Jon Agar
@jonagar.bsky.social
historian of modern science and technology
found them!
(thanks Chris)
(thanks Chris)
January 13, 2026 at 4:59 PM
found them!
(thanks Chris)
(thanks Chris)
But, hang on, what’s this!
Here is the Mitchell-Hedges Trophy in the Amgueddfa Cymru/Museum Wales collection!
Saved! (But did they have to pay?)
museum.wales/collections/...
Here is the Mitchell-Hedges Trophy in the Amgueddfa Cymru/Museum Wales collection!
Saved! (But did they have to pay?)
museum.wales/collections/...
January 8, 2026 at 1:25 PM
But, hang on, what’s this!
Here is the Mitchell-Hedges Trophy in the Amgueddfa Cymru/Museum Wales collection!
Saved! (But did they have to pay?)
museum.wales/collections/...
Here is the Mitchell-Hedges Trophy in the Amgueddfa Cymru/Museum Wales collection!
Saved! (But did they have to pay?)
museum.wales/collections/...
The file ends with the Coal Board Corporation about to sell off the (mining family) silver
🏴☹️
🏴☹️
January 8, 2026 at 1:19 PM
The file ends with the Coal Board Corporation about to sell off the (mining family) silver
🏴☹️
🏴☹️
The National Museums and Galleries of Wales (which does not have that money to hand) make a counteroffer
It’s a “highly significant heritage object, of great importance to the history of Wales, and subsequently to the coal industry during the period of nationalisation”
Perhaps for free as a gift?
It’s a “highly significant heritage object, of great importance to the history of Wales, and subsequently to the coal industry during the period of nationalisation”
Perhaps for free as a gift?
January 8, 2026 at 1:17 PM
The National Museums and Galleries of Wales (which does not have that money to hand) make a counteroffer
It’s a “highly significant heritage object, of great importance to the history of Wales, and subsequently to the coal industry during the period of nationalisation”
Perhaps for free as a gift?
It’s a “highly significant heritage object, of great importance to the history of Wales, and subsequently to the coal industry during the period of nationalisation”
Perhaps for free as a gift?
The Coal Board Corporation offer it to the National Museums and Galleries of Wales
But, wringing their hands, they say they have “a statutory duty to dispose of assets on the best possible terms”
It’s pure silver. It’s worth £250,000
(This selling of silver is the METAPHOR for privatisation)
But, wringing their hands, they say they have “a statutory duty to dispose of assets on the best possible terms”
It’s pure silver. It’s worth £250,000
(This selling of silver is the METAPHOR for privatisation)
January 8, 2026 at 1:13 PM
The Coal Board Corporation offer it to the National Museums and Galleries of Wales
But, wringing their hands, they say they have “a statutory duty to dispose of assets on the best possible terms”
It’s pure silver. It’s worth £250,000
(This selling of silver is the METAPHOR for privatisation)
But, wringing their hands, they say they have “a statutory duty to dispose of assets on the best possible terms”
It’s pure silver. It’s worth £250,000
(This selling of silver is the METAPHOR for privatisation)
But what about the Mitchell-Hedges silver trophy for coal mine first aid?
In 1994, Mitchell-Hedges’ daughter (not the skull one, surely) is inquiring about it…
Whitehall, bless them, says ”it is essential that we do the proper thing and do not allow the trophy to become ‘lost’ on privatisation”
In 1994, Mitchell-Hedges’ daughter (not the skull one, surely) is inquiring about it…
Whitehall, bless them, says ”it is essential that we do the proper thing and do not allow the trophy to become ‘lost’ on privatisation”
January 8, 2026 at 1:05 PM
But what about the Mitchell-Hedges silver trophy for coal mine first aid?
