Robert Fleming
@flemingrob.bsky.social
FRGS AMA | Principal Maps Research Specialist @ The National Archives
Historian of armies, empire, espionage, cartography & cricket.
London & lutruwita/Tasmania | Born on the traditional lands of the Palawa/Pakana people.
Historian of armies, empire, espionage, cartography & cricket.
London & lutruwita/Tasmania | Born on the traditional lands of the Palawa/Pakana people.
Reposted by Robert Fleming
That time when, two months into World War 1, the FT asked its readers to predict the impact the conflict would have on the map of Europe. As a game. With cash prizes: great @ftweekend.com piece by @theboysmithy.ft.com www.ft.com/content/79a4...
February 14, 2026 at 9:03 AM
That time when, two months into World War 1, the FT asked its readers to predict the impact the conflict would have on the map of Europe. As a game. With cash prizes: great @ftweekend.com piece by @theboysmithy.ft.com www.ft.com/content/79a4...
The remarkable story of the Norman Cross POW site in Cambridgeshire from the Napoleonic Wars.
www.linkedin.com/posts/histor...
www.linkedin.com/posts/histor...
February 15, 2026 at 9:19 AM
The remarkable story of the Norman Cross POW site in Cambridgeshire from the Napoleonic Wars.
www.linkedin.com/posts/histor...
www.linkedin.com/posts/histor...
Reposted by Robert Fleming
Just a cheeky reminder that my bestselling book ASK A HISTORIAN is only 99p on ebook right now — it’s a fun, easy read and the reader reviews are very positive, so maybe give it a try? www.amazon.co.uk/Ask-Historia...
February 11, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Just a cheeky reminder that my bestselling book ASK A HISTORIAN is only 99p on ebook right now — it’s a fun, easy read and the reader reviews are very positive, so maybe give it a try? www.amazon.co.uk/Ask-Historia...
Reposted by Robert Fleming
Proposals for a high-speed rail loop that would link nine urban centres across the UK and Ireland have been put forward by RIBA President Chris Williamson.
The ‘Northern Loop’ would create a ‘dispersed but connected’ global city of around ten million people 👉 www.theb1m.com/article/high...
The ‘Northern Loop’ would create a ‘dispersed but connected’ global city of around ten million people 👉 www.theb1m.com/article/high...
February 9, 2026 at 8:49 AM
Proposals for a high-speed rail loop that would link nine urban centres across the UK and Ireland have been put forward by RIBA President Chris Williamson.
The ‘Northern Loop’ would create a ‘dispersed but connected’ global city of around ten million people 👉 www.theb1m.com/article/high...
The ‘Northern Loop’ would create a ‘dispersed but connected’ global city of around ten million people 👉 www.theb1m.com/article/high...
In an age where we are being regularly bombarded by AI generated dross imagery (and poor quality text), this is a refreshing and beautiful bit of human, hand-drawn art with old fashioned ink and paper. And quite lovely to look at.
beat.com.au/brunswick-st...
beat.com.au/brunswick-st...
Brunswick Street is being hand-drawn in its entirety by one dedicated Melbourne artist
For seven years, Helen Wilding has been meticulously sketching every single building on Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
beat.com.au
February 10, 2026 at 8:59 AM
In an age where we are being regularly bombarded by AI generated dross imagery (and poor quality text), this is a refreshing and beautiful bit of human, hand-drawn art with old fashioned ink and paper. And quite lovely to look at.
beat.com.au/brunswick-st...
beat.com.au/brunswick-st...
Reposted by Robert Fleming
I have this great Spanish history book about female prisoners of the Franco regime who managed to communicate with each other and anti fascist cells by encoding messages in knitting patterns they shared. The male guards never checked them because it was "just" women's knitting patterns
knittingit.com/knitting-abb...
A big list of the assembly language used by generations of women in knitting, an assembly language men didn't think an important or useful or *intellectual* skill worth learning.
A big list of the assembly language used by generations of women in knitting, an assembly language men didn't think an important or useful or *intellectual* skill worth learning.
