morrismummer
morrismummer.bsky.social
morrismummer
@morrismummer.bsky.social
History, folklore, music, archaeology, books, Guardian reader. Castle botherer and humanist church crawler. And Morris dancer and Mummers player.
Intriguing. And exciting. Not to mention interesting. But I'm sure the archaeologists should be baffled, they usually are, but not here...
November 25, 2025 at 4:54 PM
On the way home near Taunton is a trimmed oak tree. It's directly underneath some power lines (one is visible in the photo), so we're very grateful it's been cut back rather than cut down. I've been meaning to take a picture of it for some time, and this evening I did.
November 25, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Today in the lane, a holly for winter.

As the Sans Day Carol, first collected in Penzance in the early years of the last century, has it:

The first tree in the greenwood
It was the holly
November 25, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Reposted by morrismummer
A solar eclipse—except with Earth instead of the Moon passing in front of the Sun—captured on 70mm black and white film by the crew of #Apollo12 during their return from the Moon on November 24, 1969 (original image # AS12-53-7931)

forallmankind.de
contactlight.de
November 24, 2025 at 5:07 PM
The effigy of Bishop Thomas Bekynton in Wells Cathedral who gave water to the City of Wells in the medieval period. Every January at Bekynton Sunday Evensong thanksgiving is given to him and flowers are laid on his tomb in the Quire. #MementoMoriMonday
November 24, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Reposted by morrismummer
"Instead of unbroken golden sand, the shoreline is littered with millions of tiny plastic pellets – bio-beads – spilled into the sea by Southern Water and now washing up in waves. They are a chilling reminder of how fragile our environment is, and how carelessly some treat it." Worth a read ⤵️
November 23, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Want!
November 24, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Laid down like fine wines in a wine cellar...
An array of coffins occupies the loculi in the Coke mausoleum at Tittleshall, Norfolk. The brick extension to the church dates from the 18th century. Note the large red coffin (top left, main photo) - the brickwork has been chiselled out to fit it in. (The mausoleum is not open to the public)
November 23, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Reposted by morrismummer
So COP has ended with NO mention of fossil fuels and just ONE mention of deforestation.

What a farce.

So I’ll just repost this.
😱

“A world at 2.6C means global disaster,” said Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics.

“That all means the end of agriculture in the UK and across Europe, drought and monsoon failure in Asia and Africa, lethal heat and humidity.”

www.theguardian.com/environment/...
World still on track for catastrophic 2.6C temperature rise, report finds
Fossil fuel emissions have hit a record high while many nations have done too little to avert deadly global heating
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Norwich Cathedral for #SteepleSaturday.
November 22, 2025 at 10:23 AM
The singing of the selkies... You can see/hear how the stories arose...

I am a man upon the land
I am a selkie in the sea
And when I'm far and far from land
My home, it is in Sule Skerrie
Seals singing in a sea cave

#Orkney 🦭🎧
November 21, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Reform are always saying how patriotic they are. Now we know for which country.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c8...
www.bbc.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Reposted by morrismummer
Word of the day is ‘quockerwodger’ (19th century): a puppet politician whose strings are pulled entirely by someone else.
November 21, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Reposted by morrismummer
Nature isn’t a “blocker” – it makes our lives better.

Our coast, countryside, heritage and wildlife underpin our food, water and health and put millions of pounds into the economy. The Government must not weaken the laws that protect them.
November 20, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Plans to remove early C20 buildings (a carpentry workshop, toilets, and plant room) built against the north-western base of the mound (a contemporary of Silbury Hill) and reinstate the original curved profile of the mound.

Exciting!
November 20, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Stirling Castle. Modern inhabitant for #PigeonSky
November 19, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Early entry for #AdoorableThursday: Stirling Castle. Internal door in the gatehouse.
November 19, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Such a beautiful church and a lovely article. Well worth a read.
✨ Lunchtime read: The Camera Obscura Church - 'Momentarily, I feel a shift of perspective in this little church, shadowed by the Black Mountains. This precious incident of light has enshrined me within the workings of a camera obscura.' Read on: 👉 www.digest.andymarshall.co/loci/
November 19, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Reposted by morrismummer
A walk through the stone defences of Mither Tap, Bennachie in Aberdeenshire for #HillfortsWednesday
I believe occupied in the early Middle Ages, don’t know how far it goes back? Whenever it was, I hope it was less windy than now.
November 19, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Reposted by morrismummer
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
The British library is in crisis: why does nobody care?
The widespread indifference to the British Library's crippling cyberattack demonstrates a perilous failure to value the knowledge infrastructure vital for national prosperity
www.cityam.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Crindledyke lime kilns, Northumberland, for #WallsOnWednesday. Three limekilns approached by a massive ramp. Really impressive structure.
November 19, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Reposted by morrismummer
Fifteen years of ideological choices to strangle & gut the public realm - NHS to schools to social services to local museums - is what underlies the anger "tearing our country apart"; immigration is simply the scapegoat that the far right are pushing people toward.
Why can't Labour just say this?
November 18, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Zack Polanski with the truth.
“They went for pensioners, they went for the disabled, and now they’re going for people fleeing war and conflict. I am furious — this government should hang their heads in shame.”

Zack Polanski on Labour’s new immigration reforms on Newsnight.
November 18, 2025 at 11:28 AM
First Mummers Play rehearsal last night, our 36th year. It's somehow wonderful to hear and speak the familiar words (and ask the usual questions, like 'How did we do that last year?') Once again St George is killed and resurrected by extraordinary means...
November 18, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Duddo Five Stones for #StandingStoneSunday on a cold and overcast May day. Rather unromantically they reminded me of old teeth. They were definitely worth the walk, the views were great, and kudos to the farmer for creating a permissive path.
November 16, 2025 at 6:14 PM