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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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Reposted by David Underdown

joshuatj @joshuatj.digipres.club.ap.brid.gy · 39m

As per tradition, #nttw9 has a collaborative notes document at bit.ly/nttw9notes

Mad gratitude to the volunteer notetakers. Super useful when following the conference past midnight.

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Reposted by David Underdown

Giles MacDonogh @gilesmacdonogh.bsky.social · 46m

From Reading Room to Reading Gaol: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Oscar Wilde's British Library card reissued 130 years after being revoked over gay conviction

The celebrated Irish writer had his pass revoked in 1895 after being imprisoned for a gay relationship.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by David Underdown

Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 54m

Now open at IWM London, our brand new special exhibition Emergency Exits: The Fight for Independence in Malaya, Kenya and Cyprus. It's fascinating, it's revelatory and it's FREE. Do come and see it!

www.iwm.org.uk/events/emerg...

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Reposted by David Underdown

Beth Rebisz @brebisz.bsky.social · 2h

📣 Emergency Exits: The Fight for Independence in Malaya, Kenya and Cyprus.

A new exhibition running at the Imperial War Museum between Oct 2025 - March 2026.

I was approached last year to join the advisory panel and have been so delighted to see this project come to fruition.

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Reposted by David M. Schultz, David Underdown

Oisín McGann @oisinmcgann.bsky.social · 18h

If anyone has some time to help out in transcribing old, handwritten weather records.

www.met.ie/met-eireann-...

Met Éireann opens historic weather transcription project to all - Met Éireann - The Irish Meteorological Service

Met Éireann, the Irish National Meteorological Service, is the leading provider of weather information and related services for Ireland.

www.met.ie

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Reposted by David Underdown

Ada Palmer @adapalmer.bsky.social · 23h

Chinese scientists have created a oyster-inspired medical adhesive called Bone-02 that can bond shattered bones in just 3 minutes. Inspired by how oysters cling to rocks underwater, the glue forms a strong, biodegradable bond that replaces screws and plates. buff.ly/znJ2jxD
#ShareGoodNewsToo

China's oyster-inspired 'bone glue' bonds fractures in minutes

A new oyster-inspired Bone-02 adhesive can revolutionize bone repair without metal fasteners.

buff.ly

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David Underdown @davidunderdown.bsky.social · 23h

#DigiPres the Digital Archiving Department at The National Archives (UK) is currently looking for a Digtial Archivist (Transfer) www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi... and 2 Data Engineers www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi.... ce.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi...

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Reposted by David Underdown

historyscape.bsky.social @historyscape.bsky.social · 1d

Secret diplomatic message deciphered after 350 years www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/explore-the-...

Secret diplomatic message deciphered after 350 years

Ruth Selman shares an exciting update to her previous blog post about a 17th-century letter written in cipher.

www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

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Reposted by David Underdown

Philip Ball @philipcball.bsky.social · 1d

Just popped into the Royal Institution for a coffee, to discover they have a lovely display on benzene to mark the bicentenary of Faraday's discovery of it. Here are his notes, his paper, and one of his first samples. Glorious.

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David Underdown @davidunderdown.bsky.social · 1d

#UnconfinedWalks anti cyclonic gloom continues

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Reposted by David Underdown

Met Office - weather and climate @metoffice.gov.uk · 1d

When high pressure dominates the UK weather, many expect crisp blue skies and sunshine.

But as seasoned forecasters know, especially in the colder months, high pressure can bring something quite different: Anticyclonic Gloom.

But what is this weather pattern? www.metoffice.gov.uk/blog/2025/wh...

Blog post graphic titled "What is Anticyclonic Gloom?" from the Met Office, dated 13 October 2025. The background features a misty landscape with layers of fog over hills and trees, creating a calm and atmospheric scene.

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Reposted by David Underdown

New-Cleckit Dominie @ncdominie.bsky.social · 2d

An image for #ALD25. This is Evelyn Strutt, Lady Rayleigh (www.npg.org.uk/collections/...).

She's not often numbered among "women in science", but she had a crucial role in the work attributed to her husband, because he didn't know German and she did.

Old photograph showing a woman in late Victorian costume holding a book.