Knitting Abbreviations List | Knitting It
New to knitting or seeing an unfamiliar abbreviation in a pattern? No need to worry! Discover the complete list of knitting abbreviations...
knittingit.com
February 3, 2026 at 12:10 PM
I have this great Spanish history book about female prisoners of the Franco regime who managed to communicate with each other and anti fascist cells by encoding messages in knitting patterns they shared. The male guards never checked them because it was "just" women's knitting patterns
Reposted by Robert Fleming
Yes I know, I post this one too often, but it could be worse, I'm managing to keep myself from posting it every day.
February 2, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Yes I know, I post this one too often, but it could be worse, I'm managing to keep myself from posting it every day.
Let me take you on a journey about how Murray's Guides, Baedeker & Bradshaw transformed travel and tourism.
Two of these guides will also feature in our February Stories Unboxed display. But it all began with a woman named Mariana Starke...
All aboard!!!
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/explore-the-...
Two of these guides will also feature in our February Stories Unboxed display. But it all began with a woman named Mariana Starke...
All aboard!!!
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/explore-the-...
The birth of the travel guide
In the 19th century travel evolved from an aristocratic privilege to middle-class reality. Explore how rail guides made this possible.
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
February 1, 2026 at 9:08 AM
Let me take you on a journey about how Murray's Guides, Baedeker & Bradshaw transformed travel and tourism.
Two of these guides will also feature in our February Stories Unboxed display. But it all began with a woman named Mariana Starke...
All aboard!!!
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/explore-the-...
Two of these guides will also feature in our February Stories Unboxed display. But it all began with a woman named Mariana Starke...
All aboard!!!
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/explore-the-...
This extraordinary tale of John Cairncross' love letters to Gloria Barraclough is just one feature of the National Archives new Love Letters exhibition, which opens this weekend.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Secret love letter shows softer side of Cambridge spy ring’s alleged fifth man
Intimate correspondence between John Cairncross and Gloria Barraclough features in National Archives exhibition
www.theguardian.com
January 22, 2026 at 11:46 AM
This extraordinary tale of John Cairncross' love letters to Gloria Barraclough is just one feature of the National Archives new Love Letters exhibition, which opens this weekend.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Reposted by Robert Fleming
We have an update on Charlie’s newfound love of printing.
January 14, 2026 at 6:00 PM
We have an update on Charlie’s newfound love of printing.
Reposted by Robert Fleming
Politicians: don't use AI to make your maps.
January 14, 2026 at 11:13 AM
Politicians: don't use AI to make your maps.
New British Rail train livery??
Not a fan, particularly the carriages, with them lacking the usual continuity of design you expect along the length of a train. I especially don't like the way they present half going in one direction, and half going opposite - very jarring.
Not a fan, particularly the carriages, with them lacking the usual continuity of design you expect along the length of a train. I especially don't like the way they present half going in one direction, and half going opposite - very jarring.
January 14, 2026 at 5:14 PM
New British Rail train livery??
Not a fan, particularly the carriages, with them lacking the usual continuity of design you expect along the length of a train. I especially don't like the way they present half going in one direction, and half going opposite - very jarring.
Not a fan, particularly the carriages, with them lacking the usual continuity of design you expect along the length of a train. I especially don't like the way they present half going in one direction, and half going opposite - very jarring.
Reposted by Robert Fleming
Maps are ESSENTIAL to understanding the Burma campaign. I would have loved to include more in Jungle Commandos but budgets be budgets. Here is one of my favourites of the Myebon peninsula, as we remember the men of 3 Cdo & 74 Brigade who were fighting their way north towards Kantha #OTD in 1945
January 13, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Maps are ESSENTIAL to understanding the Burma campaign. I would have loved to include more in Jungle Commandos but budgets be budgets. Here is one of my favourites of the Myebon peninsula, as we remember the men of 3 Cdo & 74 Brigade who were fighting their way north towards Kantha #OTD in 1945
The Soviet Union spent 3 years, 10 months, 2 weeks and 2 days fighting against Nazi Germany.
