Dr. Birgitta Hoffmann
@mancent.bsky.social
Archaeologist and historian. Author. Course Director and lecturer of Independent Adult Education Provider MANCENT. Director Roman Gask Project. Loves all things Roman and Silkroad, and lots and lots of ancient glass.
Fun day exploring the Staffordshire Moorlands, including the church of St.Oswalds #church in #Ashbourne. Somebody tried very hard to copy Lichfield Cathedral at quarter scale. The grave effigies of the Cockayne family, which span 250 years are something very special
January 31, 2026 at 7:48 PM
Fun day exploring the Staffordshire Moorlands, including the church of St.Oswalds #church in #Ashbourne. Somebody tried very hard to copy Lichfield Cathedral at quarter scale. The grave effigies of the Cockayne family, which span 250 years are something very special
Timeline cleanser. I was very blessed today to meet #Hodge, the furry dean of #SouthwarkCathedral.
This Cat celebrity has everything (T-shirts, mugs, coasters, postcards), but what he really wants is attention, scritches behind the ear, and belly rubs - and he is such a good listener. Thanks, mog.
This Cat celebrity has everything (T-shirts, mugs, coasters, postcards), but what he really wants is attention, scritches behind the ear, and belly rubs - and he is such a good listener. Thanks, mog.
January 28, 2026 at 9:42 PM
Timeline cleanser. I was very blessed today to meet #Hodge, the furry dean of #SouthwarkCathedral.
This Cat celebrity has everything (T-shirts, mugs, coasters, postcards), but what he really wants is attention, scritches behind the ear, and belly rubs - and he is such a good listener. Thanks, mog.
This Cat celebrity has everything (T-shirts, mugs, coasters, postcards), but what he really wants is attention, scritches behind the ear, and belly rubs - and he is such a good listener. Thanks, mog.
This is the first (and hopefully the last time) I have met with a pink enamelled range during a tour at #QuarryBank #Styal. The guide did an amazing job on a rainy day, but....pink! Really folks, pink!!!
January 18, 2026 at 8:49 PM
This is the first (and hopefully the last time) I have met with a pink enamelled range during a tour at #QuarryBank #Styal. The guide did an amazing job on a rainy day, but....pink! Really folks, pink!!!
Japanese #Garden in Tatton Park, Cheshire, UK. Yes it was built by a European about 100 years ago. But the more time you spend with it, the more you appreciate how many principles of the Chinese and Japanese garden traditions he got right..
January 6, 2026 at 1:13 AM
Japanese #Garden in Tatton Park, Cheshire, UK. Yes it was built by a European about 100 years ago. But the more time you spend with it, the more you appreciate how many principles of the Chinese and Japanese garden traditions he got right..
in the voice of D.Attenborough: It is the turning point in the year for the Common British Supermarket, while he completes the winter moult. Below you can see the winter plumage in red, green and reindeer, while above there are already the hints of spring with chicks, eggs and rabbits. #NewYear
January 2, 2026 at 9:43 AM
in the voice of D.Attenborough: It is the turning point in the year for the Common British Supermarket, while he completes the winter moult. Below you can see the winter plumage in red, green and reindeer, while above there are already the hints of spring with chicks, eggs and rabbits. #NewYear
And the same to you...
December 26, 2025 at 8:56 PM
And the same to you...
Kultur-Schock für Deutsche in England. Das ist Stockport, einer der großen Bahnhöfe Englands um 4Uhr am vierten Advent. Fast menschenleer. #Weihnachten #Reisen #ZeitenundWunder #daskoennteinKoelnnichtpassieren
December 21, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Kultur-Schock für Deutsche in England. Das ist Stockport, einer der großen Bahnhöfe Englands um 4Uhr am vierten Advent. Fast menschenleer. #Weihnachten #Reisen #ZeitenundWunder #daskoennteinKoelnnichtpassieren
It is Christmas break, I am out of the office, I am hiding in the loft and somebody else can clean the house....
