David Crouch 🏳️🌈
@dbcrouch.bsky.social
Medieval social history. VCH Editor East Yorkshire. Academician. Cardiffian exile. Hwntw Falch. Cymro yn Sir Efrog.
As a west Cardiffian I give my affection to the Ely (Afon Llai, Elai) which shares an estuary with its big sister, the Taff. Incredible now to me that in the hot summers of the 1950s we used to go swimming in its coal dust infused waters above the weir at the Drope like it was some Welsh lido
January 13, 2026 at 10:55 AM
As a west Cardiffian I give my affection to the Ely (Afon Llai, Elai) which shares an estuary with its big sister, the Taff. Incredible now to me that in the hot summers of the 1950s we used to go swimming in its coal dust infused waters above the weir at the Drope like it was some Welsh lido
There are relevant documents in the recently published recovered text of the lost 15th-century cartulary of the Metham family, who had a Laxton manor.
January 10, 2026 at 10:02 AM
There are relevant documents in the recently published recovered text of the lost 15th-century cartulary of the Metham family, who had a Laxton manor.
Nice picture, and good to see. Recent work has established that the chapel was founded as a chantry early in the 13th century by a bailiff of Howden town. What remains is the medieval chancel. There is a rare damaged photo of the chapel as it was before part demolition in 1876.
January 10, 2026 at 9:54 AM
Nice picture, and good to see. Recent work has established that the chapel was founded as a chantry early in the 13th century by a bailiff of Howden town. What remains is the medieval chancel. There is a rare damaged photo of the chapel as it was before part demolition in 1876.
Percy Grainger had no doubts that Handel walked 'the Strand'. Then there is 'the Old Kent Road' London is just weird. Face it.
January 8, 2026 at 6:03 AM
Percy Grainger had no doubts that Handel walked 'the Strand'. Then there is 'the Old Kent Road' London is just weird. Face it.
The Grauniad … not just spelling that their sub-editors fail at
January 4, 2026 at 6:27 PM
The Grauniad … not just spelling that their sub-editors fail at
Helps to be in countries with national academies of the sciences or humanities. Yay for the UK and naturally France
January 2, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Helps to be in countries with national academies of the sciences or humanities. Yay for the UK and naturally France
Thanks Elise. Rather sweet seeing the programme as a well-intentioned grad student. So can you let it loose on an entire roll on AALT and let it produce a transcript? Or does it work on single membranes?
December 27, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Thanks Elise. Rather sweet seeing the programme as a well-intentioned grad student. So can you let it loose on an entire roll on AALT and let it produce a transcript? Or does it work on single membranes?
Did not think it was even possible. I more or less live on AALT at the moment scouting JUST1 for East Yorkshire refs. I fortunately have the skills and experience to speed read entries, and I am dubious your programme could identify place names correctly. But it might be able to index a roll?
December 27, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Did not think it was even possible. I more or less live on AALT at the moment scouting JUST1 for East Yorkshire refs. I fortunately have the skills and experience to speed read entries, and I am dubious your programme could identify place names correctly. But it might be able to index a roll?
It needs a new edition, especially since Mullally has done a good number on the "Geste des Engleis en Yrlande" (aka The Song of Dermot and the Earl).
December 25, 2025 at 6:42 AM
It needs a new edition, especially since Mullally has done a good number on the "Geste des Engleis en Yrlande" (aka The Song of Dermot and the Earl).
If we believe the passing comment of a canon of Laon in NW France that John was born ‘around the feast of St John’ and was given the name of the saint and evangelist as his quasi-godparent, then he was born around the 27 December, though that might have been his baptismal date not his birth.
December 24, 2025 at 5:40 PM
If we believe the passing comment of a canon of Laon in NW France that John was born ‘around the feast of St John’ and was given the name of the saint and evangelist as his quasi-godparent, then he was born around the 27 December, though that might have been his baptismal date not his birth.
