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
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.
Reposted by Darren McLean
This happened just yesterday, so we are still navigating a situation with a bunch of unknowns. Please help if you can. Positive vibes also requested!
Our community-run art gallery flooded. Building management will get the space back into habitable condition, but we lost a bunch of stuff and we're closed for who knows how long.
We're a tiny volunteer org that spends like $20K a year, so a $3,000 emergency is a big problem. Please help us out:
We're a tiny volunteer org that spends like $20K a year, so a $3,000 emergency is a big problem. Please help us out:
Donate to Help PullmanArts Recover From A Flood, organized by Soren Spicknall
On Thursday, January 22nd, our volunteer-run community art gallery flooded with … Soren Spicknall needs your support for Help PullmanArts Recover From A Flood
gofund.me
January 24, 2026 at 3:11 AM
This happened just yesterday, so we are still navigating a situation with a bunch of unknowns. Please help if you can. Positive vibes also requested!
Reposted by Darren McLean
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
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
When "Made in..." simply isn't enough.
Made in Italy vs Made in Italy, to the UK client's specifications
Off topic for me I know.
Made in Italy vs Made in Italy, to the UK client's specifications
Off topic for me I know.
January 23, 2026 at 10:20 AM
When "Made in..." simply isn't enough.
Made in Italy vs Made in Italy, to the UK client's specifications
Off topic for me I know.
Made in Italy vs Made in Italy, to the UK client's specifications
Off topic for me I know.
Surface finishes
Subtle Sgraffito
Subtle Sgraffito
January 23, 2026 at 7:37 AM
Surface finishes
Subtle Sgraffito
Subtle Sgraffito
I thought you might like this @kfduggan.bsky.social
January 23, 2026 at 7:31 AM
I thought you might like this @kfduggan.bsky.social
Visit Castello Sforza if you have a thing for putlog holes. And even if you don't.
January 23, 2026 at 7:28 AM
Visit Castello Sforza if you have a thing for putlog holes. And even if you don't.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no...
January 21, 2026 at 1:34 PM
No, no, no, no, no, no, no...
In Milan yesterday, finding my way back to the station using the surface finishes of buildings as my references.
Italians were the masters at imitating stone, so really not sure if this is a terrible example of the natural stone 'Ceppo di Grè' or badly worn 19c concrete in imitation of it.
Italians were the masters at imitating stone, so really not sure if this is a terrible example of the natural stone 'Ceppo di Grè' or badly worn 19c concrete in imitation of it.
January 21, 2026 at 1:31 PM
In Milan yesterday, finding my way back to the station using the surface finishes of buildings as my references.
Italians were the masters at imitating stone, so really not sure if this is a terrible example of the natural stone 'Ceppo di Grè' or badly worn 19c concrete in imitation of it.
Italians were the masters at imitating stone, so really not sure if this is a terrible example of the natural stone 'Ceppo di Grè' or badly worn 19c concrete in imitation of it.
Do UK trains have sockets for charging bikes? This is on an Italian train.
January 19, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Do UK trains have sockets for charging bikes? This is on an Italian train.