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Diane Watt

@dianewatt.bsky.social

1.6K followers 460 following 200 posts

Writer, academic, medievalist, queer

Diane Watt FLSW is a British medievalist, currently professor of medieval English literature at the University of Surrey. She previously held a personal chair at Aberystwyth University, where she was deputy director of the Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies (IMEMS). She was Charles A. Owen Jr. Distinguished Visiting Professor of Medieval Studies at the University of Connecticut in 2005. She was awarded a Snell Exhibition to study at Balliol College, University of Oxford, and was awarded her DPhil in English Literature in 1993. She is a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales. .. more

History 53%

Philosophy 22%

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Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · Nov 27

Margaret Paston’s will at the British Library’s Medieval Women Exhibition. You’re welcome.

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Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · 16h

Pleased to see such a great selection of books shortlisted!

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Reposted by Diane Watt

Dr Ian McCormick @wokestudies.bsky.social · 18h

New analysis shows over 15,000 university job cuts and c. 4,000 courses "shuttered"
www.ucu.org.uk/article/1422...
#Highered #Edchat #students #research

New analysis shows over 15,000 university job cuts as UCU launches UK wide strike ballot

Universities have announced cuts equivalent to over 15,000 jobs in the last year.

www.ucu.org.uk

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Reposted by Diane Watt, Katrina Navickas, Kathleen Kennedy , and 2 more Diane Watt, Katrina Navickas, Kathleen Kennedy, Claire Jowitt, Kate Bradley

Jo (unfunded hobbyist) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @hagenilda.bsky.social · 2d

I wrote something on my time on returning to Goldsmiths as an associate lecturer, 17 years after graduating with my first degree. It’s a plea to Frances Corner’s successor to learn from mistakes made over the last 6 years and change course. #UCU #UKHE

ucucommons.org/2025/10/06/c...

Cutting Corners: a message to the next Vice Chancellor at Goldsmiths

On 1 October 2025, a short announcement was put on Goldsmiths’ website to say that Vice Chancellor Frances Corner was stepping down with immediate effect. This came off the back of an announcement …

ucucommons.org

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Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · 6d

@constancebantman.bsky.social something to circulate amongst colleagues!

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · 6d

🚁

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · 7d

Digital surveillance, stalking, helicoptering, whatever you want to call it. None of it anarchistic…

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Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · 7d

😂😂😂😂

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Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · 9d

It is!

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · 9d

Love it when a reviewer gets my book ❤️

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Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · 9d

T o celebrate the forthcoming print publication of our Encyclopaedia and Palgrave’s 25th anniversary this year, four chapters are free-to-view throughout October. blogs.surrey.ac.uk/medievalwome...

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Reposted by Martin Paul Eve, Greg Walker, Michael H. Whitworth , and 3 more Martin Paul Eve, Greg Walker, Michael H. Whitworth, Heike Bauer, Diane Watt, Constance Bantman

Ben Davies @bendavies.bsky.social · 10d

Pleased to announce @univeng.bsky.social small funding scheme now open to members. UE will fund up to 20 projects up to £250 each to support research/pedagogy/continuing professional development activities in Lit, Lang, Creative Writing. See details here: universityenglish.ac.uk/englishcreat...

University English Funding

universityenglish.ac.uk

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Reposted by Diane Watt

Carin Ruff @carinr.bsky.social · 12d

Here's another copy of the same letter from Leoba to Boniface in Vienna, ONB 751: viewer.onb.ac.at/10B7BF3F

Thanks to Diane Watt for this blog post, which signals the folio nos. for the Leoba letters and includes details of MSS of Leoba's Vita: blogs.surrey.ac.uk/early-mediev...

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Reposted by Diane Watt

Carin Ruff @carinr.bsky.social · 12d

Today is the feast of Leoba, d. 782, learned kinswoman of Boniface who began her life in religion at Wimborne Abbey and accompanied B. to Germany. BSB Clm 8112, a copy of the Bonifatian correspondence, includes Leoba's letter from Wimborne ca. 732 introducing herself to Boniface. 🕯️#nuntastic

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Reposted by Lesley A. Hall, Diane Watt, Elena Woodacre

End Sexism In Schools @endsexisminschools.bsky.social · 16d

We’re launching the results of our research into gender balance in the History curriculum today.

The report - The Great History Heist: Reclaiming Women’s Place in the History Curriculum - found only 12% of History lessons feature women as their main focus. 59% featured no women at all.

Sexism in the History Curriculum - End Sexism in Schools

End Sexism In School’s second crowd research project is looking into the History curriculum taught at KS3 (years 7-9) in England and Wales.

endsexisminschools.org.uk

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Reposted by Diane Watt

John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 18d

22 Sept 1693: d. Sr Mary Cary #Benedictine daughter of Falkland Lord Deputy of #Ireland & Elizabeth Tanfield Cary #writer at Our Lady of Consolation Cambrai #otd She was also a biographer of her mother.

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Reposted by Will Jennings, Lesley A. Hall, Margot C. Finn , and 3 more Will Jennings, Lesley A. Hall, Margot C. Finn, Diane Watt, Judith Pollmann, Morwenna Ludlow

The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 22d

The British Academy and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation are inviting applications from early-career researchers in the humanities and social sciences to attend a research collaboration symposium on the broad theme of Truth, Justice and Peace in Germany. https://bit.ly/4nyWsmv

Graphic that reads ‘The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and The British Academy Knowledge Frontiers Symposium, with the date 10-12 June’

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Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · 24d

🤣

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · 24d

You mean because it says are not were? 👻

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Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · 24d

Really enjoyed giving my talk at the #gloshistfest and @historyrage.bsky.social gave me this great mug! Love it 🥰

A mug with medieval women are not stay at home mums written on it

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · Sep 5

Thanks so much for coming along. Great to meet you (again).

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · Sep 4

I had a record about Puff the Magic dragon as a kid. 😢

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Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · Sep 4

❤️❤️❤️ 🐉

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Reposted by Diane Watt

Carolyne Larrington @profcarolyne.bsky.social · Sep 4

The Little Book of Dragons is published today (though you wouldn't know it from the British Library shop website). But all good retailers should be able to supply, unless you're in N. America where you have to wait a whole month for lovely dragon pix ..

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Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · Aug 29

Hopefully there will be a few more people next week!

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · Aug 29

Oh no! I am so sorry ☔️

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · Aug 29

You are right! Well spotted. They must have been gutted when the lost it. It was found in the nineteenth century by a wagon driver entering a gate.

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · Aug 29

What a lovely location for the launch of my paperback yesterday—The Holloway in Norwich. Support your local independent bookshop.

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Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · Aug 29

The Matlaske reliquary pendant. This is the sort of ‘device’ Margaret Paston may have worn and it was found around 3km from her first marital home in Gresham. Now on display in the Gallery of Medieval Life in the Norwich Cathedral Museum. I saw it properly for the first time yesterday.

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Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · Aug 28

HE today reminds me of the court of Henry VIII. Wyatt’s poetry resonates.

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · Aug 28

☝️this