Adam Chapman
@adamchapman.bsky.social
Medieval historian interested in Wales, Somerset exile, inept cricketer, General Editor of the longest-running and largest local history project yet devised, the Victoria County History of England. Probably drinking tea.
Reading up for a talk later, I discovered that the principal Quaker centre in southern Somerset was not C&J Clark's town of Street, but - and I don't know why I was surprised - Glastonbury.
In the 1660s, their first recorded meeting house was, in fact, the Abbot's Kitchen, which was A Choice. 🗃️
In the 1660s, their first recorded meeting house was, in fact, the Abbot's Kitchen, which was A Choice. 🗃️
November 19, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Reading up for a talk later, I discovered that the principal Quaker centre in southern Somerset was not C&J Clark's town of Street, but - and I don't know why I was surprised - Glastonbury.
In the 1660s, their first recorded meeting house was, in fact, the Abbot's Kitchen, which was A Choice. 🗃️
In the 1660s, their first recorded meeting house was, in fact, the Abbot's Kitchen, which was A Choice. 🗃️
Seen (via Facebook), on Poundland at Queen Street in Cardiff. An, erm, innovative appropriation of the 'Blue Plaque'. #Heritage #BluePlaques 🗃️
November 10, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Seen (via Facebook), on Poundland at Queen Street in Cardiff. An, erm, innovative appropriation of the 'Blue Plaque'. #Heritage #BluePlaques 🗃️
Wel. Syniad da? Erm…
November 8, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Wel. Syniad da? Erm…
'Airport Style Security'.
November 3, 2025 at 9:37 AM
'Airport Style Security'.
October 31, 2025 at 12:58 PM
PS - rumours that this game included a (very) young Brian Close are certainly false, but the old boy would have been up for that.
October 30, 2025 at 9:56 AM
PS - rumours that this game included a (very) young Brian Close are certainly false, but the old boy would have been up for that.
And via Facebook, today's #CrapColourisation. Coloured B/W on the left, contemporary colour shot to the right.
October 24, 2025 at 8:14 AM
And via Facebook, today's #CrapColourisation. Coloured B/W on the left, contemporary colour shot to the right.
The key element being that you wouldn't feed them the turnip *in one piece*. You'd use one of these:
October 13, 2025 at 8:53 AM
The key element being that you wouldn't feed them the turnip *in one piece*. You'd use one of these:
A nice observational piece, showing what I learn is a ‘Ferguson Potato Spinner’ in action. Part of a suite of potato machines (mum took turns on this sort of work in the ‘60s - generally women’s labour then), i guess this shows how partial mechanisation was. #Skystorians #TractorCommentary
October 12, 2025 at 7:52 AM
A nice observational piece, showing what I learn is a ‘Ferguson Potato Spinner’ in action. Part of a suite of potato machines (mum took turns on this sort of work in the ‘60s - generally women’s labour then), i guess this shows how partial mechanisation was. #Skystorians #TractorCommentary
I’m not sure that this @vch-home.bsky.social brand tie in was properly thought through. #NotAProperCounty
October 9, 2025 at 3:46 PM
I’m not sure that this @vch-home.bsky.social brand tie in was properly thought through. #NotAProperCounty
Fans of @royalhistsoc.org merch’ might like to know that there are a small number of badges available in the @ihr.bsky.social Common Room…
October 9, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Fans of @royalhistsoc.org merch’ might like to know that there are a small number of badges available in the @ihr.bsky.social Common Room…
New badge: tired, mostly.
October 8, 2025 at 1:56 PM
New badge: tired, mostly.
My @vch-home.bsky.social colleagues in Gloucestershire have produced their latest draft material for the parish of #Coates - which among other areas of interest, has one end of the longest canal tunnel in England in it (Sapperton tunnel on the Thames and Severn canal, in case you were wondering).
October 1, 2025 at 3:09 PM
My @vch-home.bsky.social colleagues in Gloucestershire have produced their latest draft material for the parish of #Coates - which among other areas of interest, has one end of the longest canal tunnel in England in it (Sapperton tunnel on the Thames and Severn canal, in case you were wondering).
We didn’t know this existed until now. We need it.
September 21, 2025 at 2:24 PM
We didn’t know this existed until now. We need it.
At drinks, we’re 96 off 17. Off 10 we had 22. So, erm, the change bowling…
September 21, 2025 at 12:53 PM
At drinks, we’re 96 off 17. Off 10 we had 22. So, erm, the change bowling…
My last time out this season, I suspect. The sun might be shining but it is cold. #AutumnCricket
September 21, 2025 at 11:50 AM
My last time out this season, I suspect. The sun might be shining but it is cold. #AutumnCricket
Are you allowed to cycle on this bit now? It's not immediately obvious from the modern mapping/Street View!
September 21, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Are you allowed to cycle on this bit now? It's not immediately obvious from the modern mapping/Street View!
I'm going to tread carefully, because it's not my specialism, but as a rule, applying what you think the Norman Conquest means to anything other than say, mid 11th century politics is unwise.
See Sellar and Yeatman (1930) for the classic case study.
See Sellar and Yeatman (1930) for the classic case study.
September 15, 2025 at 3:49 PM
I'm going to tread carefully, because it's not my specialism, but as a rule, applying what you think the Norman Conquest means to anything other than say, mid 11th century politics is unwise.
See Sellar and Yeatman (1930) for the classic case study.
See Sellar and Yeatman (1930) for the classic case study.
By Charlotte Corday?
September 14, 2025 at 8:45 PM
By Charlotte Corday?
But not tonight.
September 13, 2025 at 8:54 PM
But not tonight.
Because it’s no fun at all for anyone, mainly, BBC.
September 10, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Because it’s no fun at all for anyone, mainly, BBC.
Seriously, just look at this graph - Somerset were ahead of Warwickshire in the first over, and then off the last but one ball. This, by and large, *does not happen*.
September 7, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Seriously, just look at this graph - Somerset were ahead of Warwickshire in the first over, and then off the last but one ball. This, by and large, *does not happen*.
Two can play at this - Waterstones in Tunbridge Wells this morning. Outside and in!
September 6, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Two can play at this - Waterstones in Tunbridge Wells this morning. Outside and in!
It's not obvious in the post, but the museum is housed in a barn which is the last surviving part of the *enormous* medieval priory complex that once dominated the E of Taunton.
The top RH corner of the map is roughly where the precinct was, occupying nearly the same area as the rest of the town.
The top RH corner of the map is roughly where the precinct was, occupying nearly the same area as the rest of the town.
September 5, 2025 at 11:17 AM
It's not obvious in the post, but the museum is housed in a barn which is the last surviving part of the *enormous* medieval priory complex that once dominated the E of Taunton.
The top RH corner of the map is roughly where the precinct was, occupying nearly the same area as the rest of the town.
The top RH corner of the map is roughly where the precinct was, occupying nearly the same area as the rest of the town.
What will top this?
September 2, 2025 at 8:50 AM
What will top this?