Alfred Hawkins

The glass itself is all 20th century but being rather exposed is quite degraded so they are being shipped off to wells to be consolidated and re-leaded.

#history #archaeology #heritage #conservation #chapel #church

The window reveals are principally formed of primary in situ sixteenth century Reigate stone of different beds, used to create a checkerboard pattern! The mullions and trefoil sections on the other hand date to 1876.

This week, we have been mostly removing the eastern windows of the Chapel Royal and Royal Peculiar of Saint Peter ad Vincula within the #toweroflondon (mostly known as the burial place of #anneboleyn #catherinehoward and #ladyjanegrey ) which was built between 1519-20.

A misty and dramatic visit to #BattleAbbey today - which will always be a special place for me growing up in Hastings. The absolutely stunning #13thcentury novices' room located beneath the dormitory is always particularly breathtaking! Just a shame the Romanesque abbey doesn't survive.

Photograph of a White man in a grey raincoat standing in the ruinous gateway of a medieval castle. The man is smiling at the camera. It’s me!

Hello new followers!

I’m Will, and I’m a historian and archaeologist of medieval Britain.

I post a lot about medieval buildings.

Part of my job is to make medieval buildings and medieval history more interesting and engaging for you - the public!

Welcome!

📸 Inveraray Castle (2019)

This festive season I've had the privilege to give 3 readings at the Chapel of Saint Peter ad Vincula - while I love doing them the best bit really is the choir!

✨That feeling you have when you've always wanted to see a place because of its remarkable continuity and survival, a place that held the bones of Saxon saints and kings - and you get the 1st glimpse and it's everything you imagined. The C9th crypt at St. Wystan’s, Repton.

The most magically festive day at the most magical place, but most of all with the most magical people. Loved our festive day at Windsor Castle @drowenemmerson.bsky.social & @alfredrjhawkins.bsky.social 🎄❤️✨

Fonts on Friday is my new favourite thing

#StMargaretsTivetshall, a #Norfolkchurch gem with it's amazing rood screen and #Elizabethen tympanum which so rarely survive. If that wasn't enough, it also has a 15th century roof and pew ends. Sadly heated with gas canisters...

It was a great joy to visit with @drowenemmerson.bsky.social

Medieval bench end at Little Fransham church, Norfolk

Today I have been quite thoroughly needled

The 12th century door to Kilpeck church, Herefordshire

Back at Kilpeck Church, Herefordshire.

Pevsner described the decoration as ‘sumptuous.’

Honestly one of the most remarkable things I’ve laid eyes on.

#adoorablethursday

Tonight at 8 on #channel5 it's time for the new series of #insidethetower

This series you'll see me talking about some very special doors in the White Tower!

To punctuate the church posts here is some beautiful surviving 12th century masonry in the 14th century great hall at #portchestercastle looked after by #englishheritage

The Tower has to be my favourite castle for obvious reasons but Portchester is a very, very close second.

Hi Malcolm,

That would be brilliant, happy to be in any group of church crawlers.

All the best,

Alfred

You're a gem Nathen!

Coming soon to a TV near you - it's me! (Again)

A sixteenth-century tiled floor of intensely geometric pattern, glazed with Spanish tiles of white, blue and green radial shapes.

Good evening. Here’s the tiled floor of the Poyntz chapel in the Lord Mayor’s Chapel (a medieval hospital) in Bristol. Dates to c.1520s- majority imported Spanish Mudéjar tiles with some salvaged C13-14 English ones. Mercantile bling.

'As far as aesthetic ambitions and aesthetic achievement go, #StMaryRedcliffe need not fear comparison with any other English parish church' - possibly the most accurate of Pevsner's descriptions.

Very lucky to have the church almost to myself when I visited - and to have battery left in my camera!

The outstanding roof and ceiling of St Mark's Church, better known as the Lord Mayor's Chapel, from a recent trip to Bristol.

Both sections appear to date from the early 16th century. However beautiful the ceiling is, the roof is also an outstanding survival - complete with dual wind braces!

Hello there! I'm Alfred - Assistant Curator of Historic Buildings at the #toweroflondon & #banquetinghouse and Cathedral Archaeologist at #portsmouthcathedral. I am occasionally on TV, but I spend most of my time wandering around castles, churches and cathedrals - do follow if you like old places!