🏰 Ben Paites 🏛️
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benpaites.bsky.social
🏰 Ben Paites 🏛️
@benpaites.bsky.social
Senior Curator at Colchester Museums. Mainly Roman archaeology and LGBTQ+ history. Also cat dad to Artemis and enthusiastic Gaymer. He/Him

Author of 50 LGBTQ+ Finds: https://www.amberley-books.com/50-lgbtq-finds.html

Website: https://www.ben-paites.com
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Today is the day! My book is finally available to buy. After years of work, I’m so excited to finally share it with the world! But this isn’t the end. I will be promoting the book across the country over the next year, so stay tuned for more info.
#BookLaunch
The @mercurytheatre.bsky.social have just released the cast list for the upcoming Manningtree Witches play. Nothing beats the OG cast though.
November 25, 2025 at 12:56 PM
The @mercurytheatre.bsky.social have just released the cast list for the upcoming Manningtree Witches play. Nothing beats the OG cast though.
November 25, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Reposted by 🏰 Ben Paites 🏛️
In case you missed it, in the October episode of the Bethnal Archives I discuss the history of the witch trials and the significance of Colchester in this period of speculation and fear. youtu.be/lgnM56MCLqk?...
The Real Reasons The Witch Trials Happened| Ben Paites | Bethnal Archives Podcast
YouTube video by Bethnal Archives
youtu.be
November 21, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Reposted by 🏰 Ben Paites 🏛️
I’ve sold more copies of my “50 LGBTQ+ Finds “ book in the past 6 months than my “50 Finds from Essex” book has sold in the past 8 years. 😭

Thank you everyone who has bought a copy!
November 22, 2025 at 10:27 AM
It’s been enough days now and after seeing #WickedForGood I think, over all, it did justice to the show with some nice nods for the diehards. Though I still don’t get why Elphaba was wandering around in a granny jumper singing to no one for the first part of As Long As Your Mine…
November 23, 2025 at 9:56 AM
I’ve sold more copies of my “50 LGBTQ+ Finds “ book in the past 6 months than my “50 Finds from Essex” book has sold in the past 8 years. 😭

Thank you everyone who has bought a copy!
November 22, 2025 at 10:27 AM
In case you missed it, in the October episode of the Bethnal Archives I discuss the history of the witch trials and the significance of Colchester in this period of speculation and fear. youtu.be/lgnM56MCLqk?...
The Real Reasons The Witch Trials Happened| Ben Paites | Bethnal Archives Podcast
YouTube video by Bethnal Archives
youtu.be
November 21, 2025 at 3:27 PM
I was very excited to recommend “A Good Year” by the wonderful @polisloizou.bsky.social for the Christmas meeting of my local LGBTQ+ book club. I was so excited in fact I’ve finished it almost a month early. Highly recommended, especially if you love folklore and superstition.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

👹🎄🤰👬🇨🇾
November 19, 2025 at 10:02 PM
It’s a tough one as it’s been a good year for games. I’ve played plenty that didn’t release this year too. As of 2025 releases though, it’s either South of Midnight or AC shadows.
November 18, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Me: so spine doctor, what are my results?

Spine doctor: your body is essentially doing this >

Me: 😶
November 17, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Reposted by 🏰 Ben Paites 🏛️
Never forget that the witch persecutions of the 1500s and 1600s were a cover for several much more pervasive forms of hate that continue to this very day.

-Misogyny
-Ableism
-Antisemitism
-homophobia
-Anti-Catholicism

Image: Witches at Sabbath, from “The history of witches and wizards”, 1720.
November 16, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Never forget that the witch persecutions of the 1500s and 1600s were a cover for several much more pervasive forms of hate that continue to this very day.

-Misogyny
-Ableism
-Antisemitism
-homophobia
-Anti-Catholicism

Image: Witches at Sabbath, from “The history of witches and wizards”, 1720.
November 16, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Reposted by 🏰 Ben Paites 🏛️
Found this supposedly Bronze Age spear in the stores today, seemingly with parts of the wooden shaft in it. I’m slightly sceptical on the date given how poorly wood survives in the ground, but isn’t it cool!
November 14, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Found this supposedly Bronze Age spear in the stores today, seemingly with parts of the wooden shaft in it. I’m slightly sceptical on the date given how poorly wood survives in the ground, but isn’t it cool!
November 14, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Reposted by 🏰 Ben Paites 🏛️
Watching the embers fly from the bonfire @foodmuseumuk.bsky.social at the weekend made me think about the stories of fire sprites and imps that are found throughout the world in folklore. Was it these dancing, flickering lights that people once thought were mischeivous spirits?
November 10, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Saw this on FB, not sure the original source (Reddit somewhere?), and thought of @oldenoughtosay.com. Apologies if you’ve seen this before (a thousand times).
November 10, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Watching the embers fly from the bonfire @foodmuseumuk.bsky.social at the weekend made me think about the stories of fire sprites and imps that are found throughout the world in folklore. Was it these dancing, flickering lights that people once thought were mischeivous spirits?
November 10, 2025 at 12:49 PM
At Colchester Castle, there’s a temporary display about the origins of the poppy as a symbol of remembrance and the incredible work of Anna Guérin who started it all. #LestWeForget
November 9, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Reposted by 🏰 Ben Paites 🏛️
Cosy season sorted. From apple-scented candles and a book of witchy cocktails to warm socks, a very friendly dragon, or history mugs, the Castle gift shop is full of little comforts for dark evenings.

Find something special this November. We’re open daily 10–5. What would you take home?
November 8, 2025 at 8:01 AM
10 more seconds of fame last night on BBC Look East. Before you ask for what crime, I was asked to comment on the Roman burials found in Chelmsford.
November 7, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Reposted by 🏰 Ben Paites 🏛️
A wonderful selection of ancient Roman finds from the city of Colchester in Essex, known in ancient times as Camulodunum, including jewellery, coin hoards, pottery and fresco fragments. Now on display at Colchester Castle. @colmuseums.bsky.social #FindsFriday
November 7, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Ricardus III has been found!
November 6, 2025 at 8:22 PM
As spooky season lingers on, I’m thinking about the concept of Memento Mori (remember you will die). This ring has an incredible skeleton design on the outside, as a reminder to both the wearer and observer. Inside is an inscription for a departed loved one.
cim-web.adlibhosting.com/ais6/Details...
November 6, 2025 at 8:17 AM