Darren McLean
@darrenmcleanuk.bsky.social
Building conservation university teacher and practitioner.
Historic building materials, construction techniques, and architecture. Studying Roman construction.
Interested in forgotten methods and materials.
UK/Italy
Historic building materials, construction techniques, and architecture. Studying Roman construction.
Interested in forgotten methods and materials.
UK/Italy
Pinned
Reposted by Darren McLean
More Italian trusses with king posts that don't touch the bottom chord.
abstract from 'Innovative connection in wooden trusses'
abstract from 'Innovative connection in wooden trusses'
November 13, 2024 at 6:15 PM
More Italian trusses with king posts that don't touch the bottom chord.
abstract from 'Innovative connection in wooden trusses'
abstract from 'Innovative connection in wooden trusses'
Reposted by Darren McLean
A replacement roof using traditional trusses c1993 on a 1920s building. North Italy
November 13, 2024 at 7:21 PM
A replacement roof using traditional trusses c1993 on a 1920s building. North Italy
Having a coffee in a Glasgow cafe yesterday, and noticed that I was sitting next to this guy.
February 12, 2026 at 6:56 AM
Having a coffee in a Glasgow cafe yesterday, and noticed that I was sitting next to this guy.
A Glasgow “close”.
The entrance and stairwell of a typical Glasgow tenement in a working class 19th century area
The entrance and stairwell of a typical Glasgow tenement in a working class 19th century area
February 11, 2026 at 8:32 PM
A Glasgow “close”.
The entrance and stairwell of a typical Glasgow tenement in a working class 19th century area
The entrance and stairwell of a typical Glasgow tenement in a working class 19th century area
You see fewer and fewer of these as the years go by.
February 11, 2026 at 5:15 PM
You see fewer and fewer of these as the years go by.
Just saw this.
I’m sure that the owner thinks they’ve done a clever thing.
They haven’t. They’ve done a very silly thing.
Possibly a VERY expensive thing.
I’m sure that the owner thinks they’ve done a clever thing.
They haven’t. They’ve done a very silly thing.
Possibly a VERY expensive thing.
February 11, 2026 at 11:24 AM
Just saw this.
I’m sure that the owner thinks they’ve done a clever thing.
They haven’t. They’ve done a very silly thing.
Possibly a VERY expensive thing.
I’m sure that the owner thinks they’ve done a clever thing.
They haven’t. They’ve done a very silly thing.
Possibly a VERY expensive thing.
Reposted by Darren McLean
PLEASE REPOST 🥺🙏
The Canadian Letters & Images Project is an online digital archive of Canadians’ experience during wartime at home & in battle. It contains thousands of personal letters & photos that reveal people’s experience through their own words & eyes.
www.canadianletters.ca/content/abou...
The Canadian Letters & Images Project is an online digital archive of Canadians’ experience during wartime at home & in battle. It contains thousands of personal letters & photos that reveal people’s experience through their own words & eyes.
www.canadianletters.ca/content/abou...
February 9, 2026 at 5:36 PM
PLEASE REPOST 🥺🙏
The Canadian Letters & Images Project is an online digital archive of Canadians’ experience during wartime at home & in battle. It contains thousands of personal letters & photos that reveal people’s experience through their own words & eyes.
www.canadianletters.ca/content/abou...
The Canadian Letters & Images Project is an online digital archive of Canadians’ experience during wartime at home & in battle. It contains thousands of personal letters & photos that reveal people’s experience through their own words & eyes.
www.canadianletters.ca/content/abou...
Reposted by Darren McLean
Anyone else been bitten by the iOS update deleting all your alarms?
February 9, 2026 at 5:28 AM
Anyone else been bitten by the iOS update deleting all your alarms?
Reposted by Darren McLean
You post some really fascinating images. Here's the remains of a crude Victorian hypocaust heating one of the earliest Victorian #TurkishBaths, excavated by Oxford Archaeology in 2013. More on the baths at www.victorianturkishbath.org/_6DIRECTORY/... Pilae were unnecessary as channel was bridgeable.
February 7, 2026 at 7:42 AM
You post some really fascinating images. Here's the remains of a crude Victorian hypocaust heating one of the earliest Victorian #TurkishBaths, excavated by Oxford Archaeology in 2013. More on the baths at www.victorianturkishbath.org/_6DIRECTORY/... Pilae were unnecessary as channel was bridgeable.
Reposted by Darren McLean
African Mahogany seeds - Khaya Senegalensis and Khaya Ivorensis - being sown now and the seedlings will be planted out in May for the Atebubu Forest Landscape Restoration project in Ghana 🇬🇭 🌳 atebubu.inovaland.earth
February 8, 2026 at 7:41 AM
African Mahogany seeds - Khaya Senegalensis and Khaya Ivorensis - being sown now and the seedlings will be planted out in May for the Atebubu Forest Landscape Restoration project in Ghana 🇬🇭 🌳 atebubu.inovaland.earth
Reposted by Darren McLean
Episode 4 is now available:
Roman Lime, Pozzolan and Concrete
#romans #rome #history #archaeology #brick #tiles
Roman Lime, Pozzolan and Concrete
#romans #rome #history #archaeology #brick #tiles
Lime, Mortar, and Concrete
Podcast Episode · Build Like a Roman · 06/02/2026 · 25m
podcasts.apple.com
February 6, 2026 at 10:39 AM
As I'm presently doing my MRes in Archaeology focus on:
What the Romans built, what they used, and who did the work
So, I thought I'd do something useful, and created a new account:
@buildlikearoman.bsky.social
And a Podcast
Please do have a look if Roman materials are of interest
What the Romans built, what they used, and who did the work
So, I thought I'd do something useful, and created a new account:
@buildlikearoman.bsky.social
And a Podcast
Please do have a look if Roman materials are of interest
Roman Brick and Tile
Podcast Episode · Build Like a Roman · 03/02/2026 · 23m
podcasts.apple.com
February 3, 2026 at 4:00 PM
As I'm presently doing my MRes in Archaeology focus on:
What the Romans built, what they used, and who did the work
So, I thought I'd do something useful, and created a new account:
@buildlikearoman.bsky.social
And a Podcast
Please do have a look if Roman materials are of interest
What the Romans built, what they used, and who did the work
So, I thought I'd do something useful, and created a new account:
@buildlikearoman.bsky.social
And a Podcast
Please do have a look if Roman materials are of interest
Reposted by Darren McLean
Attn. NSW High School History/Ancient History Teachers: Free to a good home. A run of 'Teaching History' 2010-2016. Misc. issues of 'Ancient History: Resources for Teachers'. I would love to see these go to a resource-poor school but mostly would like to see them being useful to someone. DM me.
