Dr Richard Asquith
@richardasquith.bsky.social
1K followers 590 following 250 posts
Historian and researcher. Vintners’ Company archivist, secretary of the Yorkist History Trust and Harlaxton Medieval Symposium. Urban history, death, piety, trust, and executors in pre-Reformation England; also early modern art. Often at Berkeley Castle.
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There’s no evidence, as far as I’m aware, that Chaucer himself was a Vintner - but his father, grandfather, and other relatives certainly were. One of our treasures is a 1352 deed for the site of the hall that names John Chaucer as a witness
A photograph of a medieval deed in a frame with a small red wax seal attached to the bottom.
Reposted by Dr Richard Asquith
We've two new titles forthcoming in our New Historical Perspectives book series:

> Gareth Roddy's 'Atlantic Isles' is published on 30 October bit.ly/3WFhpRg
> Rachael Harkes's 'Forging Fraternity' is available from 6 November bit.ly/4ogSm2H

Full details from @uolpress.bsky.social #Skystorians 1/2
Cover images for the two forthocming titles in the New Historical Perspectives book series: 

'Atlantic Isles: Travel and Identity in the British and Irish West, 1880–1940', by Gareth Roddy

Forging Fraternity in Late Medieval Society. The Palmers' Guild of Ludlow, by Rachael Harkes
Reposted by Dr Richard Asquith
At @ihr.bsky.social we can now offer PhD by Publication in History! For those with a substantial body of existing published research (within past 10 years), but without a PhD, should be of particular interest to #heritage professionals and independent scholars!
Reposted by Dr Richard Asquith
A site which has changed enormously over the years - here in the 1890s showing a subterranean entrance to Hambro Wharf and (to the left) the Vintners' clerk's house. The Hall to the right has been much modified but retains historic interiors #London #Skystorians
A black and white photograph from the 1890s, showing a road junction in London (Upper Thames Street and Queen Street, leading off to the left towards Southwark Bridge). Vintners' Hall is to the right, formed of two wings on either side of a courtyard fronted by iron gates, and alongside the east wing is another set of gates with a wide road leading underground to Hambro Wharf. The Vintners' clerk's house, a tall and narrow early 19th-century building is to the left, set further back towards the river and jutting out perpendicular to the Hall. Two groups of people stand on either side of Upper Thames Street.
A site which has changed enormously over the years - here in the 1890s showing a subterranean entrance to Hambro Wharf and (to the left) the Vintners' clerk's house. The Hall to the right has been much modified but retains historic interiors #London #Skystorians
A black and white photograph from the 1890s, showing a road junction in London (Upper Thames Street and Queen Street, leading off to the left towards Southwark Bridge). Vintners' Hall is to the right, formed of two wings on either side of a courtyard fronted by iron gates, and alongside the east wing is another set of gates with a wide road leading underground to Hambro Wharf. The Vintners' clerk's house, a tall and narrow early 19th-century building is to the left, set further back towards the river and jutting out perpendicular to the Hall. Two groups of people stand on either side of Upper Thames Street.
Reposted by Dr Richard Asquith
Five Kings House, on Upper Thames Street at the approach to Southwark Bridge, is named after the banquet in 1363 hosted by the Mayor of London. In attendance were King Edward III of England and the kings of Scotland, Cyprus, France and Denmark.
Reposted by Dr Richard Asquith
Thank you to everyone who attended our 600th anniversary exhibition launch! We hope to see you again at our upcoming events.

Special thanks to Professor Caroline Barron for her fascinating talk on the original Guildhall Library in 1452.
Earlier this week I had the privilege of attending the launch of the recently restored #medieval hearse cloths at Merchant Taylors' Hall - incredible work by Zenzie Tinker Conservation that really shows off these wonderful objects 💀 #Skystorians #MedievalSky #London
Photograph of one of the Merchant Taylors' hearse cloths framed on a wall. It is flat, with a central panel with foliate motifs and applique embroidered images of tailors' shears, St John the Baptist, and the Agnus Dei. Photo by Piotrowski Photo. Photograph of one of the Merchant Taylors' hearse cloths framed on a wall. It is flat, with a central panel with rich embroidery showing scenes from the life of St John the Baptist. Photo by Piotrowski Photo. Two people (myself and Lisa Monnas) talking in front of one of the hearse cloths. Photo by Piotrowski Photo.
Reposted by Dr Richard Asquith
@ihr.bsky.social and @ies-sas.bsky.social are partnering with @thelondonarchives.bsky.social to run a new series of public lectures, featuring the chance to see the original records first hand. First lecture by @patrickwallis.bsky.social on "Apprenticeship and the Rise of London", Weds 15th October!
SAS and The London Archives: Apprenticeship and the Rise of London, 1500-1800
ies.sas.ac.uk
Reposted by Dr Richard Asquith
We recently published two #blogs on our website: on depictions of #medieval child saints and on YHT scholars at the Harlaxton Medieval Symposium. Saturday mornings are an ideal time to read them, or to browse our other posts and see what the Trust is up to! yorkisthistorytrust.org/the-trust-on/
The Trust On…
Our blog, The Trust On…, features regular updates on the work undertaken by the Trust and on research, discoveries, and publications of interest in fifteenth-century studies. You’ll fin…
yorkisthistorytrust.org
Reposted by Dr Richard Asquith
Last month, the Trust had the privilege of offering scholarships to five PGRs and ECRs to attend the Harlaxton #Medieval Symposium. Each YHT Scholar has shared their thoughts on the experience on our #blog, which you can read here: yorkisthistorytrust.org/2025/09/18/y... #MedievalSky #Skystorians
YHT Scholars at the 2025 Harlaxton Medieval Symposium
The Trust On…YHT Scholars at the 2025 Harlaxton Medieval Symposium PGR/ECR presenters at the 2025 Harlaxton Medieval Symposium, including the five YHT scholars (courtesy of Ana Roda Sanchez) …
yorkisthistorytrust.org
Reposted by Dr Richard Asquith
Book offer klaxon! Tomb Monuments in Medieval Europe: Volume I, edited by Paul Cockerham and Christian Steer. Details and order form at churchmonumentssociety.org/2025/09/17/t...
Reposted by Dr Richard Asquith
This 1785 will is sharp reminder of the context that sometimes accompanied a wills creation:

The executor 'was preparing to put a seal thereto and at that Instant discovered the said deceased to be then dying and before the said deceased could sign seal and publish the same he died'.

TNA PROB 11
Handwritten lines from a will that read 'was preparing to put a seal thereto and at that Instant discovered the said deceased to be then dying and before the said deceased could sign seal and publish the same he died'.
I wrote my first ever academic article on the #medieval parish of #Kendal - and archaeology near Holy Trinity church has now uncovered the burials of some of the town’s medieval parishioners, even allowing for a facial reconstruction of one 13th-century woman 💀 www.academia.edu/39694971/Ser...
Reposted by Dr Richard Asquith
Drop into the beautiful St. Lawrence Jewry this Saturday or Sunday (at 14:15) for a free Open House London talk from Prof. Vanessa Harding, about our upcoming atlas of London on the eve of the Great Fire. programme.openhouse.org.uk/listings/3866
Reposted by Dr Richard Asquith
Just under a week left to submit a proposal for our sessions at @imc-leeds.bsky.social next year and to apply for a bursary! #Skystorians #MedievalSky
We're seeking proposals for papers on the long fifteenth century for Trust-sponsored panels at next year's @imc-leeds.bsky.social, as well as offering bursaries of £300 for speakers! Please see here for more info: yorkisthistorytrust.org/2025/09/02/y... @jllaynesmith.bsky.social #MedievalSky
Proposals are sought for 20-minute papers on new research on the period 1399-1525. Topics within the IMC 2026 theme of ‘Temporalities’ are encouraged, but any subject within the relevant time frame is welcome.

Bursaries of £300 are available for scholars without institutional funding (at any stage of their career). Please note the IMC’s proposal criteria at www.imc.leeds.ac.uk/proposals/criteria.

Please send a 150-200 word abstract and short biography to Dr Joanna Laynesmith at j.l.laynesmith@reading.ac.uk by 18th September 2025 stating whether you wish to apply for a bursary or just to propose a paper.
Reposted by Dr Richard Asquith
Reposted by Dr Richard Asquith
We had a wonderful time at the Fifteenth Century Conference at Durham - excellent papers showcasing lots of exciting new work on the later Middle Ages! #Skystorians #MedievalSky #medieval
A photograph of the gatehouse of Durham castle, with a view of the cathedral tower behind - it is night and both are illuminated.
Reposted by Dr Richard Asquith
The Yorkist History Trust are in Durham for the 2025 Fifteenth Century Conference! If you’d like to find out more about us and the work we do, please come and speak to us! #Skystorians #MedievalSky #medieval
A photograph of the western towers of Durham Cathedral, looking towards them along a cobbled street.
Reposted by Dr Richard Asquith
We're seeking proposals for papers on the long fifteenth century for Trust-sponsored panels at next year's @imc-leeds.bsky.social, as well as offering bursaries of £300 for speakers! Please see here for more info: yorkisthistorytrust.org/2025/09/02/y... @jllaynesmith.bsky.social #MedievalSky
Proposals are sought for 20-minute papers on new research on the period 1399-1525. Topics within the IMC 2026 theme of ‘Temporalities’ are encouraged, but any subject within the relevant time frame is welcome.

Bursaries of £300 are available for scholars without institutional funding (at any stage of their career). Please note the IMC’s proposal criteria at www.imc.leeds.ac.uk/proposals/criteria.

Please send a 150-200 word abstract and short biography to Dr Joanna Laynesmith at j.l.laynesmith@reading.ac.uk by 18th September 2025 stating whether you wish to apply for a bursary or just to propose a paper.
Reposted by Dr Richard Asquith
2 Sept 1666: Mayor Bludworth of #London on the Great Fire as it started up - ‘A woman could piss it out’ #otd
I hadn’t heard this sad news. Barbara Harvey was also my academic ‘grandmother’ and although I never had the pleasure of meeting her Clive spoke with warmth often about how she gently directed him towards Bristol’s late medieval parishes - a topic that happily occupied him for the rest of his life
My academic grandmother, Barbara Harvey, died earlier this month; there's a short tribute to her from @somervillecollege.bsky.social here: www.some.ox.ac.uk/news/barbara...
Reposted by Dr Richard Asquith
Second of our free online lectures on 8 Nov: Philip Muijtens on the funeral sermon and tomb of the antipope Baldassare Costa churchmonumentssociety.org/events/a-tom...
Thank you Sarah, it was wonderful to have you there!