Alan Akeroyd
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alanakeroyd.bsky.social
Alan Akeroyd
@alanakeroyd.bsky.social
Archivist. Interests include archive theory, store location systems and the history of local government in Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire. Archives Manager for Cambridgeshire County Council, UK. Views expressed are my own.
Fantastic! Nothing better than the history of local government 😀
Writing a talk about the history of the Cambridgeshire library service - turned into a bit of a history of local government in Cambridgeshire but ah well! Here's the old Cambridgeshire County Library HQ in the grounds at Shire Hall in Cambridge in the 1960s.
January 29, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Reposted by Alan Akeroyd
Great to see a full page and a half about Cambridgeshire Archives in the Cambridge Independent this week. You're famous @alanakeroyd.bsky.social!
January 23, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Reposted by Alan Akeroyd
Delighted our grant enabled Dorset History Centre to acquire this fascinating manuscript. Dr Giles Roberts (1766-1834) was a key personality in Bridport's history. In 1807 he was appointed Medical Attendant there and campaigned for better hygiene and public health.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Apothecary's manuscript acquired at auction
Dr Giles Roberts came up with the
www.bbc.co.uk
January 22, 2026 at 12:24 PM
Reposted by Alan Akeroyd
Veiling the Holy: Textiles in Ethiopic Manuscripts, from @visithmml.bsky.social

hmml.org/stories/seri...
Veiling the Holy: Textiles in Ethiopic Manuscripts
“Textiles play a vibrant role in the churches of Ethiopia and Eritrea...”
hmml.org
January 22, 2026 at 6:28 PM
Reposted by Alan Akeroyd
The Garth Gold Mine in Cilcain was thought to be the richest goldfield in Wales upon its discovery in 1889! This map held at North East Wales Archives shows the area that brough wealth and fortune to the Welsh economy, and where many thought X marked the spot!
@newalesarchives.bsky.social
January 22, 2026 at 9:53 AM
Reposted by Alan Akeroyd
Today is #NationalPieDay , to celebrate we have a 18thc recipe for Chicken pie from the Bulwer collection. Could this be the earliest reference to 'pulled chicken'? #recipes #NorfolkHistory
January 23, 2026 at 9:50 AM
A hydroplane near Huntingdon in 1913. This is one of a recent accession of stereo photos received at #huntingdonshirearchives, and the collection includes the handheld viewer too, so searchers who visit us in person can get the full stereo effect. More info in the Alt
#randomdocument
January 14, 2026 at 10:58 AM
Reposted by Alan Akeroyd
Oh, the skill, the craftspersonship! Back at the Bodleian Treasures exhibition to marvel at this 15th or 16thC Qur’an (MS Ouseley Add. 178) and the 8thC MacRegol Gospels (MS Auct. D.219) with its Old English glosses.
January 13, 2026 at 10:18 PM
We have been accredited by TNA for another three years! Thank you so much to the Cambridgeshire County Council archives team whose hard work and dedication has achieved this recognition www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/news/cambrid...
#cambridgeshirearchives #huntingdonshirearchives #cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire archives services recognised with national re-accreditation
Cambridgeshire Archives has had its accreditation status renewed following an inspection from The National Archives (TNA).
www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk
January 13, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Reposted by Alan Akeroyd
One of the prettiest and most interestingly-detailed church doors I have seen…the 17th century north door (set in 14th century doorway) at St. James’ Church, Croxton, Cambridgeshire 😍
Detail in comment below…
January 5, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Reposted by Alan Akeroyd
Looking to boost your historical research skills in 2026? Check out our range of research training and short courses. More coming in Term 3!
www.history.ac.uk/study-traini...
Research Training and Short Courses
The IHR offers a wide range of training courses for historians at all career stages, from digital research and oral history to archives and publishing.
www.history.ac.uk
January 2, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Back at work today and my new desk calendar shows Rev Evelyn-White, rector of Rampton and dedicated local antiquarian. In 1900 he left the Cambridge Antiquarian Society to form his own group, the Cambs and Hunts Archaeological Society. Splitter!
January 2, 2026 at 10:24 AM
I've done very well in the work Secret Santa this year - this is the Official Huntingdonshire Archivists and Antiquarians Calendar 2026, only one of it has been printed, and it's for me! - I feel so honoured. Thank you to Esther and the team! We'll see who the pictures show as the months roll by 😀
December 24, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Reposted by Alan Akeroyd
At the outbreak of the war, physicist James Chadwick had been studying beta radiation in Berlin. He was later held as a civilian Prisoner of War at the Ruhleben camp.