December 19, 2025 at 7:41 PM
It is Christmas break, I am out of the office, I am hiding in the loft and somebody else can clean the house....
This week's visit was to the Egerton Mansion at #Tatton Park which currently beautifully decorated for Christmas. (If you have the chance visit). But what I would like is their amazing kitchen with this fantastic range island with six ovens and 8 hobs. #dreamsofahobbybaker.
November 23, 2025 at 9:39 PM
This week's visit was to the Egerton Mansion at #Tatton Park which currently beautifully decorated for Christmas. (If you have the chance visit). But what I would like is their amazing kitchen with this fantastic range island with six ovens and 8 hobs. #dreamsofahobbybaker.
Have you seen Carlisle Cathedral? I would dearly love to know which Roman buildings underneath are causing this:
November 12, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Have you seen Carlisle Cathedral? I would dearly love to know which Roman buildings underneath are causing this:
Day trip to #Eyam in #Derbyshire. So much amazing history from mining to water catchment, to beautiful architecture, and of course the plague story. In the middle of it all a beautiful and pretty complete #Anglo-Saxon cross with figurative decoration and lots of Angels. #archaeology #history
November 8, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Day trip to #Eyam in #Derbyshire. So much amazing history from mining to water catchment, to beautiful architecture, and of course the plague story. In the middle of it all a beautiful and pretty complete #Anglo-Saxon cross with figurative decoration and lots of Angels. #archaeology #history
A true horror show, fully in the spirit of the day.
October 31, 2025 at 11:52 AM
A true horror show, fully in the spirit of the day.
To all little monsters hunting for sweets and candy tonight. Have fun! Happy #Halloween
And for those celebrating that people have been nailing manifestos (90+ theses) to church doors for a very long time: Einen besinnlichen #Reformationstag.
And for those celebrating that people have been nailing manifestos (90+ theses) to church doors for a very long time: Einen besinnlichen #Reformationstag.
October 31, 2025 at 9:18 AM
To all little monsters hunting for sweets and candy tonight. Have fun! Happy #Halloween
And for those celebrating that people have been nailing manifestos (90+ theses) to church doors for a very long time: Einen besinnlichen #Reformationstag.
And for those celebrating that people have been nailing manifestos (90+ theses) to church doors for a very long time: Einen besinnlichen #Reformationstag.
Sorry to hear things are tough. May I offer you the last dahlia from my garden. She was worth waiting for. Perhaps it will make you smile.
October 24, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Sorry to hear things are tough. May I offer you the last dahlia from my garden. She was worth waiting for. Perhaps it will make you smile.
Lindow Common, Chesh. findspot of Lindow Man. 2 years into the #reconstruction/reclamation of the Lowland bog, there is lots of wildlife and plenty of colonizer plants (birch, willow etc)around the edges, but after the last summer it desperately needs more rain. #prehistory #archaeology #environment
October 13, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Lindow Common, Chesh. findspot of Lindow Man. 2 years into the #reconstruction/reclamation of the Lowland bog, there is lots of wildlife and plenty of colonizer plants (birch, willow etc)around the edges, but after the last summer it desperately needs more rain. #prehistory #archaeology #environment
Went today to an event at #TattonPark in Cheshire celebrating their amazing collection of heritage apple trees. In the process, discovered that one of their summerhouses is panelled with reused carved panels with #Tudor designs #archaeology #history
October 5, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Went today to an event at #TattonPark in Cheshire celebrating their amazing collection of heritage apple trees. In the process, discovered that one of their summerhouses is panelled with reused carved panels with #Tudor designs #archaeology #history
This has been independently verified for the UK as well:
High Peak Bookstore Cafe: A Place for Everyone share.google/TCQLZNDnYaKp...
😇🍰☕🫖
High Peak Bookstore Cafe: A Place for Everyone share.google/TCQLZNDnYaKp...
😇🍰☕🫖
September 27, 2025 at 8:10 PM
This has been independently verified for the UK as well:
High Peak Bookstore Cafe: A Place for Everyone share.google/TCQLZNDnYaKp...
