Owen Davies
@odavies9.bsky.social
Historian and Folklorist. Writes books on witches, magic, ghosts, religion, and popular medicine.
The re-issue of my 1999 book "Witchcraft, Magic, and Culture" is now out, £19.99. Glad to see it with an attractive new cover!
November 25, 2025 at 11:50 PM
The re-issue of my 1999 book "Witchcraft, Magic, and Culture" is now out, £19.99. Glad to see it with an attractive new cover!
Reposted by Owen Davies
New Video: An Irreverent take on the history of Fortean Times magazine with Ian Simmons, their News Editor. @iansimmons1960.bsky.social
This is an extract, watch the full 50 minute live video here:
youtu.be/hQ8dhObF21E
This is an extract, watch the full 50 minute live video here:
youtu.be/hQ8dhObF21E
November 25, 2025 at 5:13 PM
New Video: An Irreverent take on the history of Fortean Times magazine with Ian Simmons, their News Editor. @iansimmons1960.bsky.social
This is an extract, watch the full 50 minute live video here:
youtu.be/hQ8dhObF21E
This is an extract, watch the full 50 minute live video here:
youtu.be/hQ8dhObF21E
Reposted by Owen Davies
November 25, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Folklorist at work. Harvesting meme images from Twitter/X regarding the not so surprising reveal yesterday that thousands of MAGA/Far Right accounts are bots/grifters in Asia, Africa, and Russian friendly countries.
November 24, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Folklorist at work. Harvesting meme images from Twitter/X regarding the not so surprising reveal yesterday that thousands of MAGA/Far Right accounts are bots/grifters in Asia, Africa, and Russian friendly countries.
"AI can summarize for you". I can do that perfectly well and better myself, thank you.
November 23, 2025 at 12:14 AM
"AI can summarize for you". I can do that perfectly well and better myself, thank you.
Reposted by Owen Davies
All set up for greeting future folklorists at the University of Hertfordshire open day. May the maneki-neko beckon them over! #Folklore
November 22, 2025 at 11:14 AM
All set up for greeting future folklorists at the University of Hertfordshire open day. May the maneki-neko beckon them over! #Folklore
Reposted by Owen Davies
I love getting @folkloresociety.bsky.social newsletter in the post - it's wonderful to see in print all the fascinating folklore people are encountering. I'm especially proud of this issue because one of my MA Folklore students reviewed an exhibition for it: Dark Secrets in London
November 19, 2025 at 12:52 PM
I love getting @folkloresociety.bsky.social newsletter in the post - it's wonderful to see in print all the fascinating folklore people are encountering. I'm especially proud of this issue because one of my MA Folklore students reviewed an exhibition for it: Dark Secrets in London
Now this is how to start a history book. A Wiltshire story teller 1890s.
"There were a time, 'tweren't in my time, neither in your time, nit (nor yet) in anybody else's time; 'twere when magpies builded in old men's beards and turkey-cocks chewed bacca”.
"There were a time, 'tweren't in my time, neither in your time, nit (nor yet) in anybody else's time; 'twere when magpies builded in old men's beards and turkey-cocks chewed bacca”.
November 21, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Now this is how to start a history book. A Wiltshire story teller 1890s.
"There were a time, 'tweren't in my time, neither in your time, nit (nor yet) in anybody else's time; 'twere when magpies builded in old men's beards and turkey-cocks chewed bacca”.
"There were a time, 'tweren't in my time, neither in your time, nit (nor yet) in anybody else's time; 'twere when magpies builded in old men's beards and turkey-cocks chewed bacca”.
Reposted by Owen Davies
We're not using this photograph of a mesmerist performance in open air for the cover of 'Performing magnetism: the theatrics of persuasion in the nineteenth century' (out with Leuven UP in 2026!) but it's such a nice and evocative picture that I'll share it with you here
November 21, 2025 at 11:03 AM
We're not using this photograph of a mesmerist performance in open air for the cover of 'Performing magnetism: the theatrics of persuasion in the nineteenth century' (out with Leuven UP in 2026!) but it's such a nice and evocative picture that I'll share it with you here
Reposted by Owen Davies
Found "Elizabeth Boleyn" in Blackwell's in Oxford today 🥳 It's still surreal to see my book out in the wild!
November 19, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Found "Elizabeth Boleyn" in Blackwell's in Oxford today 🥳 It's still surreal to see my book out in the wild!
A sign of how bad are relations between academics and their universities. When I joined Twitter in 2016 it was widespread practice to include one's university in your biog to promote your institution/dept. Now it's non existent on here (& Twitter). For good reason.
November 17, 2025 at 10:22 PM
A sign of how bad are relations between academics and their universities. When I joined Twitter in 2016 it was widespread practice to include one's university in your biog to promote your institution/dept. Now it's non existent on here (& Twitter). For good reason.
Folklore in Music Hall. "Its a bit of a ruin that Cromwell knocked about a bit", made popular by the singing star Marie Lloyd (1870-1922). Strange but clever mix of spousal abuse with legends of the destruction wrought by Oliver Cromwell. Image from folksongandmusichall.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Folklore in Music Hall. "Its a bit of a ruin that Cromwell knocked about a bit", made popular by the singing star Marie Lloyd (1870-1922). Strange but clever mix of spousal abuse with legends of the destruction wrought by Oliver Cromwell. Image from folksongandmusichall.com
Reposted by Owen Davies
An absolutely outstanding signature on this commissioner's return for an Elizabethan Duchy Chamber case. TNA DL 1/42/K1b
November 15, 2025 at 3:59 PM
An absolutely outstanding signature on this commissioner's return for an Elizabethan Duchy Chamber case. TNA DL 1/42/K1b
Reposted by Owen Davies
Guys no disrespect to anyone but I just passed this on the bus and it was terrifying
November 14, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Reposted by Owen Davies
Coin-trees, love-locks and the Green Power Ranger - I was interviewed for the National Folklore Survey Project and you can read my ramblings here: www.nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk/news/introdu...
