Matt Phillpott
@mphillpott.bsky.social
Educator, writer, and historian. I am a freelance learning designer, working with Moodle, Articulate and other tools with a mission to focus on the learners learning journey. I also run Honeybee Histories, a weekly exploration of the history of bees!
What was the Isle of Wight Disease? When did the American Bee Journal begin? Who first coined the term superorganism when talking about honeybees? In this week's Honeybee Histories I discuss these questions and offer a short video montage! open.substack.com/pub/honeybee... #honeybees #beekeeping
Did you know that about the history of Honeybees?
Isle of Wight disease, the American Bee Journal, and bees as a superorganism
open.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:03 PM
What was the Isle of Wight Disease? When did the American Bee Journal begin? Who first coined the term superorganism when talking about honeybees? In this week's Honeybee Histories I discuss these questions and offer a short video montage! open.substack.com/pub/honeybee... #honeybees #beekeeping
If you have an interest in #food and #history then do check out the #HungryHistorians podcast, where Kelly A Spring and myself chat with writers of food history! Available on Spotify and many other podcast platforms open.spotify.com/show/2dd70WM...
Kelly A. Spring - SPAM
open.spotify.com
November 18, 2025 at 10:31 AM
If you have an interest in #food and #history then do check out the #HungryHistorians podcast, where Kelly A Spring and myself chat with writers of food history! Available on Spotify and many other podcast platforms open.spotify.com/show/2dd70WM...
John Foxe offered his readings various ways to 'read' his Book of Martyrs, even when they were unable to actually read themselves. Find out more in this examination of Zollinger's article on the subject open.substack.com/pub/historyc... #history #16thcentury #johnfoxe #bookhistory
Sixteenth Century Literacy in Text and Context
In this essay I travel back 20 years to notes that I took on an article about strategies employed by John Foxe to support different levels of literacy in his readers.
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:40 AM
John Foxe offered his readings various ways to 'read' his Book of Martyrs, even when they were unable to actually read themselves. Find out more in this examination of Zollinger's article on the subject open.substack.com/pub/historyc... #history #16thcentury #johnfoxe #bookhistory
This week in my news #Substack essay, I write about John Foxe. It's been a long time since I've written on this subject so this is very much a re-introduction! open.substack.com/pub/historyc... #history #johnfoxe #martyrology
Getting to know John Foxe’s Acts and Monuments
John Foxe wrote the Acts and Monuments in the Elizabethan era, depicting the Protestants who had died for their faith and rearranging history into a more suitable narrative for the new religion.
open.substack.com
October 15, 2025 at 10:45 AM
This week in my news #Substack essay, I write about John Foxe. It's been a long time since I've written on this subject so this is very much a re-introduction! open.substack.com/pub/historyc... #history #johnfoxe #martyrology
In this week's History Commonplaces I provide a summary of our podcast episodes The Hungry Historians and mention the Food History Seminar and Honeybee Histories open.substack.com/pub/historyc... #history #foodstudies #podcast #honeybees
History Commonplaces - History News 001
A newsletter introducing The Hungry Historian podcast, the Food History Seminar, and Honeybee Histories Substack
open.substack.com
October 2, 2025 at 9:10 AM
In this week's History Commonplaces I provide a summary of our podcast episodes The Hungry Historians and mention the Food History Seminar and Honeybee Histories open.substack.com/pub/historyc... #history #foodstudies #podcast #honeybees
In the 17thC Charles Butler not only wrote an acclaimed manual on beekeeping but created a fully formed musical score that mimicked the 'piping' sounds made by queen bees. In this essay I explore this unusual aspect of #beekeeping history. open.substack.com/pub/honeybee... #honeybees #music
Charles Butler Part 3: The Music of Honeybees
When Charles Butler wrote his manual on beekeeping he also demonstrated his interest in the sounds the bees made and connected these to his love of music.
open.substack.com
September 26, 2025 at 8:12 AM
In the 17thC Charles Butler not only wrote an acclaimed manual on beekeeping but created a fully formed musical score that mimicked the 'piping' sounds made by queen bees. In this essay I explore this unusual aspect of #beekeeping history. open.substack.com/pub/honeybee... #honeybees #music
What is a Commonplace Book? I examine the genre that is influencing the format for my History Commonplaces #substack through the example of Anna Jameson open.substack.com/pub/historyc... #history #commonplaces #jameson
September 25, 2025 at 6:23 AM
What is a Commonplace Book? I examine the genre that is influencing the format for my History Commonplaces #substack through the example of Anna Jameson open.substack.com/pub/historyc... #history #commonplaces #jameson
I’m really excited that we’re launching the 9th year of the Food History Seminar. We have a packed programme for you this term from health in WWII and SPAM to ceremonial milk spoons! Check out our programme. All events are free and online but do require booking: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
www.history.ac.uk
September 23, 2025 at 2:05 PM
I’m really excited that we’re launching the 9th year of the Food History Seminar. We have a packed programme for you this term from health in WWII and SPAM to ceremonial milk spoons! Check out our programme. All events are free and online but do require booking: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
I'm very exciting to announce my new Substack - History Commonplaces! I'll be using this space to explore book and food history, the Reformation, and lots more. I'll also be talking about commonplace books! Do Subscribe if that seems of interest! historycommonplaces.substack.com?r=b9rby&utm_...
