Victorian Web
@victorianweb.bsky.social
Linking scholarship, teaching, and learning since 1994
#OnThisDay 1876, Punch caricatured John Ruskin, showing him battling against the incursion of railways into his beloved Lake District (glad to say it has some wonderful heritage steam trains now, so not too sympathetic!) victorianweb.org/authors/rusk...
February 5, 2026 at 10:16 PM
#OnThisDay 1876, Punch caricatured John Ruskin, showing him battling against the incursion of railways into his beloved Lake District (glad to say it has some wonderful heritage steam trains now, so not too sympathetic!) victorianweb.org/authors/rusk...
"#February in the Isle of Wight," by John Brett, 1866--a little bit of mist pooling in the valley, but full of promise of the coming spring. Looking forward to that! victorianweb.org/painting/bre...
#painting #PreRaphaelites
#painting #PreRaphaelites
February 4, 2026 at 11:27 AM
"#February in the Isle of Wight," by John Brett, 1866--a little bit of mist pooling in the valley, but full of promise of the coming spring. Looking forward to that! victorianweb.org/painting/bre...
#painting #PreRaphaelites
#painting #PreRaphaelites
A #church for Sunday, St Martin's in Blackheath, Surrey, by architect Charles Harrison Townsend with (the real surprise) frescoes inside of the Life of Christ, painted by the American artist Anna Lea-Merritt (1844-1930) (photos by Sarah Sullivan) victorianweb.org/art/architec...
February 1, 2026 at 10:20 PM
A #church for Sunday, St Martin's in Blackheath, Surrey, by architect Charles Harrison Townsend with (the real surprise) frescoes inside of the Life of Christ, painted by the American artist Anna Lea-Merritt (1844-1930) (photos by Sarah Sullivan) victorianweb.org/art/architec...
Reposted by Victorian Web
Kensington, #London
A #Victorian “Penfold” postbox, manufactured by Cochrane & Co, Dudley
#PostboxSaturday
A #Victorian “Penfold” postbox, manufactured by Cochrane & Co, Dudley
#PostboxSaturday
January 31, 2026 at 10:08 AM
Kensington, #London
A #Victorian “Penfold” postbox, manufactured by Cochrane & Co, Dudley
#PostboxSaturday
A #Victorian “Penfold” postbox, manufactured by Cochrane & Co, Dudley
#PostboxSaturday
Reposted by Victorian Web
St Mary Abbots Church, Kensington, #London
The #Victorian font is by Farmer & Brindley.
It has a large marble bowl on a central shaft supported by four further shafts. The figures/angels represent the rivers of Paradise.
Tall openwork cover of wrought iron was added in 1881.
#FontsOnFriday
The #Victorian font is by Farmer & Brindley.
It has a large marble bowl on a central shaft supported by four further shafts. The figures/angels represent the rivers of Paradise.
Tall openwork cover of wrought iron was added in 1881.
#FontsOnFriday
January 30, 2026 at 8:02 AM
St Mary Abbots Church, Kensington, #London
The #Victorian font is by Farmer & Brindley.
It has a large marble bowl on a central shaft supported by four further shafts. The figures/angels represent the rivers of Paradise.
Tall openwork cover of wrought iron was added in 1881.
#FontsOnFriday
The #Victorian font is by Farmer & Brindley.
It has a large marble bowl on a central shaft supported by four further shafts. The figures/angels represent the rivers of Paradise.
Tall openwork cover of wrought iron was added in 1881.
#FontsOnFriday
Reposted by Victorian Web
Last call! Colby Book Prize nominations are due TOMORROW, 31 January. This prize is awarded to a book published during the preceding year that most advances our understanding of the #19thC British press. If you recently read a book that fits that description, we want to know!
Colby Book Prize Nomination - The Research Society for Victorian Periodicals (RSVP)
Application portal
buff.ly
January 30, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Last call! Colby Book Prize nominations are due TOMORROW, 31 January. This prize is awarded to a book published during the preceding year that most advances our understanding of the #19thC British press. If you recently read a book that fits that description, we want to know!
