James Brown's Avatar

James Brown

@drjamesbrown.bsky.social

Erstwhile early modern historian, now professional services at the Uni of Sheffield. Likes: intoxicants; the supernatural, folklore, and folk horror; KE/impact; project management; πŸ“Έ; πŸ₯Ύ; πŸ‹οΈ. My photography portfolio: https://cursedaperture.squarespace.com/

633 Followers  |  359 Following  |  92 Posts  |  Joined: 19.09.2023  |  2.3853

Latest posts by drjamesbrown.bsky.social on Bluesky

a shot of a god botherer in a car, next to him on the passenger seat is a skull in an ornate box

a shot of a god botherer in a car, next to him on the passenger seat is a skull in an ornate box

'Skull of St. Thomas Aquinas being transported to Fossanova Abbey.'
Photograph by Daniel Ibanez

10.12.2025 08:31 β€” πŸ‘ 4055    πŸ” 960    πŸ’¬ 203    πŸ“Œ 905

Thank you, noted (and apologies again).

15.11.2025 11:24 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Just sharing experience! Sincere apologies if it offended (I didn’t mean to at all, seriously).

15.11.2025 11:20 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I’ve used it for work for a similar time and it just seems to get worse with each update. In my experience Squarespace is orders of magnitude better, certainly for photography, but YMMV (and apologies for this unsolicited advice… πŸ™ˆ).

15.11.2025 11:15 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Know you’re not looking for advice but WordPress is a disaster (and has been for some time); I’d migrate to Squarespace, who are πŸ‘Œ.

15.11.2025 11:08 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
The side of an woman's effigy tomb showing the bottom of her dress and her feet (she lays on her back). The dress is depicted as many wiggled folds of fabric, and we can see the soles of her small shoes.

The side of an woman's effigy tomb showing the bottom of her dress and her feet (she lays on her back). The dress is depicted as many wiggled folds of fabric, and we can see the soles of her small shoes.

slightly obsessed about the end of this lady's effigy tomb with the voluminous folds of her dress and petite heeled shoes

14.11.2025 09:43 β€” πŸ‘ 1049    πŸ” 147    πŸ’¬ 22    πŸ“Œ 17
Screenshot of a 17th century record. Mac Preview has highlighted some it and offer options:

β€œAdd To Contacts...
Call Ω₯Ω£Ω Ω’Ω₯Ω’Ω‘- Using iPhone
FaceTime
FaceTime Audio
Message Ω₯Ω£Ω Ω’Ω₯Ω’Ω‘Ω 
Large Type
Look Up "Ω₯Ω£Ω Ω’Ω₯Ω’Ω‘Ω Ω 
Writing Tools”

Screenshot of a 17th century record. Mac Preview has highlighted some it and offer options: β€œAdd To Contacts... Call Ω₯Ω£Ω Ω’Ω₯Ω’Ω‘- Using iPhone FaceTime FaceTime Audio Message Ω₯Ω£Ω Ω’Ω₯Ω’Ω‘Ω  Large Type Look Up "Ω₯Ω£Ω Ω’Ω₯Ω’Ω‘Ω Ω  Writing Tools”

my mac doing its best to telephone a seventeenth century ecclesiastical record πŸ—ƒοΈ

12.11.2025 11:29 β€” πŸ‘ 347    πŸ” 73    πŸ’¬ 11    πŸ“Œ 4

One of my all-time favourite locations.

12.11.2025 08:24 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I was just about to say that in our part of Sheffield it sounds like a particularly vicious civil war has broken out...

08.11.2025 20:31 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I thought it was a lovely touch.

07.11.2025 11:39 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you!

31.10.2025 08:02 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Feels a bit cringe asking but would you mind adding me?

31.10.2025 07:06 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

This made a huge impression on me growing up, and it remains one of the most haunting and effective adverts I’ve ever seen.

23.10.2025 16:35 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

A magical place (and I’m so looking forward to the landscape folklore book).

16.10.2025 06:00 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Robin Hood’s Stride in Birchover!

15.10.2025 21:24 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

The Haunted Bridge. A mystery to solve ... I have this postcard called "The Haunted Bridge" but cannot identify it. It's described as a British beauty spot. The card was posted from Nottingham, early 20thc.

26.09.2025 20:12 β€” πŸ‘ 53    πŸ” 15    πŸ’¬ 6    πŸ“Œ 2

Can’t join the watchalong unfortunately but I absolutely love this film!