History Commonplaces | Matt Phillpott | Substack
Commonplaces were a form of structured notebook to aid memory and research in the past. This substack commonplace replicates this idea based on the researches of Dr Matthew Phillpott, with interests i...
historycommonplaces.substack.com
September 17, 2025 at 9:02 PM
I'm very exciting to announce my new Substack - History Commonplaces! I'll be using this space to explore book and food history, the Reformation, and lots more. I'll also be talking about commonplace books! Do Subscribe if that seems of interest! historycommonplaces.substack.com?r=b9rby&utm_...
It's been a little while since I posted here (lost my login details temporarily!). Do check out my recent essay for Honeybee Histories where I look at the life of Charles Butler, the 'father of English beekeeping) open.substack.com/pub/honeybee... #history #honeybees #beekeeping
Charles Butler: The Father Of English Beekeeping
A profile of Charles Butler (1560-1647), writer of The Feminine Monarchie
open.substack.com
September 4, 2025 at 1:16 PM
It's been a little while since I posted here (lost my login details temporarily!). Do check out my recent essay for Honeybee Histories where I look at the life of Charles Butler, the 'father of English beekeeping) open.substack.com/pub/honeybee... #history #honeybees #beekeeping
Very happy to be releasing the second issue of #HoneybeeHistories magazine online. Free to paid subscribers this issue covers Tudor Beekeeping manuals! Check out the highlights and subscribe if you'd like to read!
open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...
open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...
Honeybee Histories e-magazine issue 2
A Special Issue on Tudor Beekeeping Manuals
open.substack.com
July 24, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Very happy to be releasing the second issue of #HoneybeeHistories magazine online. Free to paid subscribers this issue covers Tudor Beekeeping manuals! Check out the highlights and subscribe if you'd like to read!
open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...
open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...
Promoting knowledge about honeybees by making bee beards! Today's Honeybee Histories takes a look at the work of Thomas Wildman.
open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...
open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...
Thomas wildman: using bee beards to popularise knowledge about honeybees
Born in 1734, Thomas wildman used ecentric means to popularise knowledge about honeybees, even gaining the attention of the monarch! In this Honeybee Histories, I examine his story.
open.substack.com
July 3, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Promoting knowledge about honeybees by making bee beards! Today's Honeybee Histories takes a look at the work of Thomas Wildman.
open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...
open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...
Just wanted to share an article published by my colleague Oscar Mwaanga on making education more physically active in Africa (behind a paywall): link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...
A Critical Justification for Physically Active Education: Towards ‘the Africa We Want’
This chapter presents a compelling argument for integrating Physically Active Education (PAE) into the African educational system, underscoring its vital role in promoting sustainable educational and ...
link.springer.com
June 19, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Just wanted to share an article published by my colleague Oscar Mwaanga on making education more physically active in Africa (behind a paywall): link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...
In this week's Honeybee Histories, I'm exploring the life and times of Thomas Hill, the first writer of a beekeeping manual in England open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...
Thomas Hill - The author of the first beekeeping manual in England
Thomas Hill (c.1528-c.1574) wrote the first beekeeping handbook in English as well as a variety of 'scientific' manuals, almanacs, and gardening manuals.
open.substack.com
June 6, 2025 at 7:32 AM
In this week's Honeybee Histories, I'm exploring the life and times of Thomas Hill, the first writer of a beekeeping manual in England open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...
For #WorldBeeDay I’ve released my weekly essay a few days early! In this post I introduce a new website for Honeybee Histories, a playful Choose your own Adventure game, and discuss the photographer of the year exhibition at the Natural History Museum! open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...
World Bee Day 2025: A choose your own adventure!
Every 20th May is World Bee Day, when we celebrate bees of all species across the world. As such today's post comes out a few days early to celebrate World Bee Day with new bonus features!
open.substack.com
May 20, 2025 at 2:09 PM
For #WorldBeeDay I’ve released my weekly essay a few days early! In this post I introduce a new website for Honeybee Histories, a playful Choose your own Adventure game, and discuss the photographer of the year exhibition at the Natural History Museum! open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...
In this week's Honeybee Histories free essay I explore the downfall of King Congal who lost his High Kingship due to a bee sting!
open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...
open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...
Congal Cáech - Blinded by a Bee!
In this week's Honeybee Histories we explore the tale of the bee that blinded Congal Cáech in one eye; an injury that was then used to unseat him as High King in early medieval Ireland.
open.substack.com
April 24, 2025 at 11:50 AM
In this week's Honeybee Histories free essay I explore the downfall of King Congal who lost his High Kingship due to a bee sting!
open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...
open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...
