Dr Lizzie Swarbrick 🇵🇸
@lizzieswarbrick.bsky.social
Art & Architectural Historian - Research Manager for the Finding Futures for Scotland’s Churches Project @socantscot.bsky.social - Freelance research and writing about Scottish Medieval and Early Modern - She/her
Reposted by Dr Lizzie Swarbrick 🇵🇸
Seaweed and algae from ‘American card album’ manufactured by L. Prang & Co. Boston, Mass. patented April 5th, 1864.
I saw this beautiful album at Boston Athenæum.
#bostonathenaeum #naturalhistory #seamosses #sciart
I saw this beautiful album at Boston Athenæum.
#bostonathenaeum #naturalhistory #seamosses #sciart
February 2, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Seaweed and algae from ‘American card album’ manufactured by L. Prang & Co. Boston, Mass. patented April 5th, 1864.
I saw this beautiful album at Boston Athenæum.
#bostonathenaeum #naturalhistory #seamosses #sciart
I saw this beautiful album at Boston Athenæum.
#bostonathenaeum #naturalhistory #seamosses #sciart
I spent two delightful days filming a part of this with @profaliceroberts.bsky.social around Rosslyn and Temple. Excited to see that it will be out soon!
Join me on a quest for the Grail! I’ll be delving into the mystery and history, disentangling the myths and the facts… starting on Sky History just after Imbolc, on 3rd Feb!
www.history.co.uk/shows/lost-g...
www.history.co.uk/shows/lost-g...
Lost Grail with Alice Roberts
Join Professor Alice Roberts on an adventure across Britain as she decodes the truth behind its Holy Grail legends, linking Arthurian lore, sacred relics and the Knights Templar.
www.history.co.uk
January 26, 2026 at 9:00 AM
I spent two delightful days filming a part of this with @profaliceroberts.bsky.social around Rosslyn and Temple. Excited to see that it will be out soon!
I should also mention that it’s me giving the guided tours! I’m excited to show everyone this beaut of a building.
We’re hosting a drop-in Open Day at St Mary’s Church, Whitekirk on 7 Feb (11am–3pm).
Come explore the church, enjoy organ music, and join a short guided tour
@socantscot.bsky.social @scotchurchestrust.bsky.social @heritagefunduk.bsky.social
Come explore the church, enjoy organ music, and join a short guided tour
@socantscot.bsky.social @scotchurchestrust.bsky.social @heritagefunduk.bsky.social
January 19, 2026 at 4:37 PM
I should also mention that it’s me giving the guided tours! I’m excited to show everyone this beaut of a building.
If any of you lovelies have a connection to Whitekirk - have you visited/studied/worshipped/got married there/hid in the porch during a rain shower - whatever! Please do come along and share you stories about this amazing medieval pilgrimage site! You can contribute digitally as well as on the day.
We’re hosting a drop-in Open Day at St Mary’s Church, Whitekirk on 7 Feb (11am–3pm).
Come explore the church, enjoy organ music, and join a short guided tour
@socantscot.bsky.social @scotchurchestrust.bsky.social @heritagefunduk.bsky.social
Come explore the church, enjoy organ music, and join a short guided tour
@socantscot.bsky.social @scotchurchestrust.bsky.social @heritagefunduk.bsky.social
January 19, 2026 at 4:36 PM
If any of you lovelies have a connection to Whitekirk - have you visited/studied/worshipped/got married there/hid in the porch during a rain shower - whatever! Please do come along and share you stories about this amazing medieval pilgrimage site! You can contribute digitally as well as on the day.
I’m so sad to only hear about this happening now - do attend if you can, it looks AMAZING (+ then please tell me all about it).
'Creative Medievalisms Now: Writing the Middle Ages Today and Tomorrow', forthcoming symposium at Cambridge. A two-day symposium for writer-researchers working on medieval materials to reflect on craft, research processes, and work in progress.
Booking essential: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/creative-m...
Booking essential: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/creative-m...
Creative Medievalisms Now: Writing the Middle Ages Today and Tomorrow
A two-day symposium on creative writing, the creative-critical seam, and the Middle Ages
www.eventbrite.co.uk
January 8, 2026 at 4:33 PM
I’m so sad to only hear about this happening now - do attend if you can, it looks AMAZING (+ then please tell me all about it).
Reposted by Dr Lizzie Swarbrick 🇵🇸
In fact we have records of at least 65,000 immigrants in the late MEDIEVAL period. This means real numbers were significantly higher. In England more than 1% of the population was foreign born (never mind 2nd gen) with numbers as high as 1 in 10 in cities. There’s a database!
