Andrew Ayton
@andrewayton.bsky.social
Historian (ret’d Univ of Hull, UK) working on late medieval military, maritime, soc & economic; & Napoleonic. MSS, prosopography, networks. Classical music, wildlife, cinema, coins, postal history, Dorset, France, Hungary. 🦋& #Shugborough Staffs pictures.
Pinned
Andrew Ayton
@andrewayton.bsky.social
· Jun 26
We’ve launched a new collection of openly accessible videos, Interviews with Historians, in which prominent 20th century historians reflect on their lives and professional practices. Access the collection here:
www.history.ac.uk/library-digi...
www.history.ac.uk/library-digi...
This is a splendid resource: just played Moses Finley. An exile from the US, interesting just at the moment.
I couldn’t have put it better: austerity > Brexit > goodness knows what. So yes, let’s listen to what this entitled, self-interested failure has to say
Man who ruined the country suggests more ways to do so www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Countries that do not embrace AI could be left behind, says OpenAI’s George Osborne
Without AI you will be a ‘weaker and poorer nation’, says former UK chancellor two months into job at US firm
www.theguardian.com
February 18, 2026 at 11:01 PM
I couldn’t have put it better: austerity > Brexit > goodness knows what. So yes, let’s listen to what this entitled, self-interested failure has to say
Reposted by Andrew Ayton
FAM FAM VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
Are you attending SCSC (Sixteenth Century Society Con) in Chicago this fall?/Are you a Chicago-area medievalist or Early Modernist?
Would you like to read an advance copy of my new book and then do a roundtable (or something tbd) about it at SCSC?
THIS BOOK RIGHT HERE:
Are you attending SCSC (Sixteenth Century Society Con) in Chicago this fall?/Are you a Chicago-area medievalist or Early Modernist?
Would you like to read an advance copy of my new book and then do a roundtable (or something tbd) about it at SCSC?
THIS BOOK RIGHT HERE:
Illuminating Media
Reveals the hidden power of medieval manuscript decoration and its lasting influence today. The overlooked art of late medieval English manuscript illumination—its initials, borders, and non-figurativ...
press.uchicago.edu
February 17, 2026 at 9:26 PM
FAM FAM VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
Are you attending SCSC (Sixteenth Century Society Con) in Chicago this fall?/Are you a Chicago-area medievalist or Early Modernist?
Would you like to read an advance copy of my new book and then do a roundtable (or something tbd) about it at SCSC?
THIS BOOK RIGHT HERE:
Are you attending SCSC (Sixteenth Century Society Con) in Chicago this fall?/Are you a Chicago-area medievalist or Early Modernist?
Would you like to read an advance copy of my new book and then do a roundtable (or something tbd) about it at SCSC?
THIS BOOK RIGHT HERE:
Wholly endorse Lev's recommendation. Delighted too, at the end, as the camera drew up and away from the cul-de-sac, clogged as it was with vehicles and (mostly) bewildered and frustrated people, to read 'To be continued'.
We finished watching Small Prophets last night. I hope it’s not a spoiler to say that it’s an utterly beautiful, funny, warm, sad, heartbreaking, heartwarming, strange, insightful, wonderful thing and I suggest – no, INSIST – you watch it as soon as humanly possible.
February 17, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Wholly endorse Lev's recommendation. Delighted too, at the end, as the camera drew up and away from the cul-de-sac, clogged as it was with vehicles and (mostly) bewildered and frustrated people, to read 'To be continued'.
Reposted by Andrew Ayton
After listening to a lecture on medieval stone crosses today, my mother & I stopped by one of the two surviving crosses in the municipality. This one, standing in the hamlet Rygg, dates to the late tenth or early eleventh century.
February 15, 2026 at 3:01 PM
After listening to a lecture on medieval stone crosses today, my mother & I stopped by one of the two surviving crosses in the municipality. This one, standing in the hamlet Rygg, dates to the late tenth or early eleventh century.
Reposted by Andrew Ayton
We are delighted to announce that we have awarded a record £44,500 to eight castle research projects from all parts of the UK and one from Ireland. To find out what we funded please go here: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/02...