😇🍰☕🫖
High Peak Bookstore Cafe: A Place for Everyone share.google/TCQLZNDnYaKp...
😇🍰☕🫖
Kids!!! This may backfire:
My father's answer: your Mum says "You" now off to bed.
Me (aged 7): Shan't
Mum: qed
Followed by display of state sanctioned violence which saw me in bed in under 3 minutes.
,
My father's answer: your Mum says "You" now off to bed.
Me (aged 7): Shan't
Mum: qed
Followed by display of state sanctioned violence which saw me in bed in under 3 minutes.
,
September 22, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Kids!!! This may backfire:
My father's answer: your Mum says "You" now off to bed.
Me (aged 7): Shan't
Mum: qed
Followed by display of state sanctioned violence which saw me in bed in under 3 minutes.
,
My father's answer: your Mum says "You" now off to bed.
Me (aged 7): Shan't
Mum: qed
Followed by display of state sanctioned violence which saw me in bed in under 3 minutes.
,
In my 40 years of being an archaeologist I had the privilege of digging many amazing sites, but today I quietly added one thing to my bucket list: to spend one day excavating the black layer of the Pelopion or one of the wells in Olympia. For a chance of seeing a bit of a sphyrelaton statue. #dreams
September 20, 2025 at 5:57 PM
In my 40 years of being an archaeologist I had the privilege of digging many amazing sites, but today I quietly added one thing to my bucket list: to spend one day excavating the black layer of the Pelopion or one of the wells in Olympia. For a chance of seeing a bit of a sphyrelaton statue. #dreams
Happy to report: talk to Tatton and Dunham Massey. They have the solution to your problem. Lots of cool dudes and gals as soon as the sun comes out. Some cool dogs as well.😉😉
September 6, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Happy to report: talk to Tatton and Dunham Massey. They have the solution to your problem. Lots of cool dudes and gals as soon as the sun comes out. Some cool dogs as well.😉😉
With only three month until he lands in the Netherlands, think careful what you say next.
September 2, 2025 at 10:35 PM
With only three month until he lands in the Netherlands, think careful what you say next.
#StandingStoneSunday. After all those great stone circles in the UK, let me introduce you to something special. This is the Merlin Circle in Alderley Edge in Cheshire, near the Bronze Age mine of the Engine Vein.
Built in the 18th c by the Stanleys because the Edge had Merlin but no Stone Circle!
Built in the 18th c by the Stanleys because the Edge had Merlin but no Stone Circle!
August 31, 2025 at 7:23 PM
#StandingStoneSunday. After all those great stone circles in the UK, let me introduce you to something special. This is the Merlin Circle in Alderley Edge in Cheshire, near the Bronze Age mine of the Engine Vein.
Built in the 18th c by the Stanleys because the Edge had Merlin but no Stone Circle!
Built in the 18th c by the Stanleys because the Edge had Merlin but no Stone Circle!
Theoretically it is still summer, but not only have I spent every day last week raking leaves off my lawn, but I am definitely back writing the lectures for the autumn courses and putting the programme up at mancent.org.uk. I hope at least some of you will like it.
August 29, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Theoretically it is still summer, but not only have I spent every day last week raking leaves off my lawn, but I am definitely back writing the lectures for the autumn courses and putting the programme up at mancent.org.uk. I hope at least some of you will like it.
Or type -noAI before you start searching. Trust me, you don't need AI to find the menu of the pizza place or the pdf of that article you need. Saves a lot more than killing the photos from the last holiday.
August 13, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Or type -noAI before you start searching. Trust me, you don't need AI to find the menu of the pizza place or the pdf of that article you need. Saves a lot more than killing the photos from the last holiday.
Downdetector seems to suggest BT may be having one of its off days. I guess, I won't be answering my emails then tonight. #apologies
July 24, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Downdetector seems to suggest BT may be having one of its off days. I guess, I won't be answering my emails then tonight. #apologies