In the early middle ages some references to the #QueenBee appear to correctly identify her as female despite the prevailing claims that she was really a “King”. Are these references all that they appear to be? #history #honeybees
open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...
open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...
The leader of the Hive Part 5 - The Queen who would be a Mother
Exploring the history of beekeeping and honeybees across time and space.
open.substack.com
April 10, 2025 at 11:24 AM
In the early middle ages some references to the #QueenBee appear to correctly identify her as female despite the prevailing claims that she was really a “King”. Are these references all that they appear to be? #history #honeybees
open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...
open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...
How do we instil a sense of enjoyment about learning in our students? open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
A love of learning
As educators how can we instil a love of learning in our students?
open.substack.com
April 2, 2025 at 6:15 AM
How do we instil a sense of enjoyment about learning in our students? open.substack.com/pub/adventur...
In this week's Honeybee Histories I look at Pliny the Elder. Pliny wrote extensively about honeybees and beekeeping in his The Natural History.
Pliny the Elder and early beekeeping knowledge
Who was Pliny the Elder and what was his Natural History
open.substack.com
March 27, 2025 at 10:24 AM
In this week's Honeybee Histories I look at Pliny the Elder. Pliny wrote extensively about honeybees and beekeeping in his The Natural History.
In this week's Honeybee Histories I look at John Mills who wrote a beekeeping book summarising known knowledge and recent scientific investigations in beekeeping and honeybee research at the state it was in, in the 18th century.
John Mills and how to manage honeybees
Advice for beekeeping and not killing the bees from the eighteenth century.
open.substack.com
February 27, 2025 at 10:59 AM
In this week's Honeybee Histories I look at John Mills who wrote a beekeeping book summarising known knowledge and recent scientific investigations in beekeeping and honeybee research at the state it was in, in the 18th century.
This week in Honeybee Histories we look at beekeeping on the Dartmoor heather through the eyes of Brother Adam, a famous beekeeper from Buckfast Abbey.
Brother Adam and Heather Honey
How to obtain a good yield of heather honey from Dartmoor, according to Brother Adam
open.substack.com
February 13, 2025 at 12:45 PM
This week in Honeybee Histories we look at beekeeping on the Dartmoor heather through the eyes of Brother Adam, a famous beekeeper from Buckfast Abbey.
Reposted by Matt Phillpott
Last night several members of our team were lucky enough to be at the inaugural National #Humanities lecture.
@davidolusoga.bsky.social spoke brilliantly about the need for the humanities, public history and the work he's most proud of.
Watch here (16:40 onwards):
www.youtube.com/live/hbdDwDC...
@davidolusoga.bsky.social spoke brilliantly about the need for the humanities, public history and the work he's most proud of.
Watch here (16:40 onwards):
www.youtube.com/live/hbdDwDC...
The National Humanities Lecture | Professor David Olusoga | 4 February 2025
YouTube video by SchAdvStudy
www.youtube.com
February 5, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Last night several members of our team were lucky enough to be at the inaugural National #Humanities lecture.
@davidolusoga.bsky.social spoke brilliantly about the need for the humanities, public history and the work he's most proud of.
Watch here (16:40 onwards):
www.youtube.com/live/hbdDwDC...
@davidolusoga.bsky.social spoke brilliantly about the need for the humanities, public history and the work he's most proud of.
Watch here (16:40 onwards):
www.youtube.com/live/hbdDwDC...
Another reminder to have your say on a future Honeybee Histories essay. Would you like to hear about Langstroth's hive, Charles Butler's famous beekeeping book, or Aristotle's influence on beekeeping! Let me know which you'd like to hear about! open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...
Have your say on a future Honeybee Histories essay
Exploring the history of beekeeping and honeybees across time and space.
open.substack.com
February 4, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Another reminder to have your say on a future Honeybee Histories essay. Would you like to hear about Langstroth's hive, Charles Butler's famous beekeeping book, or Aristotle's influence on beekeeping! Let me know which you'd like to hear about! open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...
Have your say on a future Honeybee Histories essay
open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...
open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...
Have your say on a future Honeybee Histories essay
Exploring the history of beekeeping and honeybees across time and space.
open.substack.com
February 2, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Have your say on a future Honeybee Histories essay
open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...
open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...
In today’s Honeybee Histories we return to Thomas Hill’s 1568 beekeeping manual and examine his third chapter where he dealt with honeybee reproduction. This was a time when no one understood how bees reproduced so much of what he argues is based on ancient claims! open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...
Thomas Hill - Chapter 3 - How Bees do naturally engender
Part 10 in a semi-regular series of essays examining the 1568, A Profitable Instruction of the perfect ordering of Bees, written by Thomas Hill.
open.substack.com
January 30, 2025 at 10:07 AM
In today’s Honeybee Histories we return to Thomas Hill’s 1568 beekeeping manual and examine his third chapter where he dealt with honeybee reproduction. This was a time when no one understood how bees reproduced so much of what he argues is based on ancient claims! open.substack.com/pub/honeybee...