Looking at this lovely anonymous design for the 1893 ed. of Rip Van Winkle, with its poppies/sleepiness disrupted by the winds of change blowing among them, and the thistles! Photo: Simon Cooke. victorianweb.org/art/design/b... #bookdesign
January 30, 2026 at 10:34 PM
Looking at this lovely anonymous design for the 1893 ed. of Rip Van Winkle, with its poppies/sleepiness disrupted by the winds of change blowing among them, and the thistles! Photo: Simon Cooke. victorianweb.org/art/design/b... #bookdesign
Reposted by Victorian Web
To round out your January, please enjoy Part 2 of "Getting Started in Periodicals Research," a conversation between @c19thnewshound.bsky.social and @patrickleary.bsky.social! In this installment, Patrick talks attributions research and digitization in periodical studies. rs4vp.org/getting-star...
"Always Keep Turning the Page" – RSVP
This is Part 2 of our conversation with Patrick Leary on "Getting Started in Periodicals Research," part of our ongoing Interview Series.
rs4vp.org
January 29, 2026 at 11:04 PM
To round out your January, please enjoy Part 2 of "Getting Started in Periodicals Research," a conversation between @c19thnewshound.bsky.social and @patrickleary.bsky.social! In this installment, Patrick talks attributions research and digitization in periodical studies. rs4vp.org/getting-star...
Late for Monday, but have only just seen!
St Mary Abbots Church, Kensington, #London
Two mosaics in the chancel featuring musical angels & a choir by Salviati. 1882.
#MosaicMonday
Two mosaics in the chancel featuring musical angels & a choir by Salviati. 1882.
#MosaicMonday
January 27, 2026 at 4:06 PM
Late for Monday, but have only just seen!
Reposted by Victorian Web
The British Library’s PhD placement scheme for 26/27 is now open. My team are offering an exciting placement aiming to raise the profile of our illustrated newspaper collection: www.bl.uk/services/res...
PhD placement scheme
Our annual placement scheme offers doctoral researchers from all disciplines the chance to develop and apply skills and expertise outside the university sector.
www.bl.uk
January 27, 2026 at 9:29 AM
The British Library’s PhD placement scheme for 26/27 is now open. My team are offering an exciting placement aiming to raise the profile of our illustrated newspaper collection: www.bl.uk/services/res...
This is a brilliant post -- follow the thread for (spoiler alert!) work by Henry Wilson, and wonderful choir-stall carvings by Trask & Co.!
These beautiful late Victorian chestnut choir stalls inside St Mark's, Brithdir were produced by a small family-run firm of wood carvers in Somerset.
So, how did they end up in this church in North Wales?
1/10
So, how did they end up in this church in North Wales?
1/10
January 27, 2026 at 3:37 PM
This is a brilliant post -- follow the thread for (spoiler alert!) work by Henry Wilson, and wonderful choir-stall carvings by Trask & Co.!
The artist Arthur Hughes was born #OnThisDay 1832. One of his paintings was of "A Music Party" (1862-4)— a popular subject in those days. William Michael Rossetti enjoyed its "dreamy charm" victorianweb.org/painting/hug... #paintings #PreRaphaelites
January 27, 2026 at 3:24 PM
The artist Arthur Hughes was born #OnThisDay 1832. One of his paintings was of "A Music Party" (1862-4)— a popular subject in those days. William Michael Rossetti enjoyed its "dreamy charm" victorianweb.org/painting/hug... #paintings #PreRaphaelites
Reposted by Victorian Web
📢 The City of London Planning Sub-Committee will be considering Network Rail and Acme's plans for Liverpool Station on Tuesday 10th February.
🚂 The way to make your voice heard is to write an objection. Here's our helpful Guide: bit.ly/4jLWsim 🧵
🚂 The way to make your voice heard is to write an objection. Here's our helpful Guide: bit.ly/4jLWsim 🧵
January 26, 2026 at 4:31 PM
📢 The City of London Planning Sub-Committee will be considering Network Rail and Acme's plans for Liverpool Station on Tuesday 10th February.
