Victoria County History

We will have to dig out some favourite manors for a thread sometime. There is... a lot of choice.

Today's quiz - anyone know about prawns on gravestones?

The 49th Latin and Palaeography Summer School, 27-31 July 2026 The School, formerly the Keele Latin and Palaeography Summer School, returns for its 49th year. In 2025 The Ranulf Higden Society took over the organisation of the Latin and Palaeography Summer Sch…

Many medievalists and early modernists have fond memories of the Keele Palaeography Summer School - it lives on! Now in the convenient location of central Birmingham, organised with help from @ies-sas.bsky.social and @ihr.bsky.social Booking open now!

palaeography.uk/study/short-...

A really useful course for any historians that might encounter #Medieval or #EarlyModern documents in their research. #Skystorians

Textual Editing: philosophical and theological texts throughout the Middle Ages This course introduces students to textual editing, especially of Latin writings belonging to the earlier and later medieval philosophical and theological tradition. First, students will learn abou…

For students who need to edit medieval texts, this summer school course in London, 8-12 June, provides an intensive introduction. Let your graduate students know. #medievalsky 👇🎓📖 ☀️

palaeography.uk/study/short-...

Only a small and comparatively recent element of UK archaeological research is purely academic. Today, the overwhelming majority is conducted within professional archaeology. Meanwhile UK avocational archaeology has 200+ years of national and regional associations, publications, and collections.

Victoria County History The Victoria County History is one of the world's longest-running research projects, exploring England's rich local history.

Hello new followers!

We are the longest-established and most ambitious Local History project yet devised.

Established in 1899, and part of @ihr.bsky.social and
@chppc.bsky.social, we aim to produce histories of every English place from the earliest time to the ever moving now.

2026 AUAC Conference: Who is Responsible for the Archives? Who is Responsible for the Archives? An Interdisciplinary Approach to Ethics in a Digital Age When: Friday 26 June 2026, 9:00–5:00 pm Where: Aston University campus in Birmingham, UK, and online (hybr...

Consider submitting a proposal for this upcoming hybrid conference on Archives and Ethics! Experts from all fields are welcome! padlet.com/dturner2_23/... @astonuniversity.bsky.social @astonpress.bsky.social

LAUNCH OF 2025-2026 HAMPSHIRE HISTORY COMPETITION FOR SCHOOLS AND SIXTH FORMS - Hampshire Archive Trust Do you love History? Do you want to become a good historian? Do you want to find out more about archives? Do you want to win a prize?

Did you know we run a History Competition for schools, sixth forms and university students in #Hampshire?

We’re looking to hear from individual students and groups who have a #Hampshire #LocalHistory project they’d like to share! Deadline is 13th March

hampshirearchivestrust.co.uk/news/launch-...

Always a pleasure.

Do take a look at the wonderful @beyondnotables.bsky.social database which includes, among others, many of our early women researchers, authors, and editors!

The 49th Latin and Palaeography Summer School, 27-31 July 2026 The School, formerly the Keele Latin and Palaeography Summer School, returns for its 49th year. In 2025 The Ranulf Higden Society took over the organisation of the Latin and Palaeography Summer Sch…

#Skystorians - New to medieval and early modern #Palaeography? Looking to improve your skills? Then the 49th Latin and Palaeography Summer School - to be held in #Birmingham (rather that Keele, as previously), might just be for you.

Please share widely.

Flyer advertising a proposal for 'The Victoria History of the Counties of Wales' listing the president of the committee as HRH The Prince of Wales.

Pitch for a Victoria History of the Counties of Wales. Should you have a parish/VCH-shaped project in Wales/Cymru that you think we could deliver, we would be happy to hear from you, so please get in touch. Diolch i ddarllen.

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus! Happy St David's Day!

We're tearing ourselves away from our Welsh cakes to remind you that, although we have not (to date - never say never), published anything on Wales/Cymru, back in 1903, we had planned to do so. And still might. #HanesCymru #WelshHistory #Skystorians

We expect nothing less. Congrats @lrylandepton.bsky.social The next #partnershippublication from @vch-home.bsky.social & @hobnobpress.bsky.social is launched 12th March - Chippenham Our History, by John Chandler.