In 1994, Mitchell-Hedges’ daughter (not the skull one, surely) is inquiring about it…
Whitehall, bless them, says ”it is essential that we do the proper thing and do not allow the trophy to become ‘lost’ on privatisation”
In 1994, Mitchell-Hedges’ daughter (not the skull one, surely) is inquiring about it…
Whitehall, bless them, says ”it is essential that we do the proper thing and do not allow the trophy to become ‘lost’ on privatisation”
He is perhaps most well-known for the “Mitchell-Hedges crystal skull”, that he claims his adopted daughter found in (what is now now) Belize in 1924
(he almost certainly purchased it from a dealer in the 1940s. It was almost certainly recently made)
This is the unexpected Indiana Jones reference
(he almost certainly purchased it from a dealer in the 1940s. It was almost certainly recently made)
This is the unexpected Indiana Jones reference
January 8, 2026 at 12:58 PM
He is perhaps most well-known for the “Mitchell-Hedges crystal skull”, that he claims his adopted daughter found in (what is now now) Belize in 1924
(he almost certainly purchased it from a dealer in the 1940s. It was almost certainly recently made)
This is the unexpected Indiana Jones reference
(he almost certainly purchased it from a dealer in the 1940s. It was almost certainly recently made)
This is the unexpected Indiana Jones reference
Who was Mr Mitchell-Hedges?
Here he is
Holding a pangolin
Here he is
Holding a pangolin
January 8, 2026 at 12:50 PM
Who was Mr Mitchell-Hedges?
Here he is
Holding a pangolin
Here he is
Holding a pangolin
It had been presented by Mr Mitchell-Hedges to his friend, coal chairman Lord Hyndley in the 1940s
It was awarded for a while to the miners who mined the most coal, as a kind of spur to productivity
Then it became a yearly prize in a First Aid competition, which continued right up to 1990s
It was awarded for a while to the miners who mined the most coal, as a kind of spur to productivity
Then it became a yearly prize in a First Aid competition, which continued right up to 1990s
January 8, 2026 at 12:48 PM
It had been presented by Mr Mitchell-Hedges to his friend, coal chairman Lord Hyndley in the 1940s
It was awarded for a while to the miners who mined the most coal, as a kind of spur to productivity
Then it became a yearly prize in a First Aid competition, which continued right up to 1990s
It was awarded for a while to the miners who mined the most coal, as a kind of spur to productivity
Then it became a yearly prize in a First Aid competition, which continued right up to 1990s
The most valuable item though is this: the Mitchell-Hedges Trophy
It’s a “wine cistern of oval form, with an applied beaded border, with egg and tongue decoration” made by Paul Storr in 1815
It’s solid silver.
It’s valued at £250,000
It’s a “wine cistern of oval form, with an applied beaded border, with egg and tongue decoration” made by Paul Storr in 1815
It’s solid silver.
It’s valued at £250,000
January 8, 2026 at 12:40 PM
The most valuable item though is this: the Mitchell-Hedges Trophy
It’s a “wine cistern of oval form, with an applied beaded border, with egg and tongue decoration” made by Paul Storr in 1815
It’s solid silver.
It’s valued at £250,000
It’s a “wine cistern of oval form, with an applied beaded border, with egg and tongue decoration” made by Paul Storr in 1815
It’s solid silver.
It’s valued at £250,000
But it’s privatisation time, and the Coal Board calls in the valuers
Among the paintings, for example, is this one: Henry Perlee Parker’s ‘Pit men at play’, considered, notes the valuers, “the first “true” mining picture to be hung at the Royal Academy” in 1836
Worth £10,000, they say
Among the paintings, for example, is this one: Henry Perlee Parker’s ‘Pit men at play’, considered, notes the valuers, “the first “true” mining picture to be hung at the Royal Academy” in 1836
Worth £10,000, they say
January 8, 2026 at 12:35 PM
But it’s privatisation time, and the Coal Board calls in the valuers
Among the paintings, for example, is this one: Henry Perlee Parker’s ‘Pit men at play’, considered, notes the valuers, “the first “true” mining picture to be hung at the Royal Academy” in 1836
Worth £10,000, they say
Among the paintings, for example, is this one: Henry Perlee Parker’s ‘Pit men at play’, considered, notes the valuers, “the first “true” mining picture to be hung at the Royal Academy” in 1836
Worth £10,000, they say
The context is post-Miners’ Strike and the subsequent privatisation of coal mines
The National Coal Corporation has accumulated LOTS of artworks
Some of these are noted collections, such as H. Andrew Freeth’s ‘pit portraits’ of coal miners (here’s one, now in NCMM) www.ncm.org.uk/news/voices-...
