Diane Watt

@dianewatt.bsky.social

1.6K followers 460 following 210 posts

Writer, academic, medievalist, queer

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Diane Watt FLSW is a British medievalist, currently professor of medieval English literature at the University of Surrey. She previously held a personal chair at Aberystwyth University, where she was deputy director of the Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies (IMEMS). She was Charles A. Owen Jr. Distinguished Visiting Professor of Medieval Studies at the University of Connecticut in 2005. She was awarded a Snell Exhibition to study at Balliol College, University of Oxford, and was awarded her DPhil in English Literature in 1993. She is a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales. .. more

History 53%

Philosophy 22%

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Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · Nov 27

Margaret Paston’s will at the British Library’s Medieval Women Exhibition. You’re welcome.

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · 23h

Yesterday at West Horsley Place aka Button House from BBC’s Ghosts. Seriously haunting! I was in conversation with local historian June Davey about its putative links to Juliana Berners and The Book of St Albans. Amazing event, fabulous audience.

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · 9d

Indeed. The only way is Barking

Reposted by Kathleen Kennedy

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · 9d

Did medieval nuns care for their appearance? Rings, brooches, combs, manicure sets all found on the site of Barking Abbey.

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · 9d

A 4000 year old carved figure found buried in Dagenham marshes alongside the skeleton of a deer 🦌

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · 11d

Look forward to reading it!

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · 13d

Amazing! 🤩

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · 16d

Surrey in Autumn 🍂

Reposted by Diane Watt

Moira Donegan @moiradonegan.bsky.social · 16d

The problem of course is that women will vote for misogynists, but men won’t vote for women.

Reposted by Diane Watt

History Rage Podcast @historyrage.bsky.social · 16d

🚨 THIS WEEK ON PATREON & APPLE 🚨 Not all of the five came from the stereotypes we’ve been fed. 🏰 Annie Chapman’s early life near Windsor and the royal world is a story few expect. Discover it with @hallierubenhold.bsky.social

🎧 www.patreon.com/post...
#History #TrueCrime #Victorian

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · 18d

@bristolcms.bsky.social here you go: on a trip to the Ridgeway with John Burrow and Basil Cottle!

Reposted by Adrian Vickers, Diane Watt

Scott Alexander @scottalexander.bsky.social · 19d

Unprecedented, potentially unlawful retrograde proposals made by @solentuniversity.bsky.social

If you have a vested interest in HE, this concerns you.

We must stand together to resist these outrageous proposals.

#HE #TPS #LGPS #Pension #post-92

www.ucu.org.uk/article/1423...

Solent University threatens P&O-style 'Fire & Rehire' with pension cuts

UCU today announced that it has entered a formal trade dispute with Southampton Solent University over plans to force all its staff onto inferior pension schemes, paving the way for a strike ballot if...

www.ucu.org.uk

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · Oct 10

Pleased to see such a great selection of books shortlisted!

Reposted by Diane Watt

Dr Ian McCormick @wokestudies.bsky.social · Oct 10

New analysis shows over 15,000 university job cuts and c. 4,000 courses "shuttered"
www.ucu.org.uk/article/1422...
#Highered #Edchat #students #research

New analysis shows over 15,000 university job cuts as UCU launches UK wide strike ballot

Universities have announced cuts equivalent to over 15,000 jobs in the last year.

www.ucu.org.uk

Reposted by Diane Watt, Katrina Navickas, Kathleen Kennedy , and 2 more Diane Watt, Katrina Navickas, Kathleen Kennedy, Claire Jowitt, Kate Bradley

Dr Jo Edge 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @hagenilda.bsky.social · Oct 8

I wrote something on my time on returning to Goldsmiths as an associate lecturer, 17 years after graduating with my first degree. It’s a plea to Frances Corner’s successor to learn from mistakes made over the last 6 years and change course. #UCU #UKHE

ucucommons.org/2025/10/06/c...