February 15, 2026 at 2:56 PM
We are delighted to announce that we have awarded a record £44,500 to eight castle research projects from all parts of the UK and one from Ireland. To find out what we funded please go here: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/02...
Reposted by Andrew Ayton
The other thing I've been thinking about that hoard - there was no opportunity, none at all, for the heritage community, the public to intervene to stop this. 1/4
#Archaeology #Detecting #Treasure
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
#Archaeology #Detecting #Treasure
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Professor finds Iron Age coin hoard near Bury St Edmunds
Tom Licence says he feels a personal connection to the coins, which are to be auctioned.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 15, 2026 at 11:36 AM
The other thing I've been thinking about that hoard - there was no opportunity, none at all, for the heritage community, the public to intervene to stop this. 1/4
#Archaeology #Detecting #Treasure
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
#Archaeology #Detecting #Treasure
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Andrew Ayton
Stephen Baxter the Scholar: an Appreciation by Julia Smith
www.history.ox.ac.uk/stephen-baxt...
There's also a lot of moving tributes to him on the St Peter's webpage: www.spc.ox.ac.uk/news/in-memo...
www.history.ox.ac.uk/stephen-baxt...
There's also a lot of moving tributes to him on the St Peter's webpage: www.spc.ox.ac.uk/news/in-memo...
Stephen Baxter the scholar: an appreciation
(1969-2026)
www.history.ox.ac.uk
February 14, 2026 at 9:57 AM
Stephen Baxter the Scholar: an Appreciation by Julia Smith
www.history.ox.ac.uk/stephen-baxt...
There's also a lot of moving tributes to him on the St Peter's webpage: www.spc.ox.ac.uk/news/in-memo...
www.history.ox.ac.uk/stephen-baxt...
There's also a lot of moving tributes to him on the St Peter's webpage: www.spc.ox.ac.uk/news/in-memo...
Reposted by Andrew Ayton
Maritime History and Culture Seminars 2026📣
📍Online
🗓️February-May 2026
Free talks that cover a range of fascinating subjects, from maritime art and naval strategy to Black History and museum exhibitions.
Find out more 👉 www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/mar...
📍Online
🗓️February-May 2026
Free talks that cover a range of fascinating subjects, from maritime art and naval strategy to Black History and museum exhibitions.
Find out more 👉 www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/mar...
February 12, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Maritime History and Culture Seminars 2026📣
📍Online
🗓️February-May 2026
Free talks that cover a range of fascinating subjects, from maritime art and naval strategy to Black History and museum exhibitions.
Find out more 👉 www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/mar...
📍Online
🗓️February-May 2026
Free talks that cover a range of fascinating subjects, from maritime art and naval strategy to Black History and museum exhibitions.
Find out more 👉 www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/mar...
Reposted by Andrew Ayton
"The true genius is a mind of large general powers, accidentally determined to some particular direction."
~ Samuel Johnson
~ Samuel Johnson
“I’ve reviewed over 50 sticky toffee puddings” is an incredibly powerful way to begin a video
February 12, 2026 at 3:55 PM
"The true genius is a mind of large general powers, accidentally determined to some particular direction."
~ Samuel Johnson
~ Samuel Johnson
Reposted by Andrew Ayton
It’s Hammurabi time www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 4 - In Our Time, The Code of Hammurabi
The impact of the wide-ranging laws of Hammurabi, King of Babylon from 4,000 years ago.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 5:47 PM
It’s Hammurabi time www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Reposted by Andrew Ayton
Happy Darwin Day 2026! 🧪
"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science."
- Charles Darwin, The Descent of Man (1871).
"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science."
- Charles Darwin, The Descent of Man (1871).
February 12, 2026 at 4:36 PM
Happy Darwin Day 2026! 🧪
"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science."
- Charles Darwin, The Descent of Man (1871).
"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science."
- Charles Darwin, The Descent of Man (1871).
Benny Hill
Who's the most famous alum of your high school?
I'll skip a few more obvious dynastic alums to elevate Walker Evans, who I hadn't even realized went there till I saw this prompt and looked at a list.
Bonus famous non-graduate: Humphrey Bogart (expelled).
