Dr Chris Higgins
@drchrishiggins.bsky.social
Head of History; Kent History Teacher of the Year; PhD (Birkbeck, London); research interests, early modern female mobility & Countess of Arundel
‘Wide Wandring Weemen’ database: https://travellers.thedevroom.co.uk/
‘Wide Wandring Weemen’ database: https://travellers.thedevroom.co.uk/
Excellent news — it looks as though the British Library’s online catalogue for manuscripts and archives will soon be back.
October 31, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Excellent news — it looks as though the British Library’s online catalogue for manuscripts and archives will soon be back.
A wonderful day at Lambeth Palace Library yesterday. The librarians could not have been kinder or more helpful. I still miss the old library, but the new wing — light, calm, beautifully designed — is a joy.
October 30, 2025 at 8:18 AM
A wonderful day at Lambeth Palace Library yesterday. The librarians could not have been kinder or more helpful. I still miss the old library, but the new wing — light, calm, beautifully designed — is a joy.
Highly recommend ‘The House at Number 48’ on BBC Sounds — a haunting and fascinating journey into the past, beginning with a suitcase and ending in some remarkable revelations.
October 22, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Highly recommend ‘The House at Number 48’ on BBC Sounds — a haunting and fascinating journey into the past, beginning with a suitcase and ending in some remarkable revelations.
I’m very tempted by this one-day course at the British Library:
October 1, 2025 at 10:18 AM
I’m very tempted by this one-day course at the British Library:
On a vaporetto this week, wedged beside someone polishing their Venice Film Festival speech. I longed to read every word, but had to balance my curiosity with an air of studied nonchalance.
August 31, 2025 at 5:58 AM
On a vaporetto this week, wedged beside someone polishing their Venice Film Festival speech. I longed to read every word, but had to balance my curiosity with an air of studied nonchalance.
Decorator in today, taking an absurdly long time to paint the bathroom ceiling. I kept having flashbacks to Rex Harrison in The Agony and the Ecstasy, calling up, ‘When will you make an end?’
June 5, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Decorator in today, taking an absurdly long time to paint the bathroom ceiling. I kept having flashbacks to Rex Harrison in The Agony and the Ecstasy, calling up, ‘When will you make an end?’
Tired of juggling dozens of browser tabs? Take a page from Queen Maria Carolina of Austria—she solved information overload in 1792 with this rotating lectern.
May 28, 2025 at 5:52 AM
Tired of juggling dozens of browser tabs? Take a page from Queen Maria Carolina of Austria—she solved information overload in 1792 with this rotating lectern.
“Since God has given us the papacy, let us enjoy it.” - Leo X
May 9, 2025 at 5:08 AM
“Since God has given us the papacy, let us enjoy it.” - Leo X
Came across this statue to Aphra Behn today, who hailed from Canterbury. It was unveiled by Queen Camilla two months ago. I had no idea of either!
April 18, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Came across this statue to Aphra Behn today, who hailed from Canterbury. It was unveiled by Queen Camilla two months ago. I had no idea of either!
The current Siena exhibition at the National Gallery is truly breathtaking. Well worth a visit.
April 16, 2025 at 7:39 PM
The current Siena exhibition at the National Gallery is truly breathtaking. Well worth a visit.
Peonies in the Orto Botanico, Padua today …
April 9, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Peonies in the Orto Botanico, Padua today …
Another amazing seventeenth century female artist to add to your list
- Chiara Varotari. This portrait is of an unknown noblewoman, c.1630 in the Museo Eremitani, Padua.
- Chiara Varotari. This portrait is of an unknown noblewoman, c.1630 in the Museo Eremitani, Padua.
April 9, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Another amazing seventeenth century female artist to add to your list
- Chiara Varotari. This portrait is of an unknown noblewoman, c.1630 in the Museo Eremitani, Padua.
- Chiara Varotari. This portrait is of an unknown noblewoman, c.1630 in the Museo Eremitani, Padua.
Following the Countess of Arundel to Padua and got sidetracked (as she surely would’ve done) by the magnificent Mantegnas in the Cappella Ovetari (1450 -1460).
April 8, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Following the Countess of Arundel to Padua and got sidetracked (as she surely would’ve done) by the magnificent Mantegnas in the Cappella Ovetari (1450 -1460).
Saw the very same dress last autumn. Wonderful collection. I have a detail of the sequins, too! 💖
March 29, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Saw the very same dress last autumn. Wonderful collection. I have a detail of the sequins, too! 💖
Love this entry in the CSPD (1635) - a summons for ‘shewing lions without licence’. Gill was not best pleased! 🦁
March 11, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Love this entry in the CSPD (1635) - a summons for ‘shewing lions without licence’. Gill was not best pleased! 🦁
Delighted to hear that HistFest is back at the British Library this spring.
March 9, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Delighted to hear that HistFest is back at the British Library this spring.
Can’t wait to see this exhibition.
March 9, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Can’t wait to see this exhibition.
Off to the BL today. Feels more like a sanctuary than ever before today, with all that’s happening in the world.
March 1, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Off to the BL today. Feels more like a sanctuary than ever before today, with all that’s happening in the world.
As it’s Carnevale in Venice, here’s an old photo from the amazing costume collection at Palazzo Mocenigo. #DressUpFriday
February 21, 2025 at 7:55 AM
As it’s Carnevale in Venice, here’s an old photo from the amazing costume collection at Palazzo Mocenigo. #DressUpFriday
One of the most haunting records of a recent field trip to Berlin, Russian graffiti on the walls of the Reichstag dating back to 1945.
February 17, 2025 at 7:40 AM
One of the most haunting records of a recent field trip to Berlin, Russian graffiti on the walls of the Reichstag dating back to 1945.
Saw this extraordinary and powerful exhibit whilst renewing my library card at the Wellcome Institute today…
February 8, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Saw this extraordinary and powerful exhibit whilst renewing my library card at the Wellcome Institute today…
Off to read some seventeenth century Italian diplomatic correspondence, today. Thoughts and prayers the secretarial handwriting isn’t too ‘secretarial’.
February 8, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Off to read some seventeenth century Italian diplomatic correspondence, today. Thoughts and prayers the secretarial handwriting isn’t too ‘secretarial’.
I’ll get my coat now.
February 6, 2025 at 6:58 PM
I’ll get my coat now.
Reader I bought it! Couldn’t resist getting a copy of Medieval Women after seeing the exhibition at the British Library. Joan of Arc’s signature - first time in the UK - was a standout moment.
February 1, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Reader I bought it! Couldn’t resist getting a copy of Medieval Women after seeing the exhibition at the British Library. Joan of Arc’s signature - first time in the UK - was a standout moment.