Cutting Corners: a message to the next Vice Chancellor at Goldsmiths

On 1 October 2025, a short announcement was put on Goldsmiths’ website to say that Vice Chancellor Frances Corner was stepping down with immediate effect. This came off the back of an announcement …

ucucommons.org

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · Oct 4

@constancebantman.bsky.social something to circulate amongst colleagues!

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · Oct 4

🚁

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · Oct 3

Digital surveillance, stalking, helicoptering, whatever you want to call it. None of it anarchistic…

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · Oct 3

😂😂😂😂

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · Oct 1

It is!

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · Oct 1

Love it when a reviewer gets my book ❤️

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · Oct 1

T o celebrate the forthcoming print publication of our Encyclopaedia and Palgrave’s 25th anniversary this year, four chapters are free-to-view throughout October. blogs.surrey.ac.uk/medievalwome...

Reposted by Martin Paul Eve, Greg Walker, Michael H. Whitworth , and 3 more Martin Paul Eve, Greg Walker, Michael H. Whitworth, Heike Bauer, Diane Watt, Constance Bantman

Ben Davies @bendavies.bsky.social · Sep 30

Pleased to announce @univeng.bsky.social small funding scheme now open to members. UE will fund up to 20 projects up to £250 each to support research/pedagogy/continuing professional development activities in Lit, Lang, Creative Writing. See details here: universityenglish.ac.uk/englishcreat...

University English Funding

universityenglish.ac.uk

Reposted by Diane Watt

Carin Ruff @carinr.bsky.social · Sep 28

Here's another copy of the same letter from Leoba to Boniface in Vienna, ONB 751: viewer.onb.ac.at/10B7BF3F

Thanks to Diane Watt for this blog post, which signals the folio nos. for the Leoba letters and includes details of MSS of Leoba's Vita: blogs.surrey.ac.uk/early-mediev...

Reposted by Diane Watt

Carin Ruff @carinr.bsky.social · Sep 28

Today is the feast of Leoba, d. 782, learned kinswoman of Boniface who began her life in religion at Wimborne Abbey and accompanied B. to Germany. BSB Clm 8112, a copy of the Bonifatian correspondence, includes Leoba's letter from Wimborne ca. 732 introducing herself to Boniface. 🕯️#nuntastic

Reposted by Lesley A. Hall, Diane Watt, Elena Woodacre

End Sexism In Schools @endsexisminschools.bsky.social · Sep 24

We’re launching the results of our research into gender balance in the History curriculum today.

The report - The Great History Heist: Reclaiming Women’s Place in the History Curriculum - found only 12% of History lessons feature women as their main focus. 59% featured no women at all.

Sexism in the History Curriculum - End Sexism in Schools

End Sexism In School’s second crowd research project is looking into the History curriculum taught at KS3 (years 7-9) in England and Wales.

endsexisminschools.org.uk

Reposted by Diane Watt

John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · Sep 22

22 Sept 1693: d. Sr Mary Cary #Benedictine daughter of Falkland Lord Deputy of #Ireland & Elizabeth Tanfield Cary #writer at Our Lady of Consolation Cambrai #otd She was also a biographer of her mother.

Reposted by Will Jennings, Lesley A. Hall, Margot C. Finn , and 3 more Will Jennings, Lesley A. Hall, Margot C. Finn, Diane Watt, Judith Pollmann, Morwenna Ludlow

The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · Sep 18

The British Academy and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation are inviting applications from early-career researchers in the humanities and social sciences to attend a research collaboration symposium on the broad theme of Truth, Justice and Peace in Germany. https://bit.ly/4nyWsmv

Graphic that reads ‘The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and The British Academy Knowledge Frontiers Symposium, with the date 10-12 June’

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · Sep 16

🤣

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · Sep 16

You mean because it says are not were? 👻

Diane Watt @dianewatt.bsky.social · Sep 16

Really enjoyed giving my talk at the #gloshistfest and @historyrage.bsky.social gave me this great mug! Love it 🥰

A mug with medieval women are not stay at home mums written on it

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