Robert Fleming
@flemingrob.bsky.social
FRGS AMA | Principal Research Specialist (Maps) @ The National Archives
Historian of armies, empire, espionage, maps & cricket.
London & lutruwita/Tasmania | Born on the traditional lands of the Palawa/Pakana people.
Historian of armies, empire, espionage, maps & cricket.
London & lutruwita/Tasmania | Born on the traditional lands of the Palawa/Pakana people.
Reposted by Robert Fleming
Suffragettes in London's Hyde Park, 1908, photo by Scottish photographer Christina Broom (1862-1939), the UK's first female press photographer, who documented the women's suffrage movement.
November 17, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Suffragettes in London's Hyde Park, 1908, photo by Scottish photographer Christina Broom (1862-1939), the UK's first female press photographer, who documented the women's suffrage movement.
Tempus fugit.
The difference in time between now and I can has cheezburger
Is the same between I can has Cheezburger and the Berlin Wall falling
Is the same between I can has Cheezburger and the Berlin Wall falling
November 22, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Tempus fugit.
Reposted by Robert Fleming
oh god, of course every academic in this country has to use a VPN for their work because every university department in this country somehow runs itself off a shared drive folder called admin/ADMIN/humanities/CURRENT_humanities/history/HISTORY_ALL/admin
The British government admits it is now monitoring VPNs use by UK residents. Regulator Ofcom has contracted with an AI-powered surveillance service to detect the number of citizens using VPNs to evade the Online Safety Act.
The UK tech minister has said a VPN ban is on the table.
The UK tech minister has said a VPN ban is on the table.
Exclusive: Ofcom is monitoring VPNs following Online Safety Act. Here's how
Ignoring VPNs risks creating ineffective laws, but tracking them threatens people's privacy
www.techradar.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:33 AM
oh god, of course every academic in this country has to use a VPN for their work because every university department in this country somehow runs itself off a shared drive folder called admin/ADMIN/humanities/CURRENT_humanities/history/HISTORY_ALL/admin
Reposted by Robert Fleming
📰 Why are landslides grinding travel routes to a halt?
BGS engineering geohazard geologist, Dr Claire Dashwood, is featured on the BBC discussing what makes certain parts of the UK more susceptible and why climate change is predicted to increase their frequency.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BGS engineering geohazard geologist, Dr Claire Dashwood, is featured on the BBC discussing what makes certain parts of the UK more susceptible and why climate change is predicted to increase their frequency.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Why are landslides shutting down parts of the UK?
The UK is experiencing major landslides but are they caused by extreme weather or something else?
www.bbc.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 8:18 AM
📰 Why are landslides grinding travel routes to a halt?
BGS engineering geohazard geologist, Dr Claire Dashwood, is featured on the BBC discussing what makes certain parts of the UK more susceptible and why climate change is predicted to increase their frequency.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BGS engineering geohazard geologist, Dr Claire Dashwood, is featured on the BBC discussing what makes certain parts of the UK more susceptible and why climate change is predicted to increase their frequency.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
A disappointingly old-fashioned, and long past it's prime, conservative history of Australia that is surprisingly still trope-ish (more good than bad) in its dismissiveness of indigenous history & unsurprisingly forgiving of empire from a pro-monarchy former PM.
theconversation.com/tony-abbotts...
theconversation.com/tony-abbotts...
Tony Abbott’s history of Australia wants us to be proud of men like him
Tony Abbott begins his book Australia: A History, by telling off professional historians – and laments the “cultural confusion” of our present moment.
theconversation.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:05 AM
A disappointingly old-fashioned, and long past it's prime, conservative history of Australia that is surprisingly still trope-ish (more good than bad) in its dismissiveness of indigenous history & unsurprisingly forgiving of empire from a pro-monarchy former PM.
theconversation.com/tony-abbotts...
theconversation.com/tony-abbotts...
Reposted by Robert Fleming
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
November 3, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
Very excited to hear today's speakers @rgsibg.bsky.social's Challenging Maps and Exploration symposium.
October 30, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Very excited to hear today's speakers @rgsibg.bsky.social's Challenging Maps and Exploration symposium.
