Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Tim Hitchcock @timhitchcock.bsky.social · 11h

Just listening to @richardjansell.bsky.social talking eloquently about servants and their journals on the grand tour @long18thsem.bsky.social @ihrlibrary.bsky.social

A photo of a seminar room with an audience facing forward. The speaker is at the front behind a podium

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 1d

'A nationwide survey commissioned by Henry VIII on the property and wealth of 16th century England and Wales is to be made publicly accessible for the first time.

The survey, known as the Valor Ecclesiasticus, set out to discover the financial state of the Church'.

National project launched to rediscover Henry VIII’s long-forgotten ‘Tudor Domesday Book’

A nationwide survey commissioned by Henry VIII on the property and wealth of 16th century England and Wales is to be made publicly accessible for the first time. The survey, known as the Valor Ecclesi...

news.exeter.ac.uk

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Daniel F Gosling @thegozfather.bsky.social · 6d

If you missed my @long18thsem.bsky.social talk last week on Lord Mansfield and the Chevalier d'Eon, fret not, as the recording is now up on the IHR website. www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

A Question of Sex? Assessing Lord Mansfield’s “judgment” on the sex of the Chevalier d’Eon

British History in the Long 18th Century Seminar

www.history.ac.uk

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Brodie Waddell @brodiewaddell.bsky.social · 6d

Who did what in early modern England?

New #OpenAccess book, 'The Experience of Work in Early Modern England' by @jwhittle.bsky.social, @markhailwood.bsky.social, @hkrobb.bsky.social & @aucointaylor.bsky.social, based on thousands of #EarlyModern court depositions 🗃️

Read it: doi.org/10.1017/9781...

This book applies the innovative work-task approach to the history of work, which captures the contribution of all workers and types of work to the early modern economy. Drawing on tens of thousands of court depositions, the authors analyse the individual tasks that made up everyday work for women and men, shedding new light on the gender division of labour, and the ways in which time, space, age and marital status shaped sixteenth and seventeenth-century working life. Combining qualitative and quantitative analysis, the book deepens our understanding of the preindustrial economy, and calls for us to rethink not only who did what, but also the implications of these findings for major debates about structural change, the nature and extent of paid work, and what has been lost as well as gained over the past three centuries of economic development. This title is also available as open access on Cambridge Core.

Cover of Whittle, Jane, Mark Hailwood, Hannah Robb, and Taylor Aucoin. The Experience of Work in Early Modern England. of Cambridge Studies in Economic History - Second Series. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2025.

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Tim Hitchcock @timhitchcock.bsky.social · 6d

And it is always a sub-set of people. It is not even like terfs are arguing for single sex spaces for all 'sexes'. As a result it ends up being a direct attack on universal human rights, in favour of 'rights' for privileged sub-groups (race comes next)

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Tim Hitchcock @timhitchcock.bsky.social · 6d

Great to see the recording of Dan Gosling's excellent talk on 'A Question of Sex? Assessing Lord Mansfield’s “judgment” on the sex of the Chevalier d’Eon' @long18thsem.bsky.social posted on the @ihrlibrary.bsky.social website. www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

A Question of Sex? Assessing Lord Mansfield’s “judgment” on the sex of the Chevalier d’Eon

British History in the Long 18th Century Seminar

www.history.ac.uk

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 8d

The Wolfson History Prize shortlist for 2025 is announced. Good reading.

The Wolfson History Prize - Celebrating Outstanding History

The Wolfson History Prize is awarded annually to promote and recognise outstanding history written for a general audience.

www.wolfsonhistoryprize.org.uk

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Tim Hitchcock @timhitchcock.bsky.social · 9d

Really looking forward to Richard Ansel's talk on servants during the Grand Tour next Wednesday @long18thsem.bsky.social Here is a quick taster: www.tiktok.com/@long18thcen...

Join Dr Richard Ansell (Birkbeck) for a free online seminar. 5:30-7:30pm London time on Wed. Oct 8 via zoom. “Travel Journals and Other Traces of Servants on the Grand Tour”. From valets to maids, dis...

TikTok video by Long 18th Century Seminar IHR

www.tiktok.com

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 9d

'A steep decline in the number of Chinese students studying abroad is “highly likely” in the next decade but universities reliant on these enrolments for survival remain mostly oblivious to the scale of the coming challenge, experts have said.'

Collapse in Chinese student numbers ‘highly likely’ by 2040

Long-term trends including declining birth rate mean number of students looking to study abroad set to be much lower in only 10 years’ time

www.timeshighereducation.com

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 12d

Eighteenth-century precedents and 21st-century threats.

Vaccination and the price of forgetting

History shows how dangerous anti-vax sentiment can prove

www.ft.com

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Kevin Wilbraham @kpw1453.bsky.social · 12d

The bronze head of the goddess Sulis Minerva which was discovered in 1727 during the construction of sewer under Stall Street in Bath. Now part of the museum collections at The Roman Baths in Bath. 📸 My own. #FindsFriday #RomanBritain #Bath

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Karin Wulf @kawulf.bsky.social · 14d

It didn't occur to me that one of the problems with getting older is witnessing the culture debate and process the same things over and over. Like, as a historian it's fascinating and useful to analyze these continuities. As a human it's exhausting.

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Daniel F Gosling @thegozfather.bsky.social · 16d

This Wednesday 24 September, I'm speaking @long18thsem.bsky.social on the various "judgments" made on the Chevalier d'Eon's sex in 1777. To whet your appetite, here's the title slide, and you can register for this (free) hybrid talk via the link. www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

Title slide of a PowerPoint presentation

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 16d

History curious? You don't need to be in London (or the UK) to attend many Institute of Historical Research seminars, although if you're in Bloomsbury you'll enjoy doing so. Most are hybrid (online/in person). They're free, usually fortnightly and open to the public.

