Will Webster
@willwritesword.bsky.social
Lover of history, geography, bad jokes and lists. I write about most of them in rockpeoplerivers.substack.com.
Here to share the best bits I learn along the way – and do a lot of learning in return.
Here to share the best bits I learn along the way – and do a lot of learning in return.
It’s said you’re either a beach person or a mountain person.
Well, I say you can also be a Kerry person and have both.
Well, I say you can also be a Kerry person and have both.
September 3, 2025 at 11:14 AM
It’s said you’re either a beach person or a mountain person.
Well, I say you can also be a Kerry person and have both.
Well, I say you can also be a Kerry person and have both.
And now I’m onto this.
A slight change of direction, but I don’t know if I’ve encountered a book more up my street.
Recommended by Ryan Holiday, so already off to a very good start before getting to page one.
A slight change of direction, but I don’t know if I’ve encountered a book more up my street.
Recommended by Ryan Holiday, so already off to a very good start before getting to page one.
September 2, 2025 at 11:22 AM
And now I’m onto this.
A slight change of direction, but I don’t know if I’ve encountered a book more up my street.
Recommended by Ryan Holiday, so already off to a very good start before getting to page one.
A slight change of direction, but I don’t know if I’ve encountered a book more up my street.
Recommended by Ryan Holiday, so already off to a very good start before getting to page one.
Tree of the day – at South London’s best kept secret, Beckenham Place Park.
August 17, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Tree of the day – at South London’s best kept secret, Beckenham Place Park.
*30 seconds into the book title brainstorm
"Yeah, that'll do."
"Yeah, that'll do."
July 23, 2025 at 4:12 PM
*30 seconds into the book title brainstorm
"Yeah, that'll do."
"Yeah, that'll do."
Perhaps the greatest present a boy could get on his 32nd birthday
July 18, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Perhaps the greatest present a boy could get on his 32nd birthday
A pride of cats!
Or technically – as I’ve just learned – a ‘clowder’
Or technically – as I’ve just learned – a ‘clowder’
July 15, 2025 at 7:15 AM
A pride of cats!
Or technically – as I’ve just learned – a ‘clowder’
Or technically – as I’ve just learned – a ‘clowder’
As you move from the Scottish Lowlands to the Highlands, you cross the Highland Boundary Fault.
Splitting the country from coast to coast, the fault line marks where the Caledonian Orogeny happened – one of the major tectonic events that stitched Pangaea together.
Splitting the country from coast to coast, the fault line marks where the Caledonian Orogeny happened – one of the major tectonic events that stitched Pangaea together.
July 6, 2025 at 9:37 AM
As you move from the Scottish Lowlands to the Highlands, you cross the Highland Boundary Fault.
Splitting the country from coast to coast, the fault line marks where the Caledonian Orogeny happened – one of the major tectonic events that stitched Pangaea together.
Splitting the country from coast to coast, the fault line marks where the Caledonian Orogeny happened – one of the major tectonic events that stitched Pangaea together.
If you've ever been lucky enough to travel north through Scotland, you'll know that eventually, the landscape shifts into something far wilder.
It feels like the ground beneath you has changed altogether.
That's because it really has!
It feels like the ground beneath you has changed altogether.
That's because it really has!
July 6, 2025 at 9:37 AM
If you've ever been lucky enough to travel north through Scotland, you'll know that eventually, the landscape shifts into something far wilder.
It feels like the ground beneath you has changed altogether.
That's because it really has!
It feels like the ground beneath you has changed altogether.
That's because it really has!
Conditions were tough out there but we'll take that
July 4, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Conditions were tough out there but we'll take that
Is there anything more British Summer Time than scorched earth scenes like this?
July 2, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Is there anything more British Summer Time than scorched earth scenes like this?
What/who started your love of history?
I'll go first 👇
I'll go first 👇
June 30, 2025 at 7:58 AM
What/who started your love of history?
I'll go first 👇
I'll go first 👇
Fast-forward to 2022 and Dow’s pipedream finally became reality with the opening of the Elizabeth line.
Yes, Dow’s 40s dream was Crossrail.
Yes, Dow’s 40s dream was Crossrail.
June 27, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Fast-forward to 2022 and Dow’s pipedream finally became reality with the opening of the Elizabeth line.
Yes, Dow’s 40s dream was Crossrail.
Yes, Dow’s 40s dream was Crossrail.
(I’d like to think Francis Bourgeois has a poster of George Dow in his bedroom.)
June 27, 2025 at 7:40 AM
(I’d like to think Francis Bourgeois has a poster of George Dow in his bedroom.)
In mid-20th Century Britain, George Dow is making a name for himself as a man of many train-related talents.
He was first and foremost a long-serving railway employee, plus a writer, historian and drafter.
He even pioneered a design style that inspired Harry Beck’s iconic London Underground map.
He was first and foremost a long-serving railway employee, plus a writer, historian and drafter.
He even pioneered a design style that inspired Harry Beck’s iconic London Underground map.
June 27, 2025 at 7:40 AM
In mid-20th Century Britain, George Dow is making a name for himself as a man of many train-related talents.
He was first and foremost a long-serving railway employee, plus a writer, historian and drafter.
He even pioneered a design style that inspired Harry Beck’s iconic London Underground map.
He was first and foremost a long-serving railway employee, plus a writer, historian and drafter.
He even pioneered a design style that inspired Harry Beck’s iconic London Underground map.
And now I'm about to get my head into this.
First impression: I love the cover.
First impression: I love the cover.
June 26, 2025 at 8:01 AM
And now I'm about to get my head into this.
First impression: I love the cover.
First impression: I love the cover.
The first – for anyone interested – is this.
Which is also probably the thing I've gifted to the most people.
Although I've never managed to find an edition as nice as mine!
Which is also probably the thing I've gifted to the most people.
Although I've never managed to find an edition as nice as mine!
June 26, 2025 at 7:56 AM
The first – for anyone interested – is this.
Which is also probably the thing I've gifted to the most people.
Although I've never managed to find an edition as nice as mine!
Which is also probably the thing I've gifted to the most people.
Although I've never managed to find an edition as nice as mine!
I don't know if this makes me a basic geography bitch.
(Or what it says about my reading habits.)
But this is now the second non-fiction book I've felt compelled to re-read in my 31 years.
(Or what it says about my reading habits.)
But this is now the second non-fiction book I've felt compelled to re-read in my 31 years.
June 26, 2025 at 7:51 AM
I don't know if this makes me a basic geography bitch.
(Or what it says about my reading habits.)
But this is now the second non-fiction book I've felt compelled to re-read in my 31 years.
(Or what it says about my reading habits.)
But this is now the second non-fiction book I've felt compelled to re-read in my 31 years.