Christopher LONG
@calong.bsky.social
Journalist, Editor & Foreign Correspondent | Lives in Normandy | Vernacular, church and hall-house architecture | Volunteer archaeologist | Timber & clay hall builder | Historian of C19th Chiot & Phanariot diaspora | Farmer. <ChristopherLong.co.uk> 🦋2023
To all those who kindly follow me and to all those I follow and who enrich my life, I wish a very Happy Christmas, a fruitful New Year – and above all Peace. Christopher
December 19, 2025 at 8:45 PM
To all those who kindly follow me and to all those I follow and who enrich my life, I wish a very Happy Christmas, a fruitful New Year – and above all Peace. Christopher
Reposted by Christopher LONG
#FindsFriday: A 'dragonesque' brooch from the British Museum. Its belly is inlaid with coloured enamel, and the pin (missing) would have fitted on the back between the two necks. These wonderfully sinuous brooches were popular in the decades after the Roman invasion.
#RomanBritain
📸 me
#RomanBritain
📸 me
December 19, 2025 at 1:57 PM
#FindsFriday: A 'dragonesque' brooch from the British Museum. Its belly is inlaid with coloured enamel, and the pin (missing) would have fitted on the back between the two necks. These wonderfully sinuous brooches were popular in the decades after the Roman invasion.
#RomanBritain
📸 me
#RomanBritain
📸 me
Lovely!
The ruins of Chaalis Abbey (in Fontaine-Chaalis, Oise, France, in the snow last year. #RuinedPrioryFriday
December 19, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Lovely!
Reposted by Christopher LONG
#FontsOnFriday Mid C12th Norman font made from Caen stone from St Peter and St Paul, Coleshill, North Warwickshire.
December 19, 2025 at 10:59 AM
#FontsOnFriday Mid C12th Norman font made from Caen stone from St Peter and St Paul, Coleshill, North Warwickshire.
Fascinating!
It’s always worth checking behind the bins in #York, the remains of a 12th century Norman house just off Stonegate
December 18, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Fascinating!
Reposted by Christopher LONG
A change of scenery was called for today, so I decided to take a trip to Canterbury. I’ve never visited the Cathedral before, and was very moved by the history (some of which I knew, but other elements I learned).
December 17, 2025 at 7:55 PM
A change of scenery was called for today, so I decided to take a trip to Canterbury. I’ve never visited the Cathedral before, and was very moved by the history (some of which I knew, but other elements I learned).
Reposted by Christopher LONG
#Woodensday #ReliefWednesday
Quite breath taking.
St Peter's Chapel: originally c.1200 great hall for Durham's powerful Prince Bishops @ Auckland Castle.
Amazing ceiling has arms of Bishop Cosin who converted to chapel after monarchy restored.
#AdventAngels as a bonus
Restored by aucklandproject.org
Quite breath taking.
St Peter's Chapel: originally c.1200 great hall for Durham's powerful Prince Bishops @ Auckland Castle.
Amazing ceiling has arms of Bishop Cosin who converted to chapel after monarchy restored.
#AdventAngels as a bonus
Restored by aucklandproject.org
December 17, 2025 at 1:54 PM
#Woodensday #ReliefWednesday
Quite breath taking.
St Peter's Chapel: originally c.1200 great hall for Durham's powerful Prince Bishops @ Auckland Castle.
Amazing ceiling has arms of Bishop Cosin who converted to chapel after monarchy restored.
#AdventAngels as a bonus
Restored by aucklandproject.org
Quite breath taking.
St Peter's Chapel: originally c.1200 great hall for Durham's powerful Prince Bishops @ Auckland Castle.
Amazing ceiling has arms of Bishop Cosin who converted to chapel after monarchy restored.
#AdventAngels as a bonus
Restored by aucklandproject.org
Reposted by Christopher LONG
The Dutch sold live eels from ships on the London Thames for 600 years, only leaving in 1938.
But by the 1930s they weren't transporting eels in these ships anymore. The ships stayed parked on the Thames as an antiquarian storefront & the Dutch refilled them from modern tankers.
🗃️🧪
But by the 1930s they weren't transporting eels in these ships anymore. The ships stayed parked on the Thames as an antiquarian storefront & the Dutch refilled them from modern tankers.
