Matthew Blake
@matthew-blake.bsky.social
This week: Poaching, Orkney, Churchwardens, Early Medieval stuff, Cider, Mercia, Orchards, little people
Reposted by Matthew Blake
New category on Commons: Farm signs in the Orkney Islands
This pic also features in Rainbows in the Orkney Islands
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Categor...
This pic also features in Rainbows in the Orkney Islands
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Categor...
December 21, 2025 at 11:00 PM
New category on Commons: Farm signs in the Orkney Islands
This pic also features in Rainbows in the Orkney Islands
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Categor...
This pic also features in Rainbows in the Orkney Islands
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Categor...
Reposted by Matthew Blake
December 18, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Reposted by Matthew Blake
Fjordshore orchards: a spotlight on Norwegian cider.
He’s back. Adam (@adamhwells.bsky.social) visits the Hardangerfjord region to learn more about one of the world's most exciting cider cultures.
He’s back. Adam (@adamhwells.bsky.social) visits the Hardangerfjord region to learn more about one of the world's most exciting cider cultures.
Fjordshore orchards: a spotlight on Norwegian cider
Adam visits the Hardangerfjord region to learn more about one of the world’s most exciting cider cultures
cider-review.com
December 13, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Fjordshore orchards: a spotlight on Norwegian cider.
He’s back. Adam (@adamhwells.bsky.social) visits the Hardangerfjord region to learn more about one of the world's most exciting cider cultures.
He’s back. Adam (@adamhwells.bsky.social) visits the Hardangerfjord region to learn more about one of the world's most exciting cider cultures.
Reposted by Matthew Blake
Love the cover picture!
December 8, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Love the cover picture!
Reposted by Matthew Blake
Getting my copy of the new translation of #OrkneyingaSaga this week too birlinn.co.uk/product/the-... Not a bad combo for anyone interested in #Orkney in the #Norse period... #ShouldYouBeAtALossForChristmasPresentIdeas...
The Saga of the Earls of Orkney | Birlinn Ltd - Independent Scottish Publisher - buy books online
This fascinating history of the Earldom of Orkney, which was established in the Viking Age, records the adventures, feuds and battles of powerful Norsemen during its first three centuries. The medieva...
birlinn.co.uk
December 8, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Getting my copy of the new translation of #OrkneyingaSaga this week too birlinn.co.uk/product/the-... Not a bad combo for anyone interested in #Orkney in the #Norse period... #ShouldYouBeAtALossForChristmasPresentIdeas...
Reposted by Matthew Blake
We have some new interpretation installed at the Old kirk. Reflecting on the multi layered settlement, with images from the site through the ages. From the iron age settlement, through early Christian, to the Norse and right up to the present day. A Papay Ranger design..
#Papay
#Orkney
#Munkerhoose
#Papay
#Orkney
#Munkerhoose
December 5, 2025 at 3:03 PM
We have some new interpretation installed at the Old kirk. Reflecting on the multi layered settlement, with images from the site through the ages. From the iron age settlement, through early Christian, to the Norse and right up to the present day. A Papay Ranger design..
#Papay
#Orkney
#Munkerhoose
#Papay
#Orkney
#Munkerhoose
Reposted by Matthew Blake
Delighted to say I’ll be presenting in session 1348 at @imc-leeds.bsky.social IMC 2026! #imc2026
December 2, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Delighted to say I’ll be presenting in session 1348 at @imc-leeds.bsky.social IMC 2026! #imc2026
Reposted by Matthew Blake
Looking forward to a rather busy Leeds! Delighted by the set of panels organised with @jakestattel.bsky.social!
@imc-leeds.bsky.social #IMC26
@imc-leeds.bsky.social #IMC26
December 2, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Looking forward to a rather busy Leeds! Delighted by the set of panels organised with @jakestattel.bsky.social!
@imc-leeds.bsky.social #IMC26
@imc-leeds.bsky.social #IMC26
Reposted by Matthew Blake
I had a great time giving this talk yesterday! And it's already available to watch in YouTube! Huge thanks to @insuhi.bsky.social for having me!
Last night's @thinkuhi.bsky.social excellent Public Seminar by Tom Fairfax is now online. Families, Networks and Informants: The Making of Orkneyinga saga
youtu.be/r2Tgd4HBkzI
youtu.be/r2Tgd4HBkzI
Families, Networks and Informants: The Making of Orkneyinga Saga by Tom Fairfax
YouTube video by UHI Institute for Northern Studies
youtu.be
November 28, 2025 at 2:29 PM
I had a great time giving this talk yesterday! And it's already available to watch in YouTube! Huge thanks to @insuhi.bsky.social for having me!
Reposted by Matthew Blake
Happening today! Still time to sign up!
It it helps, I can promise that a picture of a walrus will feature in the presentation.
It it helps, I can promise that a picture of a walrus will feature in the presentation.