But one other source, John’s own clerk, Gerald of Wales, tells us that when he arrived in Ireland in April 1185 John was 17 years old. That would indicate 1167 is the correct date, and it would also match his known knighting in 1166, for which the customary age was 16
December 24, 2025 at 5:39 PM
But one other source, John’s own clerk, Gerald of Wales, tells us that when he arrived in Ireland in April 1185 John was 17 years old. That would indicate 1167 is the correct date, and it would also match his known knighting in 1166, for which the customary age was 16
The year was either 1166 or 1167, according to which Angevin historian you read. Ralph Diceto, Dean of London, said baldly it was 1166, but one copy of the work of the annalist Robert de Torigny, listed it under 1167
December 24, 2025 at 5:39 PM
The year was either 1166 or 1167, according to which Angevin historian you read. Ralph Diceto, Dean of London, said baldly it was 1166, but one copy of the work of the annalist Robert de Torigny, listed it under 1167
I've published a fair amount on medieval death culture over the years, but it's not a research priority of mine, just a morbid interest. Useful when you edit VCH volumes though
December 17, 2025 at 8:47 AM
I've published a fair amount on medieval death culture over the years, but it's not a research priority of mine, just a morbid interest. Useful when you edit VCH volumes though
I've published a fair amount on medieval death culture over the years, but it's not a research priority of mine, just a morbid interest
December 17, 2025 at 8:46 AM
I've published a fair amount on medieval death culture over the years, but it's not a research priority of mine, just a morbid interest
Good suggestions. I only otherwise thought that the 'stones' might be parish markers (unlikely perhaps). The town's end was where the funeral procession met the officiating minister, with processional cross and acolytes, to lead the coffin to the church.
December 17, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Good suggestions. I only otherwise thought that the 'stones' might be parish markers (unlikely perhaps). The town's end was where the funeral procession met the officiating minister, with processional cross and acolytes, to lead the coffin to the church.
The recently-discovered account by Roger of Howden of a voyage down the Ouse and Humber in 1192 (on his way to Marseille) records his transhipment at the sands of the Humber mouth specifically at an anchorage off Skeffling. No boroughs with ports on the sands at that time, but was a transport hub
December 17, 2025 at 7:20 AM
The recently-discovered account by Roger of Howden of a voyage down the Ouse and Humber in 1192 (on his way to Marseille) records his transhipment at the sands of the Humber mouth specifically at an anchorage off Skeffling. No boroughs with ports on the sands at that time, but was a transport hub
I have a Yorkshire example of funeral processions from outlying townships ending at 'the town's end' of the township with the parish church in it (viz. Howden). Not quite the same of course, and an improbable typo for 'stone's end'.
December 17, 2025 at 7:06 AM
I have a Yorkshire example of funeral processions from outlying townships ending at 'the town's end' of the township with the parish church in it (viz. Howden). Not quite the same of course, and an improbable typo for 'stone's end'.
At Welton (ER) the surviving medieval vicarage was resigned to the vicar’s coachman, assistant curates and gardeners while he built himself a handsome new pedimented residence to his taste in 1787. Pluralists had a lot of freedom.
December 10, 2025 at 9:29 AM
At Welton (ER) the surviving medieval vicarage was resigned to the vicar’s coachman, assistant curates and gardeners while he built himself a handsome new pedimented residence to his taste in 1787. Pluralists had a lot of freedom.
Agreed Katherine. He’s just spotted a useful source of moral oneupmanship to throw in the world’s face, and a possible new cult base.
December 8, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Agreed Katherine. He’s just spotted a useful source of moral oneupmanship to throw in the world’s face, and a possible new cult base.
A completely over the top response to the threat posed by a defunct Welsh lordship north of Cardiff. So its grandeur may have another purpose than military. His Clare predecessors were happy with a string of functional forts between Taffs Well and Rudry to contain the Senghenydd ‘threat’.
December 8, 2025 at 5:01 AM
A completely over the top response to the threat posed by a defunct Welsh lordship north of Cardiff. So its grandeur may have another purpose than military. His Clare predecessors were happy with a string of functional forts between Taffs Well and Rudry to contain the Senghenydd ‘threat’.
Curious as to what denomination persuaded Mr Yaxley-Lennon in detention to accept Christ as his personal redeemer, though I suspect it’ll be evangelical.
December 7, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Curious as to what denomination persuaded Mr Yaxley-Lennon in detention to accept Christ as his personal redeemer, though I suspect it’ll be evangelical.
What? Is he King John's spin doctor?
December 2, 2025 at 10:24 AM
What? Is he King John's spin doctor?
In Nick Vincent’s epic edition of King Henry’s Acts and Letters, this is 3158. He dates it 1157 x 1166, with some scope to narrow it to May 1165 x March 1166, before the king decamped to France.
December 1, 2025 at 6:21 PM
In Nick Vincent’s epic edition of King Henry’s Acts and Letters, this is 3158. He dates it 1157 x 1166, with some scope to narrow it to May 1165 x March 1166, before the king decamped to France.
More of un chose Belgique I would say, as several others here suggest. Love the fritteries of Utrecht and Leuven.
November 27, 2025 at 9:07 AM
More of un chose Belgique I would say, as several others here suggest. Love the fritteries of Utrecht and Leuven.