🗃️🧪
December 17, 2025 at 6:12 PM
The Dutch sold live eels from ships on the London Thames for 600 years, only leaving in 1938.
But by the 1930s they weren't transporting eels in these ships anymore. The ships stayed parked on the Thames as an antiquarian storefront & the Dutch refilled them from modern tankers.
🗃️🧪
But by the 1930s they weren't transporting eels in these ships anymore. The ships stayed parked on the Thames as an antiquarian storefront & the Dutch refilled them from modern tankers.
🗃️🧪
Reposted by Christopher LONG
🔆 If architecture, history, photography and deep time stir something in you, like here at St Mary’s, Breamore, join me on my ❄️ winter travels in my camper van as I post out the ✨wondrous✨ each Friday. Free to subscribe 👉 digest.andymarshall.co
December 9, 2025 at 7:44 AM
🔆 If architecture, history, photography and deep time stir something in you, like here at St Mary’s, Breamore, join me on my ❄️ winter travels in my camper van as I post out the ✨wondrous✨ each Friday. Free to subscribe 👉 digest.andymarshall.co
Reposted by Christopher LONG
It's nice when a new #Roman practice camp pops up out of the woodwork, even when largely destroyed by modern (less than fifty years old) earthworks. This one is nice in that a couple of clavicular entrances can be seen.
December 14, 2025 at 6:36 PM
It's nice when a new #Roman practice camp pops up out of the woodwork, even when largely destroyed by modern (less than fifty years old) earthworks. This one is nice in that a couple of clavicular entrances can be seen.
And yet again, just as you get the fire extinguishers neatly framed for the shot, a font photo-bombs the event and wrecks the image… so frustrating…
Haddon Hall Chapel favourites for @horatioforever.bsky.social...
Medieval wall paintings, and not one but TWO fonts for #FontsonFriday 😂
🧯🧯
Medieval wall paintings, and not one but TWO fonts for #FontsonFriday 😂
🧯🧯
December 12, 2025 at 9:36 PM
And yet again, just as you get the fire extinguishers neatly framed for the shot, a font photo-bombs the event and wrecks the image… so frustrating…
Funny you should say that because I braved the cold to look at one our local Romanesque churches today and was astonished how light it was through tiny windows. Far better than in summer! Kate, I’m going to become a more frequent winter-woolly chilly-church crawler…
I think that sunny winter afternoons are the best time to visit churches - that low light streaming in, illuminating the interior, really makes for a special experience 🤩
This is the wonderful All Saints & St. Andrew’s, in Kingston, Cambridgeshire, today - one of my favourites 🥰
This is the wonderful All Saints & St. Andrew’s, in Kingston, Cambridgeshire, today - one of my favourites 🥰
December 11, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Funny you should say that because I braved the cold to look at one our local Romanesque churches today and was astonished how light it was through tiny windows. Far better than in summer! Kate, I’m going to become a more frequent winter-woolly chilly-church crawler…
This is almost on my doorstep, Soph!
Hambye Abbey in Normandy. The abbey was founded in 1145 and dissolved during the French Revolution. The abbey is open to the public. #RuinedPrioryFriday
December 10, 2025 at 5:11 PM
This is almost on my doorstep, Soph!
Reposted by Christopher LONG
🏺 Top tip for British Museum visitors: go across the court, up rotunda stairs, cross bridge into upper floor, head past crowds aiming for Egypt and Mesopotamia, and go straight to Rooms 50 and 51 where the most stunning array of glories from later prehistory await you!
December 10, 2025 at 11:22 AM
🏺 Top tip for British Museum visitors: go across the court, up rotunda stairs, cross bridge into upper floor, head past crowds aiming for Egypt and Mesopotamia, and go straight to Rooms 50 and 51 where the most stunning array of glories from later prehistory await you!
Reposted by Christopher LONG
✨From the archives: St Mary’s, Breamore in Hampshire, is one of the most complete late Anglo-Saxon churches we have — a building that’s held its ground for over a millennium. Here I photographed it with the Elizabethan Breamore House behind it, two eras folded into one view.
December 9, 2025 at 7:44 AM
✨From the archives: St Mary’s, Breamore in Hampshire, is one of the most complete late Anglo-Saxon churches we have — a building that’s held its ground for over a millennium. Here I photographed it with the Elizabethan Breamore House behind it, two eras folded into one view.