Introducing… Dr Ceri Houlbrook — National Folklore Survey for England
In our Introducing… posts, we’ll tell you a little more about the team behind the National Folklore Survey for England. Here you can find out more about Dr Ceri Houlbrook, Senior Lecturer in Folklore ...
www.nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Coin-trees, love-locks and the Green Power Ranger - I was interviewed for the National Folklore Survey Project and you can read my ramblings here: www.nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk/news/introdu...
Reposted by Owen Davies
SAVE GEOGRAPHY at Leicester University (UK) - We call on the University of Leicester to urgently reconsider the proposal to dissolve Geography. This is direct attack on the discipline of Geography at Leicester with likely loss of Geography staff. Please sign + share
www.change.org/p/save-geogr...
www.change.org/p/save-geogr...
Sign the Petition
Save Geography at the University of Leicester
www.change.org
November 10, 2025 at 8:32 AM
SAVE GEOGRAPHY at Leicester University (UK) - We call on the University of Leicester to urgently reconsider the proposal to dissolve Geography. This is direct attack on the discipline of Geography at Leicester with likely loss of Geography staff. Please sign + share
www.change.org/p/save-geogr...
www.change.org/p/save-geogr...
Reposted by Owen Davies
Join us online on 2 Dec for ‘Old, New, Precarious Data’, the 1st event of the 2025-6 @dh-researchhub.bsky.social seminar series on incompleteness & loss in digital cultural heritage collections. Speakers include @beatricecannelli.bsky.social, @heatherfro.bsky.social, Leontien Talboom & Amelia Acker
Old, New, Precarious Data
Old, New, Precarious Data is the first event of the 2025-2026 DHRH flagship seminar series on incompleteness and loss in digital cultural heritage collections.
www.sas.ac.uk
November 10, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Join us online on 2 Dec for ‘Old, New, Precarious Data’, the 1st event of the 2025-6 @dh-researchhub.bsky.social seminar series on incompleteness & loss in digital cultural heritage collections. Speakers include @beatricecannelli.bsky.social, @heatherfro.bsky.social, Leontien Talboom & Amelia Acker
Reposted by Owen Davies
'In her new book...Alison Bashford unpacks the strange history of palmistry and biometrics, from occult physicians to the foundations of modern science and medicine. In this talk, she explores the central place of UCL-associated research in this unexpected strand of medical history'. Free to attend.
Biometrics and Palmistry: The UCL Story
Join this Health Humanities Seminar with Alison Bashford FBA, who will explore the central place of UCL-associated research in this unexpected strand of medical history and of somatic diagnostics.
www.ucl.ac.uk
November 7, 2025 at 2:44 PM
'In her new book...Alison Bashford unpacks the strange history of palmistry and biometrics, from occult physicians to the foundations of modern science and medicine. In this talk, she explores the central place of UCL-associated research in this unexpected strand of medical history'. Free to attend.
Reposted by Owen Davies
Join @odavies9.bsky.social & @cerihoulbrook.bsky.social as they discuss their gripping new guide to the weird yet everyday world of British folklore at @blackwells.bsky.social #Edinburgh.
Thurs 13 Nov, 7pm
Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/owen-davie...
@edincityoflit.bsky.social
#FolkloreThursday
Thurs 13 Nov, 7pm
Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/owen-davie...
@edincityoflit.bsky.social
#FolkloreThursday
Owen Davies & Ceri Houlbrook: Folklore
Join Owen Davies and Ceri Houlbrook as they chat about their gripping guide to the weird yet everyday world of British folklore
www.eventbrite.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Join @odavies9.bsky.social & @cerihoulbrook.bsky.social as they discuss their gripping new guide to the weird yet everyday world of British folklore at @blackwells.bsky.social #Edinburgh.
Thurs 13 Nov, 7pm
Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/owen-davie...
@edincityoflit.bsky.social
#FolkloreThursday
Thurs 13 Nov, 7pm
Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/owen-davie...
@edincityoflit.bsky.social
#FolkloreThursday
Reposted by Owen Davies
The ritual detritus of 6th November
November 6, 2025 at 9:05 PM
The ritual detritus of 6th November
Reposted by Owen Davies
Really pleased to announce the launch of the all-new, all-dancing, London Lives website - www.londonlives.org It has been thoroughly re-engineered to facilitate more types of search, and redesigned for phones and tablets. The team very much hopes peope like it. 1/
London Lives
www.londonlives.org
November 5, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Really pleased to announce the launch of the all-new, all-dancing, London Lives website - www.londonlives.org It has been thoroughly re-engineered to facilitate more types of search, and redesigned for phones and tablets. The team very much hopes peope like it. 1/
Reposted by Owen Davies
Gibbet postcards... fun choice. On the back of it
"I have arrived here safe, & am enjoying myself tophole"
"I have arrived here safe, & am enjoying myself tophole"
November 5, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Gibbet postcards... fun choice. On the back of it
"I have arrived here safe, & am enjoying myself tophole"
"I have arrived here safe, & am enjoying myself tophole"