Sue Wilkes
@suewilkesauthor.bsky.social
FRHistS. Europhile. Author of Regency Spies, A Visitor's Guide to Jane Austen's England, and more. Young Workers of the Industrial Age, out now! https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Sue-Wilkes/a/1893
Just finished reading this - acquired on a recent visit to the Fitzwilliam. (Published to accompany an exhibition a few years ago). Very interesting to see how many women engravers were active.
November 23, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Just finished reading this - acquired on a recent visit to the Fitzwilliam. (Published to accompany an exhibition a few years ago). Very interesting to see how many women engravers were active.
Also picked some lettuce (protected by fleece) and checked on the overwintering plants in the little greenhouse.
November 23, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Also picked some lettuce (protected by fleece) and checked on the overwintering plants in the little greenhouse.
Soho Factory, Birmingham, 1830s.
November 21, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Soho Factory, Birmingham, 1830s.
A prospect of Birmingham in 1720.
November 21, 2025 at 8:42 PM
A prospect of Birmingham in 1720.
The news is simply too depressing. Here's a pretty fish from the Maryport aquarium to look at instead.
November 17, 2025 at 8:42 AM
The news is simply too depressing. Here's a pretty fish from the Maryport aquarium to look at instead.
These are baby moon jellyfish. Like tiny pulsing stars.
November 15, 2025 at 8:21 PM
These are baby moon jellyfish. Like tiny pulsing stars.
Meet Ollie the octopus. Now has a lid on his tank because one night he climbed out, snacked on one of his neighbours, then sauntered back to his tank as if nothing had happened. Also at the aquarium at Maryport.
November 15, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Meet Ollie the octopus. Now has a lid on his tank because one night he climbed out, snacked on one of his neighbours, then sauntered back to his tank as if nothing had happened. Also at the aquarium at Maryport.
Library sticker, 1935. Interesting not just for the long opening hours (so working people could access the books), but also for the note on infectious diseases.
November 14, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Library sticker, 1935. Interesting not just for the long opening hours (so working people could access the books), but also for the note on infectious diseases.
Moon jellyfish at the Maryport aquarium, Cumbria.
November 14, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Moon jellyfish at the Maryport aquarium, Cumbria.
Fashions for November 1829, La Belle Assemblee. #fashionhistory
November 14, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Fashions for November 1829, La Belle Assemblee. #fashionhistory
New acquisition - hope it will help me understand changing labour patterns better. #industrialrevolution
November 13, 2025 at 9:30 PM
New acquisition - hope it will help me understand changing labour patterns better. #industrialrevolution
London dresses for November 1808, Lady's Monthly Museum. #fashionhistory #austen250
November 7, 2025 at 2:49 PM
London dresses for November 1808, Lady's Monthly Museum. #fashionhistory #austen250
This is my harvest today - a big tub full of salad leaves! Not bad for mid-November. #gardening
November 6, 2025 at 4:07 PM
This is my harvest today - a big tub full of salad leaves! Not bad for mid-November. #gardening
More from the exhibition at the Fitzwilliam. This folding stool (the seat cover is missing) has elegant duck head-shaped supports. It's over 3000 years old. (Lent by the Louvre).
November 5, 2025 at 8:53 PM
More from the exhibition at the Fitzwilliam. This folding stool (the seat cover is missing) has elegant duck head-shaped supports. It's over 3000 years old. (Lent by the Louvre).
And in the centre of this funeral monument, you can see the mason's signature - it's incredibly rare to find a worker's name. Immortalised in stone. (To the left of the arm).
November 5, 2025 at 8:55 AM
And in the centre of this funeral monument, you can see the mason's signature - it's incredibly rare to find a worker's name. Immortalised in stone. (To the left of the arm).
And one of my favourite exhibits - some tiny frog amulets!
November 5, 2025 at 8:51 AM
And one of my favourite exhibits - some tiny frog amulets!
This exhibition explores the skilled artizans of Ancient Egypt. Here's a pretty glass fish - looks modern, doesn't it?
November 5, 2025 at 8:49 AM
This exhibition explores the skilled artizans of Ancient Egypt. Here's a pretty glass fish - looks modern, doesn't it?
This linen dress is 4,500 years old! On display in the Egyptian exhibition at the Fitzwilliam, Cambridge. fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk
November 5, 2025 at 8:44 AM
This linen dress is 4,500 years old! On display in the Egyptian exhibition at the Fitzwilliam, Cambridge. fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk
Women and girls of the pit bank, 1875. Shocking to relate, they enjoyed 'frolics and pastimes' in the pub with men once a week. They earned 2 shillings (10p) a day for shovelling and sorting coal. #mining #staffordshire
October 30, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Women and girls of the pit bank, 1875. Shocking to relate, they enjoyed 'frolics and pastimes' in the pub with men once a week. They earned 2 shillings (10p) a day for shovelling and sorting coal. #mining #staffordshire
"Darby and Joan" Child Attendance card. 1920s-1930s?
October 30, 2025 at 8:39 AM
"Darby and Joan" Child Attendance card. 1920s-1930s?
William IV coat of arms at St John the Baptist, Knutsford.
October 23, 2025 at 7:35 PM
William IV coat of arms at St John the Baptist, Knutsford.
I have got some lettuce growing under mesh. I went to cut some lettuce and there was a little face peeking out at me! #gardening
October 17, 2025 at 6:38 PM
I have got some lettuce growing under mesh. I went to cut some lettuce and there was a little face peeking out at me! #gardening