26.09.2025 06:45 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
woodcut engraving of a frog, captioned "OF THE PADDCKE OR CROOKED backe Frogge." The accompanying text describes three types of frogs:
The little green Frog
The Padocke (or crooked back frog): Identified in Latin as Rubeta Gibbosa, this type is noted as being "mute or dumbe."
The Toade: Commonly referred to as Rubetax or Bufo.

woodcut engraving of a frog, captioned "OF THE PADDCKE OR CROOKED backe Frogge." The accompanying text describes three types of frogs: The little green Frog The Padocke (or crooked back frog): Identified in Latin as Rubeta Gibbosa, this type is noted as being "mute or dumbe." The Toade: Commonly referred to as Rubetax or Bufo.

The historie of serpents… Edward Topsell, 1608.

18.09.2025 05:09 β€” πŸ‘ 89    πŸ” 19    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

It was indeed! πŸ§™β€β™€οΈ

12.09.2025 07:10 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
The history of witches and wizards: giving a true account of all their tryals in England, Scotland, Swedeland, France, and New England; with their confession and condemnation / Collected from Bishop H...

It’s from The History of Witches and Wizards (London, 1720); full text is here, woodcut at p. 28: wellcomecollection.org/works/abkab8...

12.09.2025 06:55 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

It’s a go-to comfort watch for me too.

11.09.2025 15:38 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Two patriotic scarecrows before a rural scene with a moody sky.

Two patriotic scarecrows before a rural scene with a moody sky.

I enjoyed meeting these characters in deepest rural Derbyshire last month.

02.09.2025 15:28 β€” πŸ‘ 23    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
A scarecrow who has just watched Monty Python's The Holy Grail for the first time

A scarecrow who has just watched Monty Python's The Holy Grail for the first time

A scarecrow who is feeling pleased with himself after forming a 1950s sci-fi themed surf rock band, of which he is the sole member

A scarecrow who is feeling pleased with himself after forming a 1950s sci-fi themed surf rock band, of which he is the sole member

A scarecrow who is dolled up and ready for a night out in the fanciest part of Newcastle

A scarecrow who is dolled up and ready for a night out in the fanciest part of Newcastle

A very pleasant and well-meaning scarecrow who will paint your house for a competitive rate while rhapsodising about the beauty of the land

A very pleasant and well-meaning scarecrow who will paint your house for a competitive rate while rhapsodising about the beauty of the land

THREAD. A collection of photos I have taken of scarecrows I have stumbled across during walks in the British countryside over the last fifteen years.

02.09.2025 06:10 β€” πŸ‘ 317    πŸ” 111    πŸ’¬ 16    πŸ“Œ 21
A withdrawn library book. Under the date label there is a biro drawing of a teapot divided to serve either tea or poison

A withdrawn library book. Under the date label there is a biro drawing of a teapot divided to serve either tea or poison

Just removed the date label from an old book and discovered that someone has drawn a design for a teapot that can serve either tea or poison how's your day going?

29.08.2025 08:59 β€” πŸ‘ 987    πŸ” 171    πŸ’¬ 48    πŸ“Œ 15
Post image

The witch trials of 1612 still cast a long shadow.

15.08.2025 07:27 β€” πŸ‘ 2269    πŸ” 489    πŸ’¬ 51    πŸ“Œ 42
Post image

It was built round so that the DEVIL could not hide in the corners.

07.08.2025 11:38 β€” πŸ‘ 219    πŸ” 31    πŸ’¬ 8    πŸ“Œ 10
Post image

I enjoyed mine over the weekend! They’re all gorgeous, but I think this little house is my fave (adorable and creepy in equal measure).

04.08.2025 11:50 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

In the death registers of early modern Venice, marginalia often marks the cause of death: drawings of daggers for murders, for instance.

In 1696, Giovanni Battista Rinaldi was killed by a dog. This is the drawing by his entry.

28.07.2025 23:49 β€” πŸ‘ 264    πŸ” 87    πŸ’¬ 9    πŸ“Œ 9
Post image

Same.

31.07.2025 09:22 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

The Cold War Bunker, the plague stones on Hob Moor, and the Tyburn execution site are lesser-known gems that I think will appeal to your sensibilities; also the Printer’s Devil effigy on Stonegate, while St Olave’s church and the adjacent ruins of St Mary’s Abbey are lovely.

18.07.2025 13:23 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

@drjamesbrown is following 20 prominent accounts