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Reposted by David Underdown

The Material Culture of Wills Project @materialwills.bsky.social · 2d

Project Research Fellows Harry Smith and Emily Vine are looking forward to speaking as part of the Warwick History 'Post-Doc' Club series, next Wed 22 October @ 17.00.

They'll be discussing 'Digitization & Citizen Science'📜💻

Follow this link for Zoom details:
warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/his...

A poster with a white background and black text, with a blue border at the top of the poster, and photographs of manuscripts. The title of the poster reads Warwick History ‘POST-DOC’ CLUB METHODOLOGIES SERIES. Online Meeting: Weds 22 October at 5pm
DIGITIZATION & CITIZEN SCIENCE: Inviting collaborative research to transcribe handwriting. With Harry Smith and Emily Vine of the Material Culture of Wills, 1540-1790 project at the University of Exeter.

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Reposted by David Underdown

Real Gaz on a proper bike: [email protected] @gazza-d.bsky.social · 2d

My 5 top tips are:
1. Fit mudguards and mudflaps.
2. Keep it clean. A regular soapy wash is great
3. Keep it lubed.
4. Keep tyres inflated to almost the max pressure.
5. Swap derailleur gears for hub gears.
www.theguardian.com/thefilter/20...

‘Once a fortnight would save people hundreds’: how to make your bike last longer, according to experts

From avoiding overtightened bolts to giving it a good clean, here are the easy and affordable habits mechanics swear by

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by David Underdown

loucycle.bsky.social @loucycle.bsky.social · 2d

Yet another 1 😢. How awful for her, her family& any witnesses.

She was doing everything right, as the article goes to great lengths to say.

& yet a driver still killed her.

BBC News - Cyclist Rebecca Comins' death investigated by Crash Detectives - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Cyclist Rebecca Comins' death investigated by Crash Detectives

Rebecca Comins, described as a

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Carl T. Bergstrom, David Underdown

Andrew @generalising.bsky.social · 2d

I got very curious about this. You can trace Shearer's unit (21 CCS) and you can see what looks like the echo of his little blaze of fame: in Sept 1916 you get visits from various grandees including ... the editor of the BMJ, who presumably came to see for himself.

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David Underdown @davidunderdown.bsky.social · 2d

#UnconfinedWalks rather murky today

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Reposted by David Underdown

Claire Boardman @claireboardman.bsky.social · 2d

Completely enamoured with this collection of C17th Welsh & English county maps, particularly the inclusion of county town plans in the corner of each. Intrigued by a Welsh county/town I'm not familiar with: Radnorshire/Radnor - now New Randor - which remains remarkably intact today. #MapMonday

Map extract showing the western edge of the county of Radnorshire and plan of the county town, Radnor from John Speed's 'Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine', map 15/18.

Summer satellite imagery of the village of New Radnor, Powys (north at top). Clearly showing remains of the original grid layout of medieval street, castle baille, just to the north of the village, and the outer wall around it's western edge (image accessed via Edina Digimaps).

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Reposted by David Underdown

Joanna Bryson @j2bryson.bsky.social · 3d

When you get to the part about the valves, you're like "this man invented memory"

via @gillianrbrown1.bsky.social !

Trish Greenhalgh @trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social · 3d

I need a Tommy Flowers Was Robbed t-shirt. Great piece!
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Move over, Alan Turing: meet the working-class hero of Bletchley Park you didn’t see in the movies

The Oxbridge-educated boffin is feted as the codebreaking genius who helped Britain win the war. But should a little-known Post Office engineer named Tommy Flowers be seen as the real father of comput...

www.theguardian.com

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David Underdown @davidunderdown.bsky.social · 3d

#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

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Reposted by Lesley A. Hall, David Underdown

Norfolk Record Office @norfolkro.bsky.social · 3d

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 · 4d

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 · 4d

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

David Underdown @davidunderdown.bsky.social · 4d

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

David Underdown @davidunderdown.bsky.social · 4d

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

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David Underdown @davidunderdown.bsky.social · 4d

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

David Underdown @davidunderdown.bsky.social · 4d

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

David Underdown @davidunderdown.bsky.social · 4d

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

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David Underdown @davidunderdown.bsky.social · 4d

#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 · 4d

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

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