We are really pleased with the response to our second Public Seminar for this week. Still time to book your free place. Families, Networks and Informants: The Making of Orkneyinga Saga by Tom Fairfax. Thursday 27th November 2025. 7.00pm - 8.30pm UK time.
tinyurl.com/s9fc3nyx
tinyurl.com/s9fc3nyx
November 27, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Happening today! Still time to sign up!
It it helps, I can promise that a picture of a walrus will feature in the presentation.
It it helps, I can promise that a picture of a walrus will feature in the presentation.
Reposted by Matthew Blake
We are really pleased with the response to our second Public Seminar for this week. Still time to book your free place. Families, Networks and Informants: The Making of Orkneyinga Saga by Tom Fairfax. Thursday 27th November 2025. 7.00pm - 8.30pm UK time.
tinyurl.com/s9fc3nyx
tinyurl.com/s9fc3nyx
November 26, 2025 at 3:14 PM
We are really pleased with the response to our second Public Seminar for this week. Still time to book your free place. Families, Networks and Informants: The Making of Orkneyinga Saga by Tom Fairfax. Thursday 27th November 2025. 7.00pm - 8.30pm UK time.
tinyurl.com/s9fc3nyx
tinyurl.com/s9fc3nyx
Reposted by Matthew Blake
Our new South Ronaldsay field-names site is up and running:
fieldsoftime.cmackenzie.net
fieldsoftime.cmackenzie.net
November 24, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Our new South Ronaldsay field-names site is up and running:
fieldsoftime.cmackenzie.net
fieldsoftime.cmackenzie.net
Reposted by Matthew Blake
Really must publish my LAKE paper. For now, here are the slides for my SNSBI talk: snsbi.org.uk/pdf/SNSBI_20...
snsbi.org.uk
November 17, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Really must publish my LAKE paper. For now, here are the slides for my SNSBI talk: snsbi.org.uk/pdf/SNSBI_20...
Reposted by Matthew Blake
ON hestr occurs in many #NorthernIsles #PlaceNames including Hestivall #Rousay where it is compounded with ON vǫllr m. ‘plain, meadow, pasture’; Hesti Geo #FairIsle compounded with gjá f. ‘inlet, coastal gully’ & Marwick notes the #Papay fishing mark Hest as well as a tide so-names S. of the Holm.
Yesterday’s #Wordle: hestr (sb. m.): 268 cits, e.g. (horse as working animal/object of value/trading good) riding horse, workhorse, hackney) ‘ok þa skulo þit spreta gio᷎rðunvm hennar. skal Dagr þat gera ok lata sem hann gyrðe hestinn er þer kom…’ (Heið in Holm perg 18 4°) onp.ku.dk/o33936
November 13, 2025 at 9:30 AM
ON hestr occurs in many #NorthernIsles #PlaceNames including Hestivall #Rousay where it is compounded with ON vǫllr m. ‘plain, meadow, pasture’; Hesti Geo #FairIsle compounded with gjá f. ‘inlet, coastal gully’ & Marwick notes the #Papay fishing mark Hest as well as a tide so-names S. of the Holm.
Reposted by Matthew Blake
Still wondering whether to visit the new Fair Isle Bird Obs in 2026? We are open for bookings 20th May to 31st October. Although there is only limited availability in May-July, we still have plenty of space from early August until the end of October. Our website includes information on how to book.
November 12, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Still wondering whether to visit the new Fair Isle Bird Obs in 2026? We are open for bookings 20th May to 31st October. Although there is only limited availability in May-July, we still have plenty of space from early August until the end of October. Our website includes information on how to book.
Reposted by Matthew Blake
November 12, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Reposted by Matthew Blake
Working on the wonderful @ragnasislands.bsky.social project with @judithjesch.bsky.social and @matthew-blake.bsky.social was so rewarding... & now that Judith's book is out... even more so! Here's to more #Orkney #Viking research! (I'll carry on with the #PlaceNames!)
'University academic translates Norse saga to uncover Viking history of northern Scotland'! Find out more: www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/norse-s...
November 12, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Working on the wonderful @ragnasislands.bsky.social project with @judithjesch.bsky.social and @matthew-blake.bsky.social was so rewarding... & now that Judith's book is out... even more so! Here's to more #Orkney #Viking research! (I'll carry on with the #PlaceNames!)
Reposted by Matthew Blake
Looking forward to getting together with Charlotte Eichler to share some old and new poetry with interested folk. Hybrid event in Leeds on 9th December. #Poetry #Saga #OrkneyingaSaga @ragnasislands.bsky.social ahc.leeds.ac.uk/medieval/eve...
Research Seminar: Twisted Ribbons of Song: The Saga of the Earls of Orkney and poetry from or inspired by northern Scotland
Judith Jesch and Charlotte Eichler present a seminar for the Institute for Medieval Studies.
ahc.leeds.ac.uk
November 11, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Looking forward to getting together with Charlotte Eichler to share some old and new poetry with interested folk. Hybrid event in Leeds on 9th December. #Poetry #Saga #OrkneyingaSaga @ragnasislands.bsky.social ahc.leeds.ac.uk/medieval/eve...