The National Coal Corporation has accumulated LOTS of artworks
Some of these are noted collections, such as H. Andrew Freeth’s ‘pit portraits’ of coal miners (here’s one, now in NCMM) www.ncm.org.uk/news/voices-...
January 8, 2026 at 12:30 PM
The context is post-Miners’ Strike and the subsequent privatisation of coal mines
The National Coal Corporation has accumulated LOTS of artworks
Some of these are noted collections, such as H. Andrew Freeth’s ‘pit portraits’ of coal miners (here’s one, now in NCMM) www.ncm.org.uk/news/voices-...
The National Coal Corporation has accumulated LOTS of artworks
Some of these are noted collections, such as H. Andrew Freeth’s ‘pit portraits’ of coal miners (here’s one, now in NCMM) www.ncm.org.uk/news/voices-...
The winner of the vote among new National Archives files released in Nov-Dec 2026 was this one: COAL 30/568: British Coal Art and Artefacts 1986-1995
This one is interesting!
Buckle up for coal mining, an unexpected Indiana Jones reference, and a big METAPHOR for privatisation
1/n
This one is interesting!
Buckle up for coal mining, an unexpected Indiana Jones reference, and a big METAPHOR for privatisation
1/n
January 8, 2026 at 12:25 PM
The winner of the vote among new National Archives files released in Nov-Dec 2026 was this one: COAL 30/568: British Coal Art and Artefacts 1986-1995
This one is interesting!
Buckle up for coal mining, an unexpected Indiana Jones reference, and a big METAPHOR for privatisation
1/n
This one is interesting!
Buckle up for coal mining, an unexpected Indiana Jones reference, and a big METAPHOR for privatisation
1/n
There was also a worry that the precautionary principle, especially when interpreted (as some EU countries tended to do) in ‘maximalist’ terms, would be a “fig-leaf behind which other unjustifiable measures would be introduced”
in other words: UK suspicion of EU politics at play
in other words: UK suspicion of EU politics at play
January 8, 2026 at 11:08 AM
There was also a worry that the precautionary principle, especially when interpreted (as some EU countries tended to do) in ‘maximalist’ terms, would be a “fig-leaf behind which other unjustifiable measures would be introduced”
in other words: UK suspicion of EU politics at play
in other words: UK suspicion of EU politics at play
Context is BSE. EU had introduced more scientific committees to review evidence of risks, and this included application of the precautionary principle (= if in doubt, don’t)
It’s regarded in Whitehall partly as a power grab by one of the EU directorates (DGXXIV)
It’s regarded in Whitehall partly as a power grab by one of the EU directorates (DGXXIV)
January 8, 2026 at 11:02 AM
Context is BSE. EU had introduced more scientific committees to review evidence of risks, and this included application of the precautionary principle (= if in doubt, don’t)
It’s regarded in Whitehall partly as a power grab by one of the EU directorates (DGXXIV)
It’s regarded in Whitehall partly as a power grab by one of the EU directorates (DGXXIV)
Finally got the National Archives for a quick dig around
This one was the winner of the vote among Aug-Oct 2026 releases vote.
So what is in JA 617/789, a Department of Health file from 1999 on the “precautionary principle”?
This one was the winner of the vote among Aug-Oct 2026 releases vote.
So what is in JA 617/789, a Department of Health file from 1999 on the “precautionary principle”?
January 8, 2026 at 10:57 AM
Finally got the National Archives for a quick dig around
This one was the winner of the vote among Aug-Oct 2026 releases vote.
So what is in JA 617/789, a Department of Health file from 1999 on the “precautionary principle”?
This one was the winner of the vote among Aug-Oct 2026 releases vote.
So what is in JA 617/789, a Department of Health file from 1999 on the “precautionary principle”?
4) What did the Official Committee on Social Affairs REALLY think of Scientology in the mid-1970s?