Starting this week:

Events

Stay up to date with the upcoming events organised or hosted by the Institute of Historical Research

www.history.ac.uk

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Tim Hitchcock @timhitchcock.bsky.social · 16d

Very much looking forward to Dan Gosling (TNA) speaking on 'A Question of Sex? Assessing Lord Mansfield’s “judgment” on the sex of the Chevalier d’Eon' this Wed. @long18thsem.bsky.social @ihrlibrary.bsky.social All welcome online or in person, but please register: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

A Question of Sex? Assessing Lord Mansfield’s “judgment” on the sex of the Chevalier d’Eon

www.history.ac.uk

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 17d

'The High Seas Treaty received its 60th ratification by Morocco on Friday, meaning that it will now take effect from January.

The deal, which has been two decades in the making, will pave the way for international waters to be placed into marine protected areas.'

Key oceans treaty crosses critical threshold to come into force

Sixty states have ratified a global treaty to protect the oceans - it will become law in January.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 17d

£77,816 er annum. What an exciting post.

National Museum Directors' Council @nmdcnews.bsky.social · 17d

Vacancy for Head of Research, Archives and Libraries - British Museum. Deadline 29 September 2025. bmrecruit.ciphr-irecruit.com//templates/C... #MuseumJobs

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 21d

'The European Research Council (ERC) has announced changes to its grant eligibility criteria for the 2027 calls for proposals, with scholars able to apply for a starting grant directly after finishing their PhD.' 1/3

Scholars eligible for grants straight after PhD under ERC rules

Researchers will be able to apply for starting grant directly after PhD, while eligibility windows for grants will overlap, European Research Council says

www.timeshighereducation.com

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Daniel F Gosling @thegozfather.bsky.social · 21d

Next week (24 Sept) I'm speaking at the @long18thsem.bsky.social on the English court cases relating to the Chevalier d'Eon, and whether they really made a legal judgment of d'Eon's sex (they did not, but don't you want to find out what was actually going on). www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

A Question of Sex? Assessing Lord Mansfield’s “judgment” on the sex of the Chevalier d’Eon

www.history.ac.uk

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Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 23d

We must unite against those who seek to divide us.

I know many people, particularly from London's diverse communities, are feeling extremely worried following the events this weekend.

It takes me back to how I felt growing up in the ’70s and ’80s, when
far-right political parties marched on our streets.

The leaders of the far-right are once again attempting to hijack our flag, with minorities being intimidated and fear, hatred and division being sown.

As Londoners, and as proud Brits, we must unite to reject the far-right
– just as we have many times before.

But it’s going to take a huge effort from us all – from people of all races and backgrounds, who are willing to stand up for our British values of equality, inclusion and mutual respect.

As Mayor, I'll continue to do everything I can to challenge the far-right and all those who peddle the politics of fear and division.

I urge other politicians and Londoners to do the same.

MAYOR OF LONDON, SADIQ KHAN

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Tim Hitchcock @timhitchcock.bsky.social · 23d

Next week Daniel Gosling will be talking in-person and online about 'A Question of Sex? Assessing Lord Mansfield’s “judgment” on the sex of the Chevalier d’Eon'. Here is a brief taster!

www.tiktok.com/@long18thcen...

Live hybrid seminar 5:30-7:30 (London - see link in bio) 24 September 2025. Dr Daniel F. Gosling, ‘A question of Sex? Assessing Lord Mansfield’s “judgment” of the sex of Chevalier d’Eon’. In July 1777...

TikTok video by Long 18th Century Seminar IHR

www.tiktok.com

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 28d

'Von der Leyen...announced...a global health resilience initiative to combat disinformation and reinforce evidence-based public health.... [and] a broader European Centre for Democratic Resilience, which will provide “capacity to monitor and detect information manipulation and disinformation”.' Good

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 28d

Von der Leyen unveils plan for knowledge ‘fifth freedom’.

Europe will “step up where others stepped away” in research, Commission president’s annual speech declares.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...

Von der Leyen unveils plan for knowledge ‘fifth freedom’ - Research Professional News

Europe will “step up where others stepped away” in research, Commission president’s annual speech declares

www.researchprofessionalnews.com

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Ryan Heuser @heuser.bsky.social · 28d

ICYMI: We are hiring an Associate/Full Professor in Digital Humanities at @camdighum.bsky.social. App deadline Sep 21. The position is for Deputy Director of CDH, and eventually Director on rotational basis. Please circulate/apply and let me know if you have any Qs! www.cdh.cam.ac.uk/about/news/n...

Now Hiring: Associate Professor/Professor in Digital Humanities - CDH

Cambridge Digital Humanities (CDH) is currently recruiting for an Associate Professor/Professor in Digital Humanities from January 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. The appointment may be made a...

www.cdh.cam.ac.uk

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Rebecca Spang @rlspang.bsky.social · Sep 6

“Can we please just listen to the scientists and credentialed experts…defend the scientific method…”

P. David Polly @pdpolly.bsky.social · Sep 6

@ellecordova.bsky.social youtube.com/shorts/AYm9w...

For our scientists

YouTube video by Elle Cordova

youtube.com

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · Sep 2

Redundancies and closures mooted at the University of Leicester in Schools of Education, Chemistry and Geography, Geology and the Environment plus disciplines of Modern Languages, Film Studies and History.

Shrinking HE provision shrinks opportunity and exacerbates regional inequality.

City university set for ‘extensive’ strike action

Union members have overwhelmingly supported industrial action

www.leicestermercury.co.uk

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