The Society of Antiquaries of London
banner
antiquaries.bsky.social
The Society of Antiquaries of London
@antiquaries.bsky.social
In the heart of London, we are the centre of antiquarian learning, discovery & community. As a royal learned society, our Fellows have been inspiring scholarship, debate & research for over 300 years. Also own Kelmscott Manor, past home of William Morris.
This image is part of a detailed account of King Edward VI’s procession in 1547 from the Tower of London to the Palace of Westminster on the day before his coronation. Unique to this scene is its recording of the City, especially Cheapside with its goldsmiths’ shops.
November 15, 2025 at 12:49 PM
This diptych was made for a London scrivener or local clerk, Henry Farley, as part of his campaign for the restoration of St Paul’s Cathedral from 1615 until 1622.
November 13, 2025 at 10:00 AM
During both World Wars, the Society tried to prevent destruction of its books and collections by moving some of them out of London to safer storage.
November 11, 2025 at 2:40 PM
The weather may be dreary today, but tomorrow looks better, so why not drop by ours at 1pm for a free talk on a long-lost painting of an 18th-century London amputation scene. www.sal.org.uk/event/amputa...
Amputation: A Dramatic Act - Society of Antiquaries of London
Dawn Kemp Director of Museums of the Royal College of Surgeons of England talks about her recent research into a long-lost painting of an 18th-century London amputation scene, with surprising connecti...
www.sal.org.uk
November 10, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Until February, we have a display available to all those coming to our building as either members or attending an event. Inked in Memory examines how artists and Antiquaries created visual records of objects and places before the invention of photography.
November 7, 2025 at 4:16 PM
We had a great pilot session for our new school workshops! If your KS3-5 students would enjoy a free workshop exploring Magna Carta & the Making of History (&featuring fab primary sources) contact learning@sal.org.uk. Scheme kindly supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Farrer & Co.
November 7, 2025 at 1:05 PM
On 27 Nov join us for our joint lecture with @royalastrosoc.bsky.social and hear from Dr Fabio Silva and Prof. Clive Ruggles FSA about the thirteen towers of Chankillo, which form part of a monumental complex built in the Peruvian coastal desert in the 3rd century BC.

www.sal.org.uk/event/ras-le...
Robust Methodologies in Skyscape Archaeology: Case Studies from Malta and Peru - Society of Antiquaries of London
Evening lecture organised jointly with the Royal Astronomical Society. Learn about the thirteen towers of Chankillo which form part of a monumental complex built in the Peruvian coastal desert in the ...
www.sal.org.uk
November 7, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Next Tuesday at 1pm join Dawn Kemp, Director of Museums of the @collegeofsurgeons.bsky.social, who will talk about her recent research into a long-lost painting of an 18th-century London amputation scene, with surprising connections!
www.sal.org.uk/event/amputa...
November 7, 2025 at 10:07 AM
"Remember, remember, the fifth of November, gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot.'
November 5, 2025 at 1:21 PM
This print shows a grand firework display that took place at the Duke of Richmond's residence at Whitehall, River Thames, in 1749. The display was organised in honour of King George II to celebrate the signing of the treaty at Aix la Chapelle, marking the end of the War of Austrian Succession.
November 5, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Visit our #HistDay25 stand at @senatehouselib.bsky.social today! Come for the ladybird book, stay for the pick n mic sweets.
November 4, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Reposted by The Society of Antiquaries of London
History Day 2025 is well underway and there’s almost too much to take in!

(Fans of Bruce Springsteen have have just the thing for you 👀)
November 4, 2025 at 2:00 PM
On 13 November, join Prof. Tom Moore FSA and Dr Sophia Adams FSA as they share recent finds in Melsonby, North Yorkshire - one of the largest hoards of Iron Age metalwork ever encountered in Britain!

www.sal.org.uk/event/melson...
The Melsonby hoard: Vehicles & Power in Late Iron Age North Yorkshire - Society of Antiquaries of London
In this lecture Prof. Tom Moore FSA and Dr Sophia Adams FSA share recent finds in Melsonby, North Yorkshire, one of the largest hoards of Iron Age metalwork ever encountered in Britain. They explore h...
www.sal.org.uk
November 4, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Reposted by The Society of Antiquaries of London
Fragment of 4th century mosaic from the #Roman bathhouse of Lydney #Gloucestershire

Beautifully captured in watercolour by the great archaeologist, Tessa Verney Wheeler in 1929 🤩

Original painting held by @antiquaries.bsky.social

#MosaicMonday
November 3, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Our staff are fiendishly friendly today, ready to welcome you into the depths of our Library.....if you have the guts to enter....
October 31, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Party time for skeletons! ☠️🎉Here is a woodcut from Liber Chronicarum (commonly known as the Nuremberg Chronicle), published 1493. It's a Latin chronicle of Christian world history from Creation until 1493, divided into seven ages, with the concluding section on the anticipated end of days.
October 31, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Do you dare stare into the eyes of spooky child this Halloween? Take your chance today at our Haunted by the Past event until 3.30pm today! www.sal.org.uk/event/haunte...
October 31, 2025 at 11:44 AM
The Magus, or Celestial Intelligencer, was a handbook on occult and ceremonial magic compiled by Francis Barrett and published in 1801. Barrett drew on earlier Renaissance writings including that of John Dee but most of his work comes from Cornelius Agrippa whom he termed a 'famous magician'.
October 31, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Want to join our lovely team? We're looking for a Loans Coordinator! It's 21 hours per week for a fixed term (7 months) and the candidate will look after our national and international exhibition and research loan requests. Deadline is 10 November. www.sal.org.uk/about-us/vac...
Vacancies & Volunteering - Society of Antiquaries of London
Current roles available: Assistant Librarian (full time)
www.sal.org.uk
October 29, 2025 at 4:22 PM
This image comes from a German manuscript made up of a large collection of coats of arms, mostly in colour, which relate mainly to the Holy Roman Empire. It was probably written in southwest Germany or Switzerland, around the early 16th century (after 1531).
October 29, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Do you dare to join us for a Halloween-themed open day this Friday?

Come along for spooky displays of objects and books, fancy dress is welcome!

www.sal.org.uk/event/haunte...
Haunted by the Past - Society of Antiquaries of London
Do you dare to join us for a Halloween-themed open day?
www.sal.org.uk
October 27, 2025 at 3:20 PM
This image comes from the book The Discoverie of Witchcraft, wherein the Lewde dealing of Witches & Witchmongers is notablie detected, in 16 books...whereunto is added a Treatise upon the Nature and Substance of Spirits and Devils. It was published in 1584 by Reginald Scot, an MP & author in London.
October 24, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Catch up with our lecture from yesterday by Professor James Clark FSA and Emma Slocombe FSA & hear about the research project which has traced the treatment of Church textiles in England and Wales over the course of the Tudor Reformations.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0Kp...
Church vestments in Reformation England by Prof. James Clark FSA and Emma Slocombe FSA
YouTube video by SocAntiquaries
www.youtube.com
October 24, 2025 at 8:32 AM
In 1830 the Novomagians (a joke off-shoot society of the Antiquaries) thought it would be funny to pretend their treasurer, Robert Lemon, had been murdered. They ran a competition for the best epitaph & members sent in joke versions of poems, letters & drawings to lament the "passing" of Robert.
October 21, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Keep up to date with what's going on in the heritage sector and our Fellows by subscribing to our newsletter Salon!

www.sal.org.uk/what-we-do/p...
Salon & Newsletters - Society of Antiquaries of London
Sign up to our event newsletter to hear about all our upcoming events
www.sal.org.uk
October 21, 2025 at 8:53 AM