Putin's "3-day special military operation" to force regime change in Kyiv has now lasted 3 years, 10 months and three weeks - longer than the entire Eastern Front of WW2.
Barbarossa, Stalingrad, Kursk...
Putin's "3-day special military operation" to force regime change in Kyiv has now lasted 3 years, 10 months and three weeks - longer than the entire Eastern Front of WW2.
Barbarossa, Stalingrad, Kursk...
January 13, 2026 at 8:56 AM
The Soviet Union spent 3 years, 10 months, 2 weeks and 2 days fighting against Nazi Germany.
Putin's "3-day special military operation" to force regime change in Kyiv has now lasted 3 years, 10 months and three weeks - longer than the entire Eastern Front of WW2.
Barbarossa, Stalingrad, Kursk...
Putin's "3-day special military operation" to force regime change in Kyiv has now lasted 3 years, 10 months and three weeks - longer than the entire Eastern Front of WW2.
Barbarossa, Stalingrad, Kursk...
At the UK National Archives this morning, the top pond is completely frozen, the lower only remains clear of ice under the water flow.
January 6, 2026 at 9:20 AM
At the UK National Archives this morning, the top pond is completely frozen, the lower only remains clear of ice under the water flow.
Exceptional Christmas cracker joke today.
December 25, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Exceptional Christmas cracker joke today.
I recently had a very moving and enlightening couple of days studying the battlefields of the Zulu and Second Anglo-Boer War.
There is no better way to understand how events unfolded than walking the ground yourself.
www.linkedin.com/posts/racfle...
There is no better way to understand how events unfolded than walking the ground yourself.
www.linkedin.com/posts/racfle...
I've had an emotionally moving and very informative few days on the battlefields of Natal.
From the disaster of Isandhlwana to the extraordinary courage and resilience of Rorke's Drift durin...
I've had an emotionally moving and very informative few days on the battlefields of Natal.
From the disaster of Isandhlwana to the extraordinary courage and resilience of Rorke's Drift during the Zu...
www.linkedin.com
December 22, 2025 at 8:42 AM
I recently had a very moving and enlightening couple of days studying the battlefields of the Zulu and Second Anglo-Boer War.
There is no better way to understand how events unfolded than walking the ground yourself.
www.linkedin.com/posts/racfle...
There is no better way to understand how events unfolded than walking the ground yourself.
www.linkedin.com/posts/racfle...
Horrifying.
By why were they left in the van in an unsecured location?
By why were they left in the van in an unsecured location?
This is such a sad story! An important collection that had been sent for digitisation (though why from Kent to Scotland, I'm not sure) 📜 www.bbc.com/news/article...
Museum staff 'devastated' after drawings worth £500,000 destroyed
About 1,700 military drawings from the Royal Engineers Museum were destroyed in the theft last month.
www.bbc.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Horrifying.
By why were they left in the van in an unsecured location?
By why were they left in the van in an unsecured location?
Looking for a perfect stocking filler for the map lover in your life?
(Even if that is you)
Well, the Second Edition of TNA's popular 'Maps: Their Untold Stories' is out now just in time to navigate it's way under your Christmas tree! 🎄📖 🎁
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/maps-thei...
(Even if that is you)
Well, the Second Edition of TNA's popular 'Maps: Their Untold Stories' is out now just in time to navigate it's way under your Christmas tree! 🎄📖 🎁
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/maps-thei...
November 26, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Looking for a perfect stocking filler for the map lover in your life?
(Even if that is you)
Well, the Second Edition of TNA's popular 'Maps: Their Untold Stories' is out now just in time to navigate it's way under your Christmas tree! 🎄📖 🎁
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/maps-thei...
(Even if that is you)
Well, the Second Edition of TNA's popular 'Maps: Their Untold Stories' is out now just in time to navigate it's way under your Christmas tree! 🎄📖 🎁
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/maps-thei...