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@dlprior.bsky.social

Formerly Head of Public Services & Outreach at UK Parliamentary Archives. A Vice-President and trustee of @britrecs.bsky.social and a volunteer @cromwellmuseum.bsky.social. Researching Clive of India and the East India Company. Views my own.

90 Followers  |  124 Following  |  11 Posts  |  Joined: 16.11.2024
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Posts by (@dlprior.bsky.social)

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We're delighted to be a partner in #Huntingdon's bid to be UK Town of Culture for 2028, led with our friends at Huntingdon BID and Huntingdon Town Council. This is a great opportunity to highlight our town's rich heritage and strong sense of community for local people and visitors! πŸ˜€

25.02.2026 10:26 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Did you know our latest acquisition – Cromwell’s watch – was sketched for the Gentleman’s Magazine in 1808? Dating to c.1645, this item is now on permanent display, made possible by grants from @HeritageFundUK, @artfund and public crowdfunding. Visit us to see it for yourself! πŸ˜€

20.02.2026 18:24 β€” πŸ‘ 23    πŸ” 9    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A background of opaque tree rings in lilac with the Archives journal cover in the foreground and the LUP and BRA logos on the other side. The journal comprises a lilac and mid blue cover with faded tree rings in the background, with 'ARCHIVES ' written in mid blue at the top in white sans serif text and the caption, 'The journal of the British Records Association' written in blue underneath.

A background of opaque tree rings in lilac with the Archives journal cover in the foreground and the LUP and BRA logos on the other side. The journal comprises a lilac and mid blue cover with faded tree rings in the background, with 'ARCHIVES ' written in mid blue at the top in white sans serif text and the caption, 'The journal of the British Records Association' written in blue underneath.

Most read | Archives
β€˜Caring for Parliament’s archive collections’ by Katerina Laina is part of a new special issue guest edited by @satisfactory20.bsky.social & David Prior.
➑️Browse: bit.ly/ARCH-KL
@britrecs.bsky.social @chuarchives.bsky.social @internetarchiveca.bsky.social @araukie.bsky.social

23.02.2026 11:01 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Contents | Archives: The Journal of the British Records Association 59, 1-2 The archives collections held at Westminster date back more than 500 years. The House of Lords kept its most important records for centuries in the Jewel Tower, a stone tower on the parliamentary estate previously used by the royal family to store ...

I wrote the history of the Parliamentary Archives! Newly published in Archives, Journal of @britrecs.bsky.social along with articles by @dlprior.bsky.social @adrianbrown.bsky.social - check your library for access! liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/toc/archives...

16.02.2026 16:50 β€” πŸ‘ 16    πŸ” 9    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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This weekend, Saturday 14 & Sunday 15 February, discover the astonishing high end fashion of the 17th century with our Royal Fashion event. On Saturday, learn about the clothing of the early 1600s, Sunday that of the Restoration & 1660s. Details at: cromwellmuseum.org/events/royal...

12.02.2026 09:19 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

We're delighted to be hosting this event this year! 😊

11.02.2026 09:35 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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Last weekend we had an amazing set of sell-out performances, recreating the 1660 Trials of the Regicides in the atmospheric surroundings of an historic courtroom. Huge thanks to everyone involved, especially the brilliant cast from the Sealed Knot. Photos by @johnbeardsworth.bsky.social

10.02.2026 15:57 β€” πŸ‘ 13    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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#OnThisDay 30 January 1649 Charles I was publicly beheaded at Whitehall in London...
#OnThisDay 30 January 1661 Oliver Cromwell's corpse, along with 2 others, was publicly hanged, then beheaded at Tyburn in London for their part in the regicide...
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30.01.2026 10:23 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Introducing an exciting new additon to the museum, what is believed to be Cromwell's watch! We're delighted to announce this acquisition, now on display, made possible by grants from @heritagefunduk.bsky.social & Art Fund plus public donations. Details at: cromwellmuseum.org/cromwell/cro...

29.01.2026 09:50 β€” πŸ‘ 75    πŸ” 24    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 1
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Tickets are selling out quickly for our immersive performances on Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 February, recreating the events of the trials of the men who executed Charles I...
Don't miss out! Book now for 'Royal Revenge' at: cromwellmuseum.org/events/royal...

24.01.2026 11:54 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Tickets are selling fast for our immersive performances on Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 February recreating the events of the trials of the men who executed Charles I, held in an historic courtroom. Book now for 'Royal Revenge: the Trials of the Regicides' at: cromwellmuseum.org/events/royal...

12.01.2026 09:14 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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On a recent visit to the Archivo General de Indias in Seville I came across this box which was used for Royal documents in the 16th century.

30.12.2025 20:02 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Join us on Saturday 7 or Sunday 8 February for immersive theatre recreating the events of the trials of the men who executed Charles I, in the atmospheric surroundings of an historic court. Book now for 'Royal Revenge: the Trials of the Regicides' at: www.cromwellmuseum.org/events/royal...