I'll skip a few more obvious dynastic alums to elevate Walker Evans, who I hadn't even realized went there till I saw this prompt and looked at a list.
Bonus famous non-graduate: Humphrey Bogart (expelled).
Medal of Honor recipient Chris Celiz. AJ Green gets an honorable mention.
February 12, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Benny Hill
Reposted by Andrew Ayton
The special issue of Cultural and Social History on “Researching Student Lives: Methodological and Theoretical Perspectives” (co-ed. w Georgina Brewis & Jodi Burkett) is live - yay! Several articles are OA :) Huge thanks to our contributors & the journal editors!
www.tandfonline.com/toc/rfcs20/2...
www.tandfonline.com/toc/rfcs20/2...
Cultural and Social History
Researching Student Lives: Methodological and Theoretical Perspectives. Volume 23, Issue 1 of Cultural and Social History
www.tandfonline.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:27 AM
The special issue of Cultural and Social History on “Researching Student Lives: Methodological and Theoretical Perspectives” (co-ed. w Georgina Brewis & Jodi Burkett) is live - yay! Several articles are OA :) Huge thanks to our contributors & the journal editors!
www.tandfonline.com/toc/rfcs20/2...
www.tandfonline.com/toc/rfcs20/2...
Reposted by Andrew Ayton
filled out the horrible settlement consultation and I’m sorry, the question that is framed as a negative so that you have to ‘strongly disagree’ with something not happening?? This has enraged me
February 11, 2026 at 8:15 AM
filled out the horrible settlement consultation and I’m sorry, the question that is framed as a negative so that you have to ‘strongly disagree’ with something not happening?? This has enraged me
Reposted by Andrew Ayton
"Eighty-two years after his execution by the Gestapo on June 16, 1944, the Jewish historian and resistance fighter Marc Bloch will be inducted into the Pantheon on June 23... His family requested that 'the far right, in all its forms, be excluded from any participation in the ceremony.'"
Marc Bloch, historien et résistant juif, entrera au Panthéon le 23 juin
Marc Bloch, historien et résistant juif, entrera au Panthéon le 23 juin
La date du 16 juin avait été dans un premier temps pressentie pour son entrée au Panthéon, mais la cérémonie a dû être décalée de quelques jours en raison du G7 à Evian-les-Bains.
www.lemonde.fr
February 8, 2026 at 7:02 PM
"Eighty-two years after his execution by the Gestapo on June 16, 1944, the Jewish historian and resistance fighter Marc Bloch will be inducted into the Pantheon on June 23... His family requested that 'the far right, in all its forms, be excluded from any participation in the ceremony.'"
Reposted by Andrew Ayton
Part of the 'Fame' of Hoorn (lost off Poole 1631) uncovered by a storm on a beach in Studland Bay...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Timbers from 17th Century shipwreck appear on Dorset beach
Experts believe timbers found at Studland Beach form a missing piece of the Swash Channel wreck from 1631.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 9, 2026 at 2:14 PM
Part of the 'Fame' of Hoorn (lost off Poole 1631) uncovered by a storm on a beach in Studland Bay...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Siskins often visit the alders in our garden in winter - this morning I counted 55 in the flock, caught in a photo as they took off.
1/2 Garden BirdWatchers asked why Siskins visited their feeders in higher numbers some winters compared to others. Discover the answer ⬇️🧵 #Ornithology
📷 Graham Catley/BTO 🪶
📷 Graham Catley/BTO 🪶
February 9, 2026 at 1:20 PM
Siskins often visit the alders in our garden in winter - this morning I counted 55 in the flock, caught in a photo as they took off.
Never a good idea to look at social media before retiring. ‘McSweeney resigning on his own terms’! Good riddance. What damage has been done already.
February 8, 2026 at 12:21 AM
Never a good idea to look at social media before retiring. ‘McSweeney resigning on his own terms’! Good riddance. What damage has been done already.
Reposted by Andrew Ayton
A Rare Survival
This early 14th-century effigy at Pendomer (Somerset) shows Sir John Domer (d. after 1321) in conventional pose - hands clasped in prayer, feet against a lion, head on great helm. But the architectural setting is unusual.
