Mythical Britain
@mythicalbritain.bsky.social
780 followers 380 following 590 posts
Michael Smith. Author, printmaker, translator and illustrator of medieval romances. Whimsy, art. Formerly with Unbound. PhD research University of York. Follows the Blackburn Rovers. www.mythicalbritain.co.uk.
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mythicalbritain.bsky.social
Hidden highlights of a Herefordshire church; an incised effigy of a knight, sandwiched between a pew and a wall at St Peter’s, Bromyard for #TombTuesday
Effigy of a knight in a church
mythicalbritain.bsky.social
Caped Collection? I reckon it was The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table which most likely tipped the balance in favour of this… www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Prog rock pioneer 'overwhelmed' by Isle of Man stamp issue
Celebrated rock pianist Rick Wakeman says he is
www.bbc.co.uk
mythicalbritain.bsky.social
Finishing touches now made to the key block for the 2025 Mythical Britain Christmas Card! Next step, the colour blocks before printing begins. More Christmas ideas at www.mythicalbritain.co.uk/shop
Linocut print being made, showing block and cutting tools
mythicalbritain.bsky.social
Square pegs in a round whole? Dovecote-tastic!
dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social
Aren't medieval dovecotes brilliant?
A medieval dovecote I stumbled upon on a walk near Padstow in Cornwall.
mythicalbritain.bsky.social
Retracing steps - a couple of early linocuts from over a decade ago. The one of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is what started me on the long journey of translating, editing and illustrating medieval literature. What a journey it’s been!
mythicalbritain.bsky.social
Fond memories of being a pillion passenger on a 250 MZ descending Sutton Bank and also on a 350 Triumph many years ago. It was a little hair-raising; especially in the case of the Triumph, when I realised at journey’s end that the seat was not attached to the frame…
mythicalbritain.bsky.social
Gawain as imagined by creatives through time - an assessment of different artists’ approaches to the magnificence of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. An excellent resource!
guildmedmak.bsky.social
Those who teach and research Sir Gawain and the Green Knight will be interested in this fantastic research hub concerned with historic and contemporary creative responses to the late medieval poem. They're also looking for contributors, so do get in contact with @michaeledenart.bsky.social! 👇
Representing Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Representing Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a research hub concerned with historic and contemporary creative responses to the late medieval poem, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (circa 1370). Illu...
www.representing-sir-gawain-and-the-green-knight.com
mythicalbritain.bsky.social
It’s like Farage - all mouth and no trousers - while a true Brit is understated and tolerant.
mythicalbritain.bsky.social
These are nice!
jackalopeart.bsky.social
for a new zine...

#illustration #zine #folklore #drawing
six drawings in ink and pencil of either wolves with human faces, or people wearing wolf costumes. they are different shades of green and brown, laid out on green paper.
mythicalbritain.bsky.social
A door beneath a window below a table of grotesques. Some of the many fascinating features which make St Michael’s, Stanton Harcourt, so worthy of a visit. #AdoorableThursday
mythicalbritain.bsky.social
Strapping workmanship!
johnevigar.bsky.social
This door at Eastwood church in Essex dates from about 1150, which is extremely rare. The hinge has an inscription which (more or less) says ‘blessings on those who come and go’.
mythicalbritain.bsky.social
A view towards The Bongs, from Crosfield Bridge above Lymm Dam, Cheshire. Bongs is thought to be a corruption of the Middle English “bonks” (slopes or hill/valley sides; possibly wooded), a word which appears in a number of northern Middle English texts including Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
Trees in narrow river valley viewed from a bridge.
mythicalbritain.bsky.social
Today’s lesson: talk to people. An NHS carer was chatting to me today and spotted one of my Middle English texts on the settee. Turns out he was an admirer of Eric Ravilious and a collector of rare books. The world is a richer place when we see, talk and listen. Nothing is what it might seem.
Eric Ravilious painting of Long man of Wilmington
mythicalbritain.bsky.social
Damaged but still delightful in all its well-cut detail; the face of Sir Philip Thornbury (d.1456) at Little Munden, Herts. You can almost feel the curling locks of his hair and see the jewels of his circlet, sparkling in the autumn light. Wonderful!
Face of a knight on a medieval tomb chest
mythicalbritain.bsky.social
Calming cowscape after a night of crashing storms.
Cows in a field
mythicalbritain.bsky.social
Reminds me of an abandoned house at the back of us when I was a boy: rusting large 1950s car in the garage, billiard table with balls, stick telephone and a pianola with reels of music. It was like the family had just upped and left. Converted to a new house in the 1980s.
mythicalbritain.bsky.social
This is lovely; I particularly like the castle’s slight resemblance to Bodiam. We need peace right now and an end to barbarism.
jdmccafferty.bsky.social
2 Oct 1518: the Treaty of Universal Peace, designed by Cardinal Wolsey, aka the Treaty of #London is signed in #London #otd - comprehending most of the European powers (A dove, c. 1225 - c. 1250 Rijksmuseum)
mythicalbritain.bsky.social
Taylor Slow then? Clearly took several ages to get there.
mythicalbritain.bsky.social
Different ages and a door down in Herefordshire. A Norman doorway at St Peter’s at Bromyard with what seems to be a tympanum cut away in later years. The figure of St Peter above the door may pre-date the arch itself. #AdoorableThursday
Norman doorway showing round arch and St Peter figure above archway
mythicalbritain.bsky.social
A tour through the land of Logres in the footsteps of Sir Gawain!
rhunedhel.bsky.social
Editors can submit 2 pieces of "creative nonfiction" to #BestOfTheNet.

Forgotten Ground Regained's 1st nomination in the category:
@mythicalbritain.bsky.social's "The Modern Landscape of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight".

alliteration.net/info/the-landscape-of-sggk/ #BOTN #Gawain #GreenKnight
The Landscape of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
A tour through the Englisha and Welsh countryside that forms the backdrop to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
alliteration.net
mythicalbritain.bsky.social
Love these old images!
chris-bh.bsky.social
A little #HillfortsWednesday quiz for you?

Can you name each of the hillforts depicted in these antiquarian illustrations?
Some far easier than others
Bonus points if you can name the artist or book.
Thousands of (non-redeemable) internet points to be won!!
Clue: they are all in #Dorset
mythicalbritain.bsky.social
Castles in the landscape
handhyorkshire.bsky.social
After 1485, Sandal Castle fell into disrepair. Surveys in 1538, 1545, 1564, and 1565–66 documented its increasing decay, By the 17th century, most of the stonework was in ruins. Briefly re-fortified during the Civil Wars, the castle was surrendered OTD 1 October 1645. A
Sandal castle near Wakefield