🚂 The way to make your voice heard is to write an objection. Here's our helpful Guide: bit.ly/4jLWsim 🧵
🚂 The way to make your voice heard is to write an objection. Here's our helpful Guide: bit.ly/4jLWsim 🧵
Reposted by Victorian Web
"Dr. Griskin" imagines a future for condom manufacturing (from William Dugdale's 1838 ed. of Charles Knowlton's Fruits of Philosophy)
![a screenshot from some proofs reading "[who] can tell but a Baudruch, which is now only a luxury for the rich, may be so cheap and common as to be within the reach of every wayfaring man. It does not follow that they are always to be twelve shillings per dozen, nor is it requisite that they should continue to be made of the same skins as they are now:—the demand in that case could not be supplied;—but may not their manufacture, like others, be extended and improved? May we not at a future period have them woven of a fine silk gauze, stronger and safer than the present material? May there not be thousands of extensive factories spread over the new world, and millions of women and children employed in their texture, until there shall be a sufficient supply for every male capable of administering due benevolence to the object of his choice; and may we not, in that case, be able to purchase twelve dozen, or even twelve gross of these wonderful preservers, for the same amount of coin which it now requires to obtain a single Baudruch? Who then is to say that these invaluable articles are not calculated to come into general use?" — from William Dugdale's 1838 edition of Charles Knowlton's _Fruits of Philosophy_](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:tuxy4vgoaajjrwqgqnojtyqj/bafkreig536e55u2b7qku2b2iql543bqspapqqf4ts3jujza6bbzrijdjpi@jpeg)
January 26, 2026 at 9:12 PM
"Dr. Griskin" imagines a future for condom manufacturing (from William Dugdale's 1838 ed. of Charles Knowlton's Fruits of Philosophy)
Reposted by Victorian Web
Jane Morris died #OTD 1914 - last week of Winchester Arc's justly titled Beauty of the Earth exh curated by @suzannefagence.bsky.social about the Morris family as a creative collective. Fascinating and gorgeous www.arcwinchester.org.uk/event/beauty...
Beauty of the Earth: The Art of May, Jane & William Morris| The Arc Gallery
The Gallery is proud to present a special exhibition by Hampshire Cultural Trust. William Morris longed to have a home with ‘green trees and flowering meadows and living waters outside’. In his patter...
www.arcwinchester.org.uk
January 26, 2026 at 9:39 AM
Jane Morris died #OTD 1914 - last week of Winchester Arc's justly titled Beauty of the Earth exh curated by @suzannefagence.bsky.social about the Morris family as a creative collective. Fascinating and gorgeous www.arcwinchester.org.uk/event/beauty...
This little ceramic plaque in Postman's Park in London, commemorates an act of heroism: #OnThisDay 1863, one Sarah Smith died in a fire, trying to save a friend: it was the artist GF Watts's idea to memorialise ordinary folk in this way. victorianweb.org/art/design/c...
January 24, 2026 at 10:29 PM
This little ceramic plaque in Postman's Park in London, commemorates an act of heroism: #OnThisDay 1863, one Sarah Smith died in a fire, trying to save a friend: it was the artist GF Watts's idea to memorialise ordinary folk in this way. victorianweb.org/art/design/c...
Reposted by Victorian Web
Economist & sociologist Beatrice Webb was born #OTD in 1858
+ One of the founders, London School of Economics
+ Co-authored 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰-𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 & 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘺 where she coined the term "collective bargaining"
+ First female fellow, British Academy, 1931
#WomenInSTEM
+ One of the founders, London School of Economics
+ Co-authored 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰-𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 & 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘺 where she coined the term "collective bargaining"
+ First female fellow, British Academy, 1931
#WomenInSTEM
January 22, 2026 at 10:37 PM
Economist & sociologist Beatrice Webb was born #OTD in 1858
+ One of the founders, London School of Economics
+ Co-authored 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰-𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 & 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘺 where she coined the term "collective bargaining"
+ First female fellow, British Academy, 1931
#WomenInSTEM
+ One of the founders, London School of Economics
+ Co-authored 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰-𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 & 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘺 where she coined the term "collective bargaining"
+ First female fellow, British Academy, 1931
#WomenInSTEM
These articles are wonderful. Who knew there were so many "peeresses"?!
We have also written about Queen Victoria's relationship with Parliament in this article on the @histparl.bsky.social site: historyofparliament.com/2022/05/26/q...
January 22, 2026 at 11:10 PM
These articles are wonderful. Who knew there were so many "peeresses"?!