In the Chadwick papers, we hold the postcards that James sent to his mother in Christmas 1915 and 1916.
December 10, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Thrilled to have been able to purchase this document from a private owner in South Africa, thanks entirely to the generosity of the Friends of the Nations' Libraries. Thank you @thefnl.bsky.social! #cambridgeshirearchives
www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/news/cambrid...
Cambridgeshire Archives acquires 18th Century Chesterton terrier
Cambridgeshire Archives have secured grant funding to acquire a ‘terrier’ - which offers a snapshot of 18th century life in Chesterton, Cambridge.
www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk
December 1, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Reposted by Alan Akeroyd
This Thursday sees the second of our online lectures, with Edward Davis giving a different perspective from his new biography on the military career of the Second Earl of Manchester during the Civil Wars. More details at: www.cromwellmuseum.org/events/cromw...
November 17, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Reposted by Alan Akeroyd
Inside a 250 year old French Violin by Augustin Chappuy. #music #art #photography #instruments
November 12, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Reposted by Alan Akeroyd
No getting away from archive displays even at the airport - flight logs and other items at Newcastle. Approve the book rest!
November 9, 2025 at 5:22 AM
Reposted by Alan Akeroyd
This Thursday sees the first of our autumn online lecture series; 4 top historians on aspects of the 1600s, the first being Dr David Smith on how Cromwell and the Civil Wars have been depicted in films and TV drama. Book now at: cromwellmuseum.org/events/cromw...
November 10, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Cambridgeshire Archive Assistants Yaye and Jayne at the IHR History Fair today #cambridgeshirearchives #huntingdonshirearchives #HistDay25
November 4, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Cambridgeshire Archives is there today too! 😀 #cambridgeshirearchives #huntingdonshirearchives #HistDay25
We're here today from 11- 4 at the Institute of Historical Research's History Day!

Pop by for a chat about our collections, services and London's history.

@ihr.bsky.social
#HistDay25
November 4, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Reposted by Alan Akeroyd
County boundaries weren't always as neat as we'd like them to be. The area around Meppershall in Bedfordshire was particularly complicated giving rise to this cartographical equivalent of a shrug of the shoulders:

HARTFORD SHIRE intermixed with BEDFORD SHIRE
The Limits uncertain

#MappyMonday
November 3, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Reposted by Alan Akeroyd
It has just been announced that there will be an increase in fees for Principal Probate wills from 17 November 2025.

The fee for a copy of the will rises from £1.50 to £16 per document. Over a 1000% rise.

Any wills you have been thinking of getting copies of now is the time!
November 4, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Reposted by Alan Akeroyd
#ICYMI - we are celebrating the publication of our 250th #BigRedBook, and our first publication for the historic county of #Westmorland.

In September we had an event to mark this and to place the volume in the context of the series and to showcase the extraordinary work behind it. #Skystorians
Celebrating Local and Place-Based History: Westmorland and the 250th VCH ‘Big Red Book’
People, Place and Community Seminar
www.history.ac.uk
October 30, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Reposted by Alan Akeroyd
We're off to Barrington today, to their cement works in the 1960s. It is famous for having the last standard gauge quarry railway, which ran until 2005. Barrington was the last cement working in Cambridgeshire before closing in 2008.
October 21, 2025 at 12:15 PM