Reposted by Christopher LONG
The Anglo-Saxon crypt of St. Wystan’s Church at Repton in Derbyshire. Dating to the 8th century, the crypt served as a royal mausoleum for two Mercian kings, as well as the resting place of St. Wystan. 📸 My own. #SaxonSunday #Repton #Derbyshire
December 7, 2025 at 7:27 AM
The Anglo-Saxon crypt of St. Wystan’s Church at Repton in Derbyshire. Dating to the 8th century, the crypt served as a royal mausoleum for two Mercian kings, as well as the resting place of St. Wystan. 📸 My own. #SaxonSunday #Repton #Derbyshire
Reposted by Christopher LONG
An unrecognised #Neolithic long barrow near Whitsbury, #Hampshire? Shown as a substantial barrow on the Old Series OS Map NW of Whitsbury, recent cropmarks suggest a flanking ditch. Read the full details here: wp.me/pgKiQE-1d or for a summary see this thread 1/7 ...
December 6, 2025 at 11:05 AM
An unrecognised #Neolithic long barrow near Whitsbury, #Hampshire? Shown as a substantial barrow on the Old Series OS Map NW of Whitsbury, recent cropmarks suggest a flanking ditch. Read the full details here: wp.me/pgKiQE-1d or for a summary see this thread 1/7 ...
How do we know that she represents the eroticization of a conquered people?
This small bronze figurine of a naked Gaulish woman projects great vulnerability - which was certainly the point, but not in a good way. She's identified by her torc and represents the eroticization of a conquered people. 🏺
Found in the River Seine, Paris. Roman, 100-200 CE. #BritishMuseum
📸 me
Found in the River Seine, Paris. Roman, 100-200 CE. #BritishMuseum
📸 me
December 6, 2025 at 5:53 AM
How do we know that she represents the eroticization of a conquered people?
Reposted by Christopher LONG
Encounter with Tudor panelling in Cambridge this evening. Some really unusual imagery.
December 5, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Encounter with Tudor panelling in Cambridge this evening. Some really unusual imagery.
How much do Art Nouveau swirly designs owe to decoration like this - or did they develop quite independently?
The Wandsworth Shield, a 2nd century BC #Celtic bronze boss found in the River Thames on display at the British Museum.
#Archaeology #History #artwork #art #FindsFriday
#Archaeology #History #artwork #art #FindsFriday
December 5, 2025 at 3:02 PM
How much do Art Nouveau swirly designs owe to decoration like this - or did they develop quite independently?
Reposted by Christopher LONG
A stripped back enfilade!
The now bare brick innards of Sutton Scarsdale Hall, Derbyshire…although large sections of its previous decorative plaster interior can still be found clinging on in one room 😀
The now bare brick innards of Sutton Scarsdale Hall, Derbyshire…although large sections of its previous decorative plaster interior can still be found clinging on in one room 😀
December 4, 2025 at 4:08 PM
A stripped back enfilade!
The now bare brick innards of Sutton Scarsdale Hall, Derbyshire…although large sections of its previous decorative plaster interior can still be found clinging on in one room 😀
The now bare brick innards of Sutton Scarsdale Hall, Derbyshire…although large sections of its previous decorative plaster interior can still be found clinging on in one room 😀
Reposted by Christopher LONG
As I think I asked last time I saw this porch on BlueSky, does anybody know the purpose of the two notches in the elbow bracing forming the arch?
The 14th century timber-framed south porch at St Mary's Church, Kempley, Gloucestershire. 📸 My own. #Woodensday #Kempley #Gloucestershire
December 4, 2025 at 1:10 PM
As I think I asked last time I saw this porch on BlueSky, does anybody know the purpose of the two notches in the elbow bracing forming the arch?
Reposted by Christopher LONG
The bailey banks still rise sharply, and the defensive approaches, most clearly on the north-west side are easy to trace. Once part of Roger de Busli’s 11th-century manor and set to command the ford at Strafforth Sands, the site was already fading into memory by
December 4, 2025 at 5:12 AM
The bailey banks still rise sharply, and the defensive approaches, most clearly on the north-west side are easy to trace. Once part of Roger de Busli’s 11th-century manor and set to command the ford at Strafforth Sands, the site was already fading into memory by