Reposted by Robert Fleming
What was a bear worth in Elizabethan England? Well, thanks to a deed held at The National Archives [TNA C 146/8581], we at least know a few specifics, like Nan, the old she bear, valued at 30s in 1590. www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/explore-the-...
List of animals held in the ‘Bear Garden’ in Elizabethan Southwark
This deed reveals some of the animals kept to perform on the Tudor stage or in arenas, and how they were valued. It includes an ‘old she bear called Nan’, several bulls, a horse and an ape.
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
October 24, 2025 at 7:20 AM
What was a bear worth in Elizabethan England? Well, thanks to a deed held at The National Archives [TNA C 146/8581], we at least know a few specifics, like Nan, the old she bear, valued at 30s in 1590. www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/explore-the-...
Reposted by Robert Fleming
Lovely review of The Boroughs of London by the London Society: "At less than a £1.00 a Borough this is surely the best value book on London around at the moment." Can't argue with that! 😉
➡️ londonsociety.org.uk/the-boroughs...
➡️ londonsociety.org.uk/the-boroughs...
The Boroughs of London - The London Society
londonsociety.org.uk
October 25, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Lovely review of The Boroughs of London by the London Society: "At less than a £1.00 a Borough this is surely the best value book on London around at the moment." Can't argue with that! 😉
➡️ londonsociety.org.uk/the-boroughs...
➡️ londonsociety.org.uk/the-boroughs...
@britishlibrary.bsky.social has launched their exciting "Secret Maps" exhibition - I hope you can find your way there.
events.bl.uk/exhibitions/...
events.bl.uk/exhibitions/...
Secret Maps | British Library
Step into the shadows at Secret Maps, a major new exhibition revealing the stories hidden in some of history’s most mysterious maps.
events.bl.uk
October 24, 2025 at 9:40 AM
@britishlibrary.bsky.social has launched their exciting "Secret Maps" exhibition - I hope you can find your way there.
events.bl.uk/exhibitions/...
events.bl.uk/exhibitions/...
Reposted by Robert Fleming
One observation on the Louvre robbery, having been there a couple of time recently.
There is immense 'security theatre' for visitors waiting to get in.
And what has happened affirms the general rule: the greater the 'security theatre' the weaker the actual security.
There is immense 'security theatre' for visitors waiting to get in.
And what has happened affirms the general rule: the greater the 'security theatre' the weaker the actual security.
October 23, 2025 at 5:29 AM
One observation on the Louvre robbery, having been there a couple of time recently.
There is immense 'security theatre' for visitors waiting to get in.
And what has happened affirms the general rule: the greater the 'security theatre' the weaker the actual security.
There is immense 'security theatre' for visitors waiting to get in.
And what has happened affirms the general rule: the greater the 'security theatre' the weaker the actual security.
Reposted by Robert Fleming
In 1882, Andrew Watson captained the Scottish team to victory over England at a stadium in Glasgow which was thought to be lost ⚽
But with the help of volunteers, @archscot.bsky.social unearthed evidence of the pavilion and playing surface in 2021: www.digitscotland.com/uncovering-b...
#BHM25
But with the help of volunteers, @archscot.bsky.social unearthed evidence of the pavilion and playing surface in 2021: www.digitscotland.com/uncovering-b...
#BHM25
October 22, 2025 at 2:28 PM
In 1882, Andrew Watson captained the Scottish team to victory over England at a stadium in Glasgow which was thought to be lost ⚽
But with the help of volunteers, @archscot.bsky.social unearthed evidence of the pavilion and playing surface in 2021: www.digitscotland.com/uncovering-b...
#BHM25
But with the help of volunteers, @archscot.bsky.social unearthed evidence of the pavilion and playing surface in 2021: www.digitscotland.com/uncovering-b...
#BHM25
Map Projections
xkcd.com
October 22, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Great acknowledgement of the historical diversity of the British (and Empire) armed forces, and a fabulous portrait as well.
This is certainly a historically interesting portrait, but also just a very charming one: I’m struck by James’s engaging pose, looking directly at the viewer, and slight smile. www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...
