Tim Jerrome

Cedric, Lett and queer histories of the English countryside with Tim Jerrome. – The Maltings

I'm giving a talk on queer histories of rural England in July! If you're in the Berwick area and want to find out more about how I'm using archives to explore this under-researched topic, please do sign up and/or share with anyone else who may be interested

www.maltingsberwick.co.uk/whats-on/ced...

Amazed that the cloaking device still works after all these years - looks like a classic example! (I assume, I've never actually seen one)

You deserve the credit for the photo of the Flying Fordson... by legitimately finding it in the archives of course

The Tractor Whisperers (an April Fool’s) - The Museum of English Rural Life Its members were known as the tractor whisperers, achieving feats of tractor mastery well beyond the human ken. But what was the Order of Credulum?

Four years ago today, I somehow got away with uploading this utter nonsense to the @themerl.bsky.social website:

Can highly recommend this as something to listen to whilst sat in a reading room, going through countless ledgers on mine administration, seeing the word "boring" on every page

I'm pretty sure I'm still the undisputed MERL Grade Up to Elite Cow champion, which is definitely because I'm unbeatable, and not because no one wants to play it with me (including my mum)

Thank you Warhorse, Tom McKay and of course @lukedale.bsky.social

I wouldn't normally post about this sort of thing, but just had to say that the romance scene in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 between Henry and Hans is one of the sweetest things I have ever seen in a video game. Beautifully acted as well. Will no doubt stay with me for a long time.

Poem written by the author of this farm diary, warning people against reading it. It is dated January 1st 1868, and reads: Touch not this book for fear of shame, For here you see the owner's name, And if he catch you by the tail, You may be sure of Aylesbury Goal

My first time being threatened by the author of a 19th century farm diary... I hope Aylesbury Gaol has good Wifi!

(Found at @themerl.bsky.social under archive reference FR BER 40/1/1)

Hello! Thanks for your interest in the article and appreciate the repost 🙂

Sounds like a presentation I would want to see! I'm looking at sources from 1800 onwards, so would be really interested to know how the availability of sources differs for an earlier time period

It does make you wonder, doesn't it. For every person we find evidence for in the archives, there are hundreds more who didn't leave a trace. Thank you for the good wishes!

Thank you so much, it felt like a very lucky find and I've been so excited to share it with the world!

If you have any interest in queer histories of the English countryside, be sure to check out the first publication of my PhD - an article for the amazing folks over at The MERL:

Thank you!

This sounds fascinating! Could you let me know the respondent number and the month of the directive so I can investigate further?

Good point! If I find any love letters between the Warden and Godrick the Grafted, I'll be sure to update

The first published finding of my PhD, and it has nothing whatsoever to do with queer history

I'm starting to think that 19th century farm diarists didn't have queer research in mind when they were writing... why is it always "a heron flew over the corn field today" and never "the new farmhand has the dreamiest eyes"

Haven't found a single name with hearts around it either!

Students standing with outdated tech at the Centre for Computing History. The graphic reads: Esmée Fairbairn Communities and Collections Fund. Apply now

The new Esmée Fairbairn Communities and Collections Fund is now open for applications 🥳

We're supporting projects using museum collections to improve inclusion and equitable working with community partners, and the new name better represents our dual focus on collections and inclusion.

Things that farmer George Cannell wrote about in his 1882 diary:

Carting muck
Carting mould
Carting manure

Things that farmer George Cannell did not write about in his 1882 diary:

Anything gay

Anyone have advice on how to stay sane while ploughing through page after page of squirrelly 19th century handwriting?

Radical Histories Join the conversation

Looking for radical histories on Bluesky?

We've made a Starter Pack of people & organisations who stretch our idea of what history is, who it is made by & what it is for.

Please share and let us know if you'd like to be added.
🗃️ & ✊🗃️

go.bsky.app/Bb57VmV

I'm still in the early stages of my research into gay and lesbian histories of the English countryside for my PhD, but would like to be added if that's ok 🙂

A poster for the 'Lost Victorian Voices' project from Buckinghamshire Archives.

Over the past year we've had a great team of researchers investigating our Victorian records for traces of Buckinghamshire's LGBTQ+ past, and now we're looking to create some art to bring their stories to life!

Interested in volunteering? Apply at the link below.

forms.gle/YgsRqKarCLMe...

A goat ornament for a Christmas tree, crafted from straw

@themerl.bsky.social Any plans for a Christmas blog this year? I keep finding straw goats around my flat and I hold you accountable

Take it from me, escaping is harder than it seems!!!

Thanks, will give it a look

I've recently started a PhD on histories of queer rural lives in England, focusing on archive research: www.techne.ac.uk/our-students... Always keen to hear from people interested in the topic :)