February 1, 2026 at 4:00 AM
Attn. NSW High School History/Ancient History Teachers: Free to a good home. A run of 'Teaching History' 2010-2016. Misc. issues of 'Ancient History: Resources for Teachers'. I would love to see these go to a resource-poor school but mostly would like to see them being useful to someone. DM me.
The Woolworth building under construction. Catch-Scaffolds used to stop detritus falling to the street.
BTW, one of the (surprisingly few) fatalities during the construction of the Empire State Building was a hit by a falling piece of wood. She died two weeks later from a resulting infection.
BTW, one of the (surprisingly few) fatalities during the construction of the Empire State Building was a hit by a falling piece of wood. She died two weeks later from a resulting infection.
January 30, 2026 at 10:28 PM
The Woolworth building under construction. Catch-Scaffolds used to stop detritus falling to the street.
BTW, one of the (surprisingly few) fatalities during the construction of the Empire State Building was a hit by a falling piece of wood. She died two weeks later from a resulting infection.
BTW, one of the (surprisingly few) fatalities during the construction of the Empire State Building was a hit by a falling piece of wood. She died two weeks later from a resulting infection.
Reposted by Darren McLean
Medieval and Post-Medieval Pottery Specialist
MOLA
Salary: Regional £30,048 - £31,527 - London £31,828 - £33,164 (depending upon experience and location)
Closing Date: February 09, 2026
Location: Northampton, Stansted (Regional) or London
www.bajr.org/job-ad/medie...
MOLA
Salary: Regional £30,048 - £31,527 - London £31,828 - £33,164 (depending upon experience and location)
Closing Date: February 09, 2026
Location: Northampton, Stansted (Regional) or London
www.bajr.org/job-ad/medie...
Medieval and Post-Medieval Pottery Specialist - BAJR - British Archaeology Jobs and Resources
Salary: Regional £30,048 - £31,527 - London £31,828 - £33,164 (depending upon experience and location)Closing Date: 09/02/26Location: Northampton, Stansted (Regional) or London
www.bajr.org
January 29, 2026 at 11:41 AM
Medieval and Post-Medieval Pottery Specialist
MOLA
Salary: Regional £30,048 - £31,527 - London £31,828 - £33,164 (depending upon experience and location)
Closing Date: February 09, 2026
Location: Northampton, Stansted (Regional) or London
www.bajr.org/job-ad/medie...
MOLA
Salary: Regional £30,048 - £31,527 - London £31,828 - £33,164 (depending upon experience and location)
Closing Date: February 09, 2026
Location: Northampton, Stansted (Regional) or London
www.bajr.org/job-ad/medie...
And where did they learn to do slatework?
in the Dachdeckerschule, of course
in the Dachdeckerschule, of course
January 27, 2026 at 7:48 PM
And where did they learn to do slatework?
in the Dachdeckerschule, of course
in the Dachdeckerschule, of course
If you have a thing for slate, old Germany is the place for you.
January 27, 2026 at 7:43 PM
If you have a thing for slate, old Germany is the place for you.
The next time you see a ruin with arches that look like they should have collapsed, consider that this is the order in which they were built.
January 27, 2026 at 2:40 PM
The next time you see a ruin with arches that look like they should have collapsed, consider that this is the order in which they were built.
Thinking of interesting signs reminded me of this
January 27, 2026 at 11:54 AM
Thinking of interesting signs reminded me of this
Some more examples of ‘Blind Windows’ not related to the Window tax.
January 27, 2026 at 9:17 AM
Some more examples of ‘Blind Windows’ not related to the Window tax.
The Block Arcade, Melbourne
January 27, 2026 at 8:00 AM
The Block Arcade, Melbourne
In an early 1900s shopping arcade.
Merchant City, Glasgow, Scotland
Merchant City, Glasgow, Scotland
January 26, 2026 at 9:36 PM
In an early 1900s shopping arcade.
Merchant City, Glasgow, Scotland
Merchant City, Glasgow, Scotland
Sgraffito:
A form of plaster decoration where the surface is scratched away to reveal the layer beneath, often in a contrasting colour.
A form of plaster decoration where the surface is scratched away to reveal the layer beneath, often in a contrasting colour.
January 24, 2026 at 7:35 AM
Sgraffito:
A form of plaster decoration where the surface is scratched away to reveal the layer beneath, often in a contrasting colour.
A form of plaster decoration where the surface is scratched away to reveal the layer beneath, often in a contrasting colour.