29.12.2025 10:54 β€” πŸ‘ 13    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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Join us on 10 January to meet our 17th century grocers and discover the new foods that became fashionable in the 1650s, including Ice Cream, Pineapples and Coffee!
More details at: www.cromwellmuseum.org/events/cromw...

27.12.2025 13:43 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Looking for something to do over the festive season? Pay us a visit to see our new exhibit on 1600s fashion and costume, open as usual between Christmas and New Year. More details at: www.cromwellmuseum.org/events/stitc...

16.12.2025 16:14 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Did the Puritans ban Christmas dinner? - The History of Parliament The Puritans are often accused of banning Christmas, and although the House of Commons did sit on Christmas Day during the English Republic, Dr Stephen

The Puritans are often accused of banning Christmas.

However, as Dr Stephen Roberts investigates, a little myth-busting may be required:

15.12.2025 12:42 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
A coloured half-length portrait of Oliver Cromwell in armour, with a white fabric collar. He has a faint light blond moustache and soul patch, with long middle parted brown hair.

A coloured half-length portrait of Oliver Cromwell in armour, with a white fabric collar. He has a faint light blond moustache and soul patch, with long middle parted brown hair.

#OTD 1653, a new written constitution, the Instrument of Government, was established. Under its provisions Oliver Cromwell was installed as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth.

16.12.2025 09:15 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Our final autumn online lecture is thus Thursday, 11 December, in which Professor Holly Brewer will be looking at the growth of the slave trade in the mid-1600s and how this was refelected in portraits of the period. More details at: www.cromwellmuseum.org/events/slave...

08.12.2025 09:26 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Do you enjoy public speaking and engaging children and young people with history? Join our enthusiastic team of Learning Volunteers! Find out more here: www.cromwellmuseum.org/volunteer-wi...

25.11.2025 13:48 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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On Wednesday 3 December we have a very special evening event, with a rare showing of the iconic 1981 drama 'A last visitor for Mr Hugh Peter' based on the last night of the regicide and preacher, introduced by historian @johnwrees.bsky.social. Details at: www.cromwellmuseum.org/events/a-las...

19.11.2025 10:31 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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This Thursday sees the second of our online lectures, with Edward Davis giving a different perspective from his new biography on the military career of the Second Earl of Manchester during the Civil Wars. More details at: www.cromwellmuseum.org/events/cromw...

17.11.2025 15:09 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Our new exhibit 'Stitching the Nation: Fashion in Times of Turmoil' is now open, looking at how what we wore was affected by the turmoil of the mid-1600s. It includes rare surviving items kindly loaned to us - more details at: cromwellmuseum.org/events/stitc...

07.11.2025 15:14 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 3
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This Sunday, step into the role of King Charles I or Sir Thomas Fairfax and lead your army to victory... βš”οΈ Join us at Huntingdon Town Hall between 11am - 4pm on Sunday 2 November and take part in a Battle of Naseby table top war game, created by two of our talented volunteers.

29.10.2025 12:06 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Tickets are now on sale for our autumn online lecture series. Four top historians on aspects of the 1600s, including a forgotten general, a dashing cavalier, slavery in 1600s art and Cromwell in the movies. Talks are recorded for ticket holders too! www.cromwellmuseum.org/events/cromw...

19.10.2025 09:31 β€” πŸ‘ 14    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 2
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Our October temporary exhibit showcases new acquisitions to our collections, including a 1660 account of the trial of the regicides, the Ireton family's Bible and this curious 1643 map of Huntingdonshire - complete with distances! More details at: www.cromwellmuseum.org/events/new-a...

11.10.2025 11:19 β€” πŸ‘ 25    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Today we are celebrating #Railway200, as 200 years ago, #OTD 1825, the Stockton & Darlington Railway opened.

To mark this milestone, we thought we’d look at some of the ways Parliament and the railways have intersected in the last 200 years: (🧡 1/6)
@victoriancommons.bsky.social

27.09.2025 08:15 β€” πŸ‘ 14    πŸ” 9    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Safeguarding Future History: Meeting the Challenge of Records at Risk Join the BRA as we examine past, present and future risk to UK archives and discuss preservation strategies for the 21st century

🎟️ Book your ticket for our conference 'Safeguarding Future History: Meeting the Challenge of Records at Risk' on November 4th in London.
Join us for insights from academics, funders, and representatives from The National Archives and British Council.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/safeguardi...

06.10.2025 07:46 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 2
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Museums in East of England get over Β£2m in government funding The museums minister says the money will help preserve jobs at heritage attractions.

We're delighted to have received funding from @artscouncilengland.bsky.social and @dcmsgovuk.bsky.social as part of the latest round of Museum Resilience Funding. This will not only help support our existing activity but develop new programmes over the coming months! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

08.10.2025 08:11 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Last chance to see our current exhibit, which tells the story of the battle that changed British history! Exhibit finishes on 5 October, so don't miss out! Discover more at: cromwellmuseum.org/events/cromw...

18.09.2025 09:45 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1