Reposted by Matthew Blake
The Stane o' Quoybune, Birsay walks to the loch for a drink on New Year's Day too. Unfortunately, if you witness it you die shortly after so hard to confirm.
November 9, 2025 at 3:44 PM
The Stane o' Quoybune, Birsay walks to the loch for a drink on New Year's Day too. Unfortunately, if you witness it you die shortly after so hard to confirm.
Reposted by Matthew Blake
Barry @barmas.bsky.social sings a song of praise to part-time cider and perry makers, artisans with a deep commitment to craft, tradition and the land.
#cider #PerryisAlive
#cider #PerryisAlive
In Praise of the Part-Time Cider Maker
Barry sings a song of praise to part-time cider and perry makers, artisans with a deep commitment to craft, tradition and the land.
cider-review.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Barry @barmas.bsky.social sings a song of praise to part-time cider and perry makers, artisans with a deep commitment to craft, tradition and the land.
#cider #PerryisAlive
#cider #PerryisAlive
Reposted by Matthew Blake
It's time for the 2026 Papay calendar.
A4 folding out to an A3, a mix of Papay landcapes and birds.
Price is £17.50 inc UK postage.
Orders being taken, for fine year long view of Papay.
Papay Calendar 2026 — Jonathan Ford
www.jonathanford.org/products.../...
A4 folding out to an A3, a mix of Papay landcapes and birds.
Price is £17.50 inc UK postage.
Orders being taken, for fine year long view of Papay.
Papay Calendar 2026 — Jonathan Ford
www.jonathanford.org/products.../...
November 8, 2025 at 4:32 PM
It's time for the 2026 Papay calendar.
A4 folding out to an A3, a mix of Papay landcapes and birds.
Price is £17.50 inc UK postage.
Orders being taken, for fine year long view of Papay.
Papay Calendar 2026 — Jonathan Ford
www.jonathanford.org/products.../...
A4 folding out to an A3, a mix of Papay landcapes and birds.
Price is £17.50 inc UK postage.
Orders being taken, for fine year long view of Papay.
Papay Calendar 2026 — Jonathan Ford
www.jonathanford.org/products.../...
Reposted by Matthew Blake
My first review...😀 Thanks, theorkneynews.scot
The Orkney News
bringing you the community news in Orkney
theorkneynews.scot
November 5, 2025 at 2:51 PM
My first review...😀 Thanks, theorkneynews.scot
Reposted by Matthew Blake
Very exciting news for those interested in early medieval England: a hugely important new volume on crops and food supply (by Helena Hamerow, Mark McKerracher & the FeedSax team) is now available Open Access academic.oup.com/book/61548?l...
Feeding Medieval England: A Long ‘Agricultural Revolution’, 700–1300
Abstract. As in the rest of Europe, the population of medieval England grew steeply, especially between the tenth and thirteenth centuries. This volume inv
academic.oup.com
October 31, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Very exciting news for those interested in early medieval England: a hugely important new volume on crops and food supply (by Helena Hamerow, Mark McKerracher & the FeedSax team) is now available Open Access academic.oup.com/book/61548?l...
Reposted by Matthew Blake
A new consideration of the chronology of the key settlement of Buckquoy, Orkney - shows that the buildings here belong firmly in the Pictish tradition. This leads to a wider consideration of the timings and character of the Viking Age in the Northern Isles.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Buckquoy, Orkney: addressing the Pictish-Viking transition in northern Scotland | Antiquity | Cambridge Core
Buckquoy, Orkney: addressing the Pictish-Viking transition in northern Scotland
www.cambridge.org
October 30, 2025 at 7:48 PM
A new consideration of the chronology of the key settlement of Buckquoy, Orkney - shows that the buildings here belong firmly in the Pictish tradition. This leads to a wider consideration of the timings and character of the Viking Age in the Northern Isles.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Matthew Blake
ON teigr m. ‘strip of field, meadow’ is seen in the Saga #PlaceName Hávarðsteigar, a lost place compounded with the masculine personal name Hávarðr. My favourite potential teigr name though must be Gravity (north & South) in North Ronaldsay, with the 1st element being ON grǫf f. ‘hollow’ (Marwick).
Yesterday’s #Wordle: teigr (sb. m.): 54 cits, e.g. [GoogleTrans: (cultivated/demarcated) plot of land, field, cultivation unit (cf. Steensberg 1956 [KLNM 1] 39)] ‘ek medkennumzst ath þan teiguren (!) sem liggur j millum hola j fliotum er h…’ (DI in AM dipl isl fasc XX 4) onp.ku.dk/o79227
October 23, 2025 at 11:51 AM
ON teigr m. ‘strip of field, meadow’ is seen in the Saga #PlaceName Hávarðsteigar, a lost place compounded with the masculine personal name Hávarðr. My favourite potential teigr name though must be Gravity (north & South) in North Ronaldsay, with the 1st element being ON grǫf f. ‘hollow’ (Marwick).