpress.co.uk/ucloe/articl... My thanks to my coauthors @Kate North, Douglas Moore and Prof Jens-Arne Subke and to @ucloe.bsky.social

Of course I heard it before I saw it. Peregrine at Beverley Minster.

A fascinating section of the mid-14th century refectory, later used as a barn, at Denny Abbey in Cambridgeshire. Many phases of alteration, re-use, layers of different mortars and coatings…🤩 The great thing is, it has survived…most don’t!

When looking for evidence of finishes on a church, a great place to check is behind grave markers that have later been attached to the wall - it’s harder to reach (if purposeful stripping of finishes has occurred) and also provides a sheltered spot, so any remnants tend to survive 😀

OK, I get it's two prints and a watercolour but I see no sign of joint lines. James Smith c. 1688

Impressed with the determination of this Common Gull to join all the rest of the birds stripping cherries

This is epic with a huge crop of cherries. The upper branches we leave for the birds which sounds thoughtful but tbh I’m unequal to the battle.

Chest tomb, C14 (inscribed on top surface). Richly pigmented and Mouse suspects much, if not all, is original. Colours of which our dour, grey churches are now devoid thanks to King beardy falling out with da Pope #FarleighChapel #Wiltshire for #TombTuesday

The Clachan Church, Lochbroom 1817 with fantastic survivals of harling @limefinishesgroup1.bsky.social on both gables. You can see how the original harl was overlain with a freshening up at some point and the more recent cement works are obvious. Our youngest LFG group member.

I like the way something so brutal has morphed into something attractive. I remember carrying it back along the beach years ago. Barbed wire from either WW1 or WW11

The monochrome drawing (possibly 18th century) shows the surface as large, ashlar blocks…we might infer that it was fully plastered and lined out, at that point. The 19th century watercolour appears to show a worn, coated surface. Then there’s the physical remnants of a finish that survive, too!

Views of Glatton Church, Cambridgeshire We can see now, that other than the upper tower, the church is of rubble construction - and yet the documentary and archaeological evidence suggests it wasn’t always that way! Continued below…

This is as close as I get to gardening. The clutter is outstanding.

Had the surreal experience today of receiving a lovely email from @douglarkin.bsky.social about how my Aeon article inspired his band to make a song about cave art! I *highly* recommend (although I’m biased) giving it a listen here: cuppajoeband.bandcamp.com/album/k-vart

Orchids, Caithness.

Wild strawberries out on the trail today

Caged lime finishes @limefinishesgroup1.bsky.social at Alness, Ross shire

My mate Andy is both a brewer and a mountain biker. I really like riding with Andy.

Looking forward to tonight's Lime Finishes Group meeting where Milly Allen, Brian Pfeiffer from New England and I will presenting our proof concept study about painted masonry in the UK and further afield.

Is this something to be removed to access underlying archaeological information or is part of the record? Or is it just drop dead gorgeous?

The Road’s End

Perspirating make naked flesh very slippy.

Some lovely bits of lime finish left on St. Mary’s Church, Acton Burnell, Shropshire. Note how the finish also once covered the architectural details, not just the flat walls!

It was my smelly socks that finished them.

I like these two images, the first because it was all intentional and that includes the oak tree which I grew from an acorn years ago and the second which is pretty much were I dump stuff that I am compelled to keep even though I have no particular use for.

Here are the top 5 dogs of the week!

🗣️ Medievalists! 🏰 Check out this page, we’ve done a reconstruction the medieval chapel at Chester Castle! www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places... Please share widely! There’s loads of info and *lovely* images from the repertoire of medieval art - and also more reconstructions!

I need to show you the beautiful sweater my mom knitted for me. I'm so in love🧡 can’t wait to wear it when it gets colder again. It’s her first time doing colorwork and since it went so well we’re already working on the next one. Pattern by Anna-Sofia Vintersol

What ancient instruments sounded like. [🎶 Bilimtuel] Original post

He's back 😄 #archaeohistories

Virgin & Child - 14th Century The #medieval sculpture has had 6 successive colourings, showing the care & veneration it has had over c700 years. See colour chart below👇 From Église Saint-Jacques, Mouettes Now Musée d'Art, Histoire et Archéologie, Évreux, France #Woodensday #WoodCarvingWednesday

I see no reason why mountain bike trails shouldn’t be great places to ride and beautiful. We are working on it.

Socket housed in the chamfer

I wonder if starting early in life makes a difference? The family, his Mam's new home, his cabin and his office; Follow the thread for all the images.

I wonder if starting early in life makes a difference?

Today we have lime finishes from New England to share! Here’s an example of what was originally external plaster - protected, as it has since become part of an internal dividing wall between the two houses. So, external plaster, on lath, marked out and coloured to represent brickwork 🤩

Nice to be back on site working but omg the midgies. My new found interest- painted ‘ashlar’: who knew?

The same goes for other out of the way and sheltered places, like behind drainpipes, under vegetation, behind graves/monuments that have later been fixed to walls and even just around the back/side of a building (often where the bins are kept!).

When you find a dark and dingy alleyway (snicket / ginnel / other term!) keep your eyes peeled for plaster, limewash and paint finishes! 😀 This example is from Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria.

An extraordinary woman, and one of a number in that era who set up garages aimed at women, although hers was one of the few which not only was staffed entirely by women but also lasted quite a long time. Featured in my book, Sisters Behind the Wheel. Details in ALT. #History #histbookchat

I grew these oaks from acorns gathered from outside our department at the University of Stirling. They are called Tom, Hazel, Kirsten and Doug to remind me of the wonderful young people I undertook my PhD with. If you have ever considered research it is never too late- I had a blast.

🌾 If you’re an architect, designer, structural engineer or client keen to learn more about @ecococon.bsky.social award winning prefab straw wall system, please sign up to this free webinar on 24 June 👇

drove by this gem so felt the need to revisit some photos taken a few years ago Trinity United, James Strutt, 1963

Pretty pleased with how this is coming along. What was it Dolly Parton said, “it takes a lot of money to look this cheap”: substitute time for money.

"And by the friendly glow within Of simple talk, and wise" Mud-walled farmhouse Co. Meath