#localhistory #localstudies #history #historians #ExploreYourArchives

#ComingSoon, our latest #PartnershipPublication with @hobnobpress.bsky.social.

We’re launching this in two weeks time on 12 March, and Chippenham, Our History will for a prelude to the #BigRedBook out later this year.

#Skystorians

Yes. Of course (and thank you!).

Authoritative thread on conversion of church buildings.

Poster digwyddiad Caergybi a delweddau gwahanol o gapeli ar draws Cymru.

Poster digwyddiad Caergybi a delweddau gwahanol o gapeli ar draws Cymru.

Poster digwyddiad Caergybi a delweddau gwahanol o gapeli ar draws Cymru.

Poster digwyddiad Caergybi a delweddau gwahanol o gapeli ar draws Cymru.

Rhannwch eich straeon, ceisiwch gefnogaeth a dysgwch fwy…. Mae angen chi ar brosiect @capelicymru.bsky.social y Comisiwn!

Ymunwch gyda ni yn ein digwyddiad #CapeliCymrumru cyntaf yfory yng Nghaergybi, 24 Chwefror: zurl.co/woI8n

Poster for Holyhead event and images of chapels from across Wales.

Poster for Holyhead event and images of chapels from across Wales.

Poster for Holyhead event and images of chapels from across Wales.

Poster for Holyhead event and images of chapels from across Wales.

Share your stories, get support and learn more…. The Commission’s @capelicymru.bsky.social project needs you!

Join us for our first #CapeliCymru event tomorrow in Holyhead, 24 February: zurl.co/khxpM

Re-Membering the Medieval Parliament, 1769-1886

The next @ihr.bsky.social 'Parliaments, Politics & People' seminar looks like a corker.

Sarah Wride (@york.ac.uk & IHR) 'Re-Membering the Medieval Parliament, 1769-1886'

📆 17 March ⏰ 17:30-19:00 @ IHR, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU & online

www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

Thank you, Andrew.

As is noted in the thread - by the Southampton rural dean in the '80s - the Church is as much people as buildings. Historic buildings are subject to state protection and use brings (often quite substantial) changes.

Change in religious buildings, as in much else, is quite normal.

Text reads: Although frequent readers of VCH publications will be familiar with this disciplined approach to research, it may be valuable to highlight that characteristic for new readers. Conclusions and clear explorations of change over time are brought together from the combination and interweaving of a great deal of evidence, briefly presented, thus creating volumes that are scholarly but remain engaging and approachable. Of course, given the short format and the extent of material researched, there is little space to develop individual points or stories, but the reader is provided with every opportunity to identify matters of personal interest and follow them up, using the excellent references available.

Praise for our 'Short' on the parish of Cradley, Herefordshire, by Terry Morgan in the Transactions of the Woolhope Club.

Learn more, and buy now from our friends @uolpress.bsky.social. #Skystorians #LocalHistory

uolpress.co.uk/book/the-vic...

Oh yes, we could have (and may yet!) devote a thread to these examples. Let's see how the rest of the week goes...

Yet again the VCH proves itself relevant in current discourse.
Read. Your. History.

Or rather, some of the things that *have been done* (aside from the very common statements to the effect that 'The chapel closed in [date], and is now a private house.'

#ManorialMonday is a hashtag we hadn't come across before. And since manors are very much *our thing* - all our parish histories describe the descent of each manor in those parishes - we approve.

That's certainly what Gregory the Great believed (not that he ever came to England!), and instructed Augustine to do in 597. How many of the ancient sites were actually devotional centres at the time churches were built upon them is a more tricky question, of course.

Places of worship reflect the communities that establish them and - as this thread has hopefully shown - how those places and communities change. Many continue to serve as places of worship, but not necessarily for the specific religious groups that built them [Fin]. #Skystorians

Recording a Reformation: preserving the stories of closed church buildings The Sacred Landscape project at the University of Saint Andrews was established to record the impact of changing religious landscapes, most notably the closure of church buildings

Obviously, the disposal of church buildings and their changing uses is a matter that generates strong emotions and asks important historical questions. Some of these are explored in this @chppc.bsky.social seminar which you can watch here: