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David Underdown

@davidunderdown.bsky.social

1.7K followers 1.9K following 1.2K posts

Data Engineer at The National Archives. Digital Preservation/Digital Archiving. Also cycling, bellringing, photography, choral singing, promming and much more

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David Edward Underdown was a historian of 17th-century English politics and culture and Professor Emeritus at Yale University. Born at Wells, Somerset, Underdown was educated at the Blue School and Exeter College, Oxford. The books Revel, Riot, and Rebellion and Fire from Heaven won prizes from the North American Conference on British Studies and the New England Historical Association. After retiring from Yale in 1996, Underdown wrote a well-received book about the history of cricket in the Hambledon era, Start of Play. .. more

Political science 34%

History 28%

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David Underdown @davidunderdown.bsky.social · 2h

#UnconfinedWalks very grey when I headed out just after 9am but had cleared up pretty well by the time I headed home again (still a little hazy)

View down towards Pen Ponds over grassland with some areas of bracken. A group of red deer in the mid-ground, mostly hinds with one stag ruling the roost. Several people gathered round (some rather too close) taking photos. All under a hazy blue sky

A maple glowing red, orange and green in bright afternoon sun

Reposted by David Underdown

Norfolk Record Office @norfolkro.bsky.social · 2h

On this day nurse #EdithCavell and #PhilipeBaucq were shot at dawn for helping allied soldiers to escape Belgium during the First World War. This is a letter from one of those soldiers.

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Reposted by Lesley A. Hall, Justin Lewis, David Underdown

David Nice @davidnice.bsky.social · 6h

Excellent article. Shameful that it's 'either football or opera'. observer.co.uk/news/columni...

It’s not opera that’s elitist but the idea that art is to...

The myth that culture has not been for the masses is debunked in a new book

observer.co.uk

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David Underdown @davidunderdown.bsky.social · 23h

Have opened a Sicilian Red while I cook Ottolenghi’s Ricotta and oregano meatballs #ConfinedCocktails

David Underdown @davidunderdown.bsky.social · 23h

Very. Though that wasn’t on the Roman Road section anyway

David Underdown @davidunderdown.bsky.social · 1d

I’d forgotten that, but it would be the usual distinction here

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David Underdown @davidunderdown.bsky.social · 1d

Managed shorts and short sleeves for my ride today, and sitting outside at lunch

David Underdown @davidunderdown.bsky.social · 1d

It’s a tart because it doesn’t have pastry on the top

David Underdown @davidunderdown.bsky.social · 1d

#UnconfinedWalks Ashtead Common, St John the Baptist Old Malden and finally Beverley Brook

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David Underdown @davidunderdown.bsky.social · 1d

#UnconfinedWalks M25 to the right and left of me. Stane Street ahead of me. Once it might haven Imperial Roman messengers heading between Rome and Londinium, today just me and a few walkers

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David Underdown @davidunderdown.bsky.social · 1d

#UnconfinedWalks unexpected llamas (or possibly some other variety of camelid). Views from Epsom Racecourse

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David Underdown @davidunderdown.bsky.social · 1d

#UnconfinedWalks (still in progress) along the Hogsmill (London’s only chalk stream). Millais painted the Death of Ophelia and the Hireling Shepherd somewhere around here

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David Underdown @davidunderdown.bsky.social · 1d

#UnconfinedWalks a late ride. The stag had wandered across the road in front of me a moment before

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David Underdown @davidunderdown.bsky.social · 2d

Look at the etymology - win means earn (as in breadwinner)

Reposted by Lesley A. Hall, David Underdown

joshuatj @joshuatj.digipres.club.ap.brid.gy · 2d

Woohoo! Great #digipres story @makethecatwise
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20251009-rescuing-knowledge-trapped-on-old-floppy-disks

A digital dark age? The people rescuing forgotten knowledge trapped on old floppy disks

From lectures by Stephen Hawking to the letters of British politician Neil Kinnock – it's a race against time to save the historical treasures locked away on old floppy disks.

www.bbc.com

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Reposted by David Underdown

mia @miaout.bsky.social · 2d

Join me at two events at the British Library later this month:

On 20 October, the British Library joins forces with Wikimedia UK and the Wikimedia Foundation to explore the impact of AI on open knowledge and the wider information landscape. In-person only! www.bl.uk/stories/blog...