London museum identifies black Waterloo veteran in rare 1821 painting
‘Honourable’ bandsman Thomas James will feature in display at National Army Museum highlighting service of black soldiers in Napoleonic wars
www.theguardian.com
October 21, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Great acknowledgement of the historical diversity of the British (and Empire) armed forces, and a fabulous portrait as well.
In 2019 Sasha Trubetskoy created a fabulous series of tube map style maps of Roman roads. They include major arteries of the whole empire, and ones which focus on the modern nations of Britain, Spain/Portugal, France and Italy.
Here is the British one:
sashamaps.net/images/roman...
Here is the British one:
sashamaps.net/images/roman...
October 17, 2025 at 10:36 AM
In 2019 Sasha Trubetskoy created a fabulous series of tube map style maps of Roman roads. They include major arteries of the whole empire, and ones which focus on the modern nations of Britain, Spain/Portugal, France and Italy.
Here is the British one:
sashamaps.net/images/roman...
Here is the British one:
sashamaps.net/images/roman...
Reposted by Robert Fleming
This is INCREDIBLE. The Bearded Vulture has multigenerational nests that last for hundreds of years, built in very secluded places — and they’re FULL OF ANTHROPOGENIC ARTIFACTS.
super cool study found human artifacts in Bearded vulture nests, incl. "weaponry like a crossbow bolt and wooden lance, decorated sheep leather, and parts of a slingshot....a shoe made from twigs and grass is ~675-years-old." link to paper: doi.org/10.1002/ecy..... www.popsci.com/environment/... 🧪🌍🦉
Multi-generational vulture nests hold 700 years of human artifacts
Crossbow bolts, sandals, slingshots, and more.
www.popsci.com
October 3, 2025 at 3:45 PM
This is INCREDIBLE. The Bearded Vulture has multigenerational nests that last for hundreds of years, built in very secluded places — and they’re FULL OF ANTHROPOGENIC ARTIFACTS.
Quite impressive mapping tool that lets you easily trace heat or cold stress on any given date from 1945 to the present.
news.mongabay.com/2025/10/feel...
news.mongabay.com/2025/10/feel...
Feel the heat: New app maps heat stress anywhere on Earth, 1940 to now
Wondering how this summer’s blistering heat or last winter’s bone-chilling cold snap compared with previous years? Or want to know how much heat stress climate change is bringing to your area — or in ...
news.mongabay.com
October 16, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Quite impressive mapping tool that lets you easily trace heat or cold stress on any given date from 1945 to the present.
news.mongabay.com/2025/10/feel...
news.mongabay.com/2025/10/feel...
Reposted by Robert Fleming
JUST IN: Jane Goodall, primatologist who transformed our understanding of the lives of apes, has died, according to an announcement from the Jane Goodall Institute.
Jane Goodall, legendary primatologist, has died at age 91
Jane Goodall, primatologist who transformed our understanding of the lives of apes, has died, according to an announcement from the Jane Goodall Institute.
n.pr
October 1, 2025 at 6:34 PM
JUST IN: Jane Goodall, primatologist who transformed our understanding of the lives of apes, has died, according to an announcement from the Jane Goodall Institute.
If you enjoy impressive infrastructure projects, HS2's Delta Junction is some quality stuff.
youtu.be/1C_DkLtO4i8?...
youtu.be/1C_DkLtO4i8?...
HS2's Delta Junction explained: 🚆 In-depth look at one of the most complex parts of HS2 🏗️
YouTube video by HS2 Ltd
youtu.be
September 26, 2025 at 8:13 AM
If you enjoy impressive infrastructure projects, HS2's Delta Junction is some quality stuff.
youtu.be/1C_DkLtO4i8?...
youtu.be/1C_DkLtO4i8?...
This is the kind of pun I can dig.
September 25, 2025 at 6:24 AM
This is the kind of pun I can dig.
Reposted by Robert Fleming
The problem with every post-Millennial generation is they got to go straight to high speed internet. Of course you'll get computer madness that way. Make them start with those old screeching modems and work their way up
November 10, 2024 at 12:14 AM
The problem with every post-Millennial generation is they got to go straight to high speed internet. Of course you'll get computer madness that way. Make them start with those old screeching modems and work their way up