Like to vote!
Like to vote!
January 6, 2026 at 9:12 AM
4) What did the Official Committee on Social Affairs REALLY think of Scientology in the mid-1970s?
Like to vote!
Like to vote!
3) Who was the 1930s notorious swindler?
Like to vote!
Like to vote!
January 6, 2026 at 9:10 AM
3) Who was the 1930s notorious swindler?
Like to vote!
Like to vote!
2) Just how valuable was the British Coal art collection?
Like to vote!
Like to vote!
January 6, 2026 at 9:09 AM
2) Just how valuable was the British Coal art collection?
Like to vote!
Like to vote!
1) What did Admiral Rickover, “Father of the Nuclear Navy” want to tell Harold Macmillan?
Like to vote!
Like to vote!
January 6, 2026 at 9:07 AM
1) What did Admiral Rickover, “Father of the Nuclear Navy” want to tell Harold Macmillan?
Like to vote!
Like to vote!
Most interesting (to me) in the December 2025 file releases is the new RJ series.
These are the documents of the Hutton inquiry into the death of the scientist David Kelly and evidence of weapons of mass destruction in the run up to the Iraq war
Look: it’s the ‘dodgy dossier’!
(Or is it?)
These are the documents of the Hutton inquiry into the death of the scientist David Kelly and evidence of weapons of mass destruction in the run up to the Iraq war
Look: it’s the ‘dodgy dossier’!
(Or is it?)
January 6, 2026 at 8:58 AM
Most interesting (to me) in the December 2025 file releases is the new RJ series.
These are the documents of the Hutton inquiry into the death of the scientist David Kelly and evidence of weapons of mass destruction in the run up to the Iraq war
Look: it’s the ‘dodgy dossier’!
(Or is it?)
These are the documents of the Hutton inquiry into the death of the scientist David Kelly and evidence of weapons of mass destruction in the run up to the Iraq war
Look: it’s the ‘dodgy dossier’!
(Or is it?)
Sadly, however, some files never quite reach the archives…
7/n
7/n
January 6, 2026 at 8:51 AM
Sadly, however, some files never quite reach the archives…
7/n
7/n
Some interesting Home Office files, especially on policing of demonstrations and other public ‘disturbances’
For example these two: policing Stonehenge in 1989 and the Poll Tax demos of 1990
I was at one of those
6/n
For example these two: policing Stonehenge in 1989 and the Poll Tax demos of 1990
I was at one of those
6/n
January 6, 2026 at 8:49 AM
Some interesting Home Office files, especially on policing of demonstrations and other public ‘disturbances’
For example these two: policing Stonehenge in 1989 and the Poll Tax demos of 1990
I was at one of those
6/n
For example these two: policing Stonehenge in 1989 and the Poll Tax demos of 1990
I was at one of those
6/n
What else is in the November files?
Learn to fly a military jet! How about tactics manuals for Jaguars, Harriers and Phantoms?
4/n
Learn to fly a military jet! How about tactics manuals for Jaguars, Harriers and Phantoms?
4/n
January 6, 2026 at 8:38 AM
What else is in the November files?
Learn to fly a military jet! How about tactics manuals for Jaguars, Harriers and Phantoms?
4/n
Learn to fly a military jet! How about tactics manuals for Jaguars, Harriers and Phantoms?
4/n
Both November and December feature the release of large caches of digitized atomic weapon papers. (Why?)
As you can see they are rather inscrutable
I don’t like these cryptic electronic file names in the catalogue, but we are going to see more and more as government digitizes
2/n
As you can see they are rather inscrutable
I don’t like these cryptic electronic file names in the catalogue, but we are going to see more and more as government digitizes
2/n
January 6, 2026 at 8:25 AM
Both November and December feature the release of large caches of digitized atomic weapon papers. (Why?)
As you can see they are rather inscrutable
I don’t like these cryptic electronic file names in the catalogue, but we are going to see more and more as government digitizes
2/n
As you can see they are rather inscrutable
I don’t like these cryptic electronic file names in the catalogue, but we are going to see more and more as government digitizes
2/n