Knowledge is Human: The Information Ecosystem in the age of AI

A summit to mark the role of human-created, open knowledge in the age of AI and our collective responsibility to safeguard knowledge integrity and sustainability.

www.bl.uk

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Reposted by David Underdown

Wheels for Wellbeing @wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk · 2d

In this clip, Wheels4Me loan recipient, Jeremy tells us how having access to cycling has helped him reconnect with his family & get back to doing things that were important to him.

Watch the full video on YouTube & find out how you can trial a cycle yourself at wheels4me.co.uk

youtu.be/q-ZnnXd3M2s

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David Underdown @davidunderdown.bsky.social · 2d

#UnconfinedWalks a lovely bright but cool morning today

A few trees dotted in grassland with a larger copse in the background under a bright blue sky

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David Underdown @davidunderdown.bsky.social · 3d

#UnconfinedWalks riding into the twilight again

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Reposted by Martin Paul Eve, David Underdown, Kathleen Kennedy

British History Online @bho.bsky.social · 4d

Bulletin of the John Rylands Library goes #OpenAccess

manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/blog/2025/10...

#History 🗃️

BJRL Goes Open Access: Professor Carsten Timmermann on Manchester's Medical History - Manchester University Press

BJRL 87:1 is now Open Access on Manchesterhive.

manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk

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Reposted by David Underdown

Janet 🇨🇦 @jansplanet.bsky.social · 4d

'"The factory is 9 years young & we've continued to grow. We've got the skill & the competency here to produce this fantastic product."
Mr Sykes praised the "pioneering spirit" of the team in Hull. "This is just another thing we can be incredibly proud of"'
#AbPoli #CdnPoli #FUCP #UnlockRenewables

Why we're turning North Sea wind turbines into luggage

Revolutionary recyclable blades at Dogger Bank offshore wind farm are a UK first.

www.bbc.com

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David Underdown @davidunderdown.bsky.social · 4d

#UnconfinedWalks back on the bike today

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Reposted by David Underdown

Carol Chiodo, Ph.D. @digitaldante.bsky.social · 4d

Whoa 📚 🏴‍☠️ www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...

The Pushkin job: unmasking the thieves behind an international rare books heist

The long read: Between 2022 and 2023, as many as 170 rare and valuable editions of Russian classics were stolen from libraries across Europe. Were the thieves merely low-level opportunists, or were bi...

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by David Underdown

Digital Scholarship @ British Library @bldigischol.bsky.social · 5d

We're so grateful to Sak for his work with @britishlibrary.bsky.social playbills - not only does blplaybills.org make them findable online, but we learn from his experiments!

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David Underdown @davidunderdown.bsky.social · 5d

When I was doing some research before moving to my current flat I found various articles bemoaning the original introduction of the 30 mph speed limit with many of the same arguments used about 20 mph limits today (eg means driving with eyes on speedo not road).

Reposted by David Underdown

Emilie K. M. Murphy @emiliekmmurphy.bsky.social · 5d

Exciting! Congrats @musicheritageplace.bsky.social #earlymodern 🗃️ www.theguardian.com/music/2025/o...

‘Almost unheard of’: experts find more music by English composer Henry Purcell

Printed score and keyboard manuscript by Purcell, who died in 1695, unearthed in Worcestershire and Norfolk

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by David Underdown

Angela Puggioni @angelafromdpc.bsky.social · 5d

👋🏾 #DPC members! You are invited to join our next Databases Special Interest Group meeting on Tuesday 14 October, 10:00-11:00 UTC. Read more and sign up here: buff.ly/FOjAO2d

Reposted by David Underdown

Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social · 5d

gold-plated FOMO in action

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Reposted by John Foot, David Underdown

Andy Marshall @fotofacade.bsky.social · 5d

🚴John Betjeman said that it was worth cycling 40 miles in a headwind to see them.
🪽The early C16th Angel Roof at St Wendreda in Cambs is adorned with over 100 oaken angels.

View along the nave of St. Wendreda’s Church, March, showing the magnificent medieval angel roof with carved wooden angels soaring above the slender stone arcades.

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David Underdown @davidunderdown.bsky.social · 5d

He was a big lad and there were several young pretenders around to deter

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