This early 14th-century effigy at Pendomer (Somerset) shows Sir John Domer (d. after 1321) in conventional pose - hands clasped in prayer, feet against a lion, head on great helm. But the architectural setting is unusual.
February 4, 2026 at 6:02 PM
A Rare Survival
This early 14th-century effigy at Pendomer (Somerset) shows Sir John Domer (d. after 1321) in conventional pose - hands clasped in prayer, feet against a lion, head on great helm. But the architectural setting is unusual.
This early 14th-century effigy at Pendomer (Somerset) shows Sir John Domer (d. after 1321) in conventional pose - hands clasped in prayer, feet against a lion, head on great helm. But the architectural setting is unusual.
Reposted by Andrew Ayton
Turns out there's more to Felix Liebermann than just obsessiveness about manuscripts and a fondness for difficult German. ingridfiv.github.io/ingridsblog/...
Felix Liebermann’s life
What do we know about Felix Liebermann the man?
ingridfiv.github.io
February 6, 2026 at 10:12 AM
Turns out there's more to Felix Liebermann than just obsessiveness about manuscripts and a fondness for difficult German. ingridfiv.github.io/ingridsblog/...
Reposted by Andrew Ayton
‘A deeply researched and valuable book'
#HardStreets by @jacriding.bsky.social is the lead review in the Literary Review. A journey through the working-class London of Charlie Chaplin's childhood, out on Thursday.
literaryreview.co.uk/arts-graft
#HardStreets by @jacriding.bsky.social is the lead review in the Literary Review. A journey through the working-class London of Charlie Chaplin's childhood, out on Thursday.
literaryreview.co.uk/arts-graft
Norma Clarke - Arts & Graft
Norma Clarke: Arts & Graft - Hard Streets: Working-Class Lives in Charlie Chaplin’s London by Jacqueline Riding
literaryreview.co.uk
February 3, 2026 at 10:21 AM
‘A deeply researched and valuable book'
#HardStreets by @jacriding.bsky.social is the lead review in the Literary Review. A journey through the working-class London of Charlie Chaplin's childhood, out on Thursday.
literaryreview.co.uk/arts-graft
#HardStreets by @jacriding.bsky.social is the lead review in the Literary Review. A journey through the working-class London of Charlie Chaplin's childhood, out on Thursday.
literaryreview.co.uk/arts-graft
Reposted by Andrew Ayton
We recently posted about the newly revealed archaeology of the old town walls. Several courses of brick have survived below our feet, which date to the 14th Century. You can find out more on the BBC here: tinyurl.com/bdfa36xs
Image: Location of area on 1715 plan of #hull
@HumberFieldArchaeology
Image: Location of area on 1715 plan of #hull
@HumberFieldArchaeology
February 4, 2026 at 9:15 AM
We recently posted about the newly revealed archaeology of the old town walls. Several courses of brick have survived below our feet, which date to the 14th Century. You can find out more on the BBC here: tinyurl.com/bdfa36xs
Image: Location of area on 1715 plan of #hull
@HumberFieldArchaeology
Image: Location of area on 1715 plan of #hull
@HumberFieldArchaeology
Reposted by Andrew Ayton
Check it out, we're planning a special issue of @frenchhistory.bsky.social for the 700th anniversary of the advent of the Valois dynasty! Details and timeline at the link below, but don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions 😊
Call for Papers: The Valois (1328–1589): Governing France between Medieval and Modern
French History is an international forum for major new articles covering all aspects of the histories of France and the Francophone world, from the early M
academic.oup.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:34 AM
Check it out, we're planning a special issue of @frenchhistory.bsky.social for the 700th anniversary of the advent of the Valois dynasty! Details and timeline at the link below, but don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions 😊
Large flock of siskins feasting on the alder catkins in our Staffs garden. Can't see any redpolls among them, but it's a raw day to be standing outside for any length of time with binoculars.
February 3, 2026 at 12:32 PM
Large flock of siskins feasting on the alder catkins in our Staffs garden. Can't see any redpolls among them, but it's a raw day to be standing outside for any length of time with binoculars.