A sad #OnThisDay post from us, courtesy of the "father" of the Newlyn School of artists: "The 22 January 1901 (Reading the News of the Queen’s Death in a Cornish Cottage)" by Stanhope A. Forbes, RA (1857-1947). 1901. victorianweb.org/painting/for... #paintings
January 22, 2026 at 10:14 PM
A sad #OnThisDay post from us, courtesy of the "father" of the Newlyn School of artists: "The 22 January 1901 (Reading the News of the Queen’s Death in a Cornish Cottage)" by Stanhope A. Forbes, RA (1857-1947). 1901. victorianweb.org/painting/for... #paintings
Reposted by Victorian Web
Dr. Sophia Jex-Blake was born #OTD in 1840
+ Led the campaign to secure women access to a university education in the UK
+ First practicing woman doctor in Scotland
+ Founder, Edinburgh School of Medicine for Women, 1886
+ Helped establish the London School of Medicine for Women, 1874
#WomenInSTEM
+ Led the campaign to secure women access to a university education in the UK
+ First practicing woman doctor in Scotland
+ Founder, Edinburgh School of Medicine for Women, 1886
+ Helped establish the London School of Medicine for Women, 1874
#WomenInSTEM
January 21, 2026 at 11:21 PM
Dr. Sophia Jex-Blake was born #OTD in 1840
+ Led the campaign to secure women access to a university education in the UK
+ First practicing woman doctor in Scotland
+ Founder, Edinburgh School of Medicine for Women, 1886
+ Helped establish the London School of Medicine for Women, 1874
#WomenInSTEM
+ Led the campaign to secure women access to a university education in the UK
+ First practicing woman doctor in Scotland
+ Founder, Edinburgh School of Medicine for Women, 1886
+ Helped establish the London School of Medicine for Women, 1874
#WomenInSTEM
So many Victorian artists were inspired by the theme of #music: here's a lovely essay on "Touching the Strings: Edith Martineau and Aestheticism" by Pamela Gerrish Nunn victorianweb.org/painting/mar...
#painting #womansart
#painting #womansart
January 18, 2026 at 10:50 PM
So many Victorian artists were inspired by the theme of #music: here's a lovely essay on "Touching the Strings: Edith Martineau and Aestheticism" by Pamela Gerrish Nunn victorianweb.org/painting/mar...
#painting #womansart
#painting #womansart
In 2011 some of us from the Victorian Web went to the annual wreath-laying service for Thomas Hardy at Westminster Abbey: his cremated remains (minus his heart) were buried here #OTD 1928. We were given permission to print the programme here: victorianweb.org/authors/hard...
January 16, 2026 at 10:43 PM
In 2011 some of us from the Victorian Web went to the annual wreath-laying service for Thomas Hardy at Westminster Abbey: his cremated remains (minus his heart) were buried here #OTD 1928. We were given permission to print the programme here: victorianweb.org/authors/hard...
World War I poets weren't the first to show the pity of war. The painter Orlando Norrie, born of Scottish parents in Bruges #OnThisDay 1832, spent much of his time in England and is thought to have produced well over 5000 military paintings during Victoria's reign victorianweb.org/painting/nor...
January 15, 2026 at 11:03 PM
World War I poets weren't the first to show the pity of war. The painter Orlando Norrie, born of Scottish parents in Bruges #OnThisDay 1832, spent much of his time in England and is thought to have produced well over 5000 military paintings during Victoria's reign victorianweb.org/painting/nor...
Reposted by Victorian Web
For anyone in London I’m going to be giving a paper on settlement bedrooms on 19th February, 6.30-8.00. I’ll share titbits on how they were used by settlers&wardens. I’ll also discuss servants too! This will be with a building tour of Oxford House, Bethnal Green! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/building-t...
Building Tour and Heritage Talk - Settlement Bedrooms: A Room of their Own
Building Tour and Heritage Talk - Settlement Bedrooms: A Room of their Own, 1883-1920 by Lucinda Matthews-Jones.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
January 15, 2026 at 5:26 PM
For anyone in London I’m going to be giving a paper on settlement bedrooms on 19th February, 6.30-8.00. I’ll share titbits on how they were used by settlers&wardens. I’ll also discuss servants too! This will be with a building tour of Oxford House, Bethnal Green! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/building-t...
Look away, Pre-Raphaelite fans! Simon Cooke's latest is about Max Beerbohm's irreverent cartoons making fun of Rossetti & co.! Here's a diminutive Swinbrne reading his poetry to the Rossetti bros. Well, they did take themselves rather seriously! A fun read: www.victorianweb.org/authors/mb/p...
January 14, 2026 at 10:46 PM
Look away, Pre-Raphaelite fans! Simon Cooke's latest is about Max Beerbohm's irreverent cartoons making fun of Rossetti & co.! Here's a diminutive Swinbrne reading his poetry to the Rossetti bros. Well, they did take themselves rather seriously! A fun read: www.victorianweb.org/authors/mb/p...