January 8, 2026 at 12:27 PM
In fact we have records of at least 65,000 immigrants in the late MEDIEVAL period. This means real numbers were significantly higher. In England more than 1% of the population was foreign born (never mind 2nd gen) with numbers as high as 1 in 10 in cities. There’s a database!
Reposted by Dr Lizzie Swarbrick 🇵🇸
A special request for @matthew-blake.bsky.social and @shroomgirl.bsky.social
St Tredwell's chapel on a frozen in part loch.
Rain and low cloud stopped play.
#Papay #Orkney
St Tredwell's chapel on a frozen in part loch.
Rain and low cloud stopped play.
#Papay #Orkney
January 6, 2026 at 11:51 AM
A special request for @matthew-blake.bsky.social and @shroomgirl.bsky.social
St Tredwell's chapel on a frozen in part loch.
Rain and low cloud stopped play.
#Papay #Orkney
St Tredwell's chapel on a frozen in part loch.
Rain and low cloud stopped play.
#Papay #Orkney
Does anyone else get the ‘we’re gonna need a bigger book’ feeling when you get to a certain pivotal
moment in a story? When something so huge has just happened and you want to dive deeep into it?
moment in a story? When something so huge has just happened and you want to dive deeep into it?
January 6, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Does anyone else get the ‘we’re gonna need a bigger book’ feeling when you get to a certain pivotal
moment in a story? When something so huge has just happened and you want to dive deeep into it?
moment in a story? When something so huge has just happened and you want to dive deeep into it?
Reposted by Dr Lizzie Swarbrick 🇵🇸
Scottish history books for sale. usual flat rate is £5pb/ £10hb + postage. rare books maybe priced separately - cannot post out until Feb so just collecting reservations (no payments) email claredownham360@hotmail.com #scotland #skystorians #history #booksky see link www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/tkgc6...
December 22, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Scottish history books for sale. usual flat rate is £5pb/ £10hb + postage. rare books maybe priced separately - cannot post out until Feb so just collecting reservations (no payments) email claredownham360@hotmail.com #scotland #skystorians #history #booksky see link www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/tkgc6...
Should have got this for my work on Rosslyn Chapel.
Just got my official work PPE and now off down the secret passage to my paid government job hiding the evidence for all those ship timbers, swordfights on spiral stairs, and Britain's oldest pub.
THEY don't want you to know but the truth can be found in Youtube comments...
THEY don't want you to know but the truth can be found in Youtube comments...
December 9, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Should have got this for my work on Rosslyn Chapel.
Reposted by Dr Lizzie Swarbrick 🇵🇸
you know who's got some good book titles? The Council for the Care of Churches.
"It won't happen to us: a guide to church insurance"
"Sounds good! a guide to church organs"
"Widening the eye of the needle: a guide to church access"
"how not to do it: installing electricity in your church (1940)"
"It won't happen to us: a guide to church insurance"
"Sounds good! a guide to church organs"
"Widening the eye of the needle: a guide to church access"
"how not to do it: installing electricity in your church (1940)"
December 9, 2025 at 11:00 AM
you know who's got some good book titles? The Council for the Care of Churches.
"It won't happen to us: a guide to church insurance"
"Sounds good! a guide to church organs"
"Widening the eye of the needle: a guide to church access"
"how not to do it: installing electricity in your church (1940)"
"It won't happen to us: a guide to church insurance"
"Sounds good! a guide to church organs"
"Widening the eye of the needle: a guide to church access"
"how not to do it: installing electricity in your church (1940)"
Reposted by Dr Lizzie Swarbrick 🇵🇸
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Dr Lizzie Swarbrick 🇵🇸
In the UK, you could demolish a church VAT-free, but if you wanted to repair that church, you would have to pay VAT.
November 22, 2025 at 10:01 AM
In the UK, you could demolish a church VAT-free, but if you wanted to repair that church, you would have to pay VAT.
Is there a material culture journal for short notes of just cool stuff people have found?
I have so many little ideas about things that I can’t use for anything longer, but would like to share. I’m imagining a sort of magazine with big images and accessible mini-articles. Could call it ‘Neat’?
I have so many little ideas about things that I can’t use for anything longer, but would like to share. I’m imagining a sort of magazine with big images and accessible mini-articles. Could call it ‘Neat’?
November 24, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Is there a material culture journal for short notes of just cool stuff people have found?
I have so many little ideas about things that I can’t use for anything longer, but would like to share. I’m imagining a sort of magazine with big images and accessible mini-articles. Could call it ‘Neat’?
I have so many little ideas about things that I can’t use for anything longer, but would like to share. I’m imagining a sort of magazine with big images and accessible mini-articles. Could call it ‘Neat’?
Reposted by Dr Lizzie Swarbrick 🇵🇸
florence pew: thread
November 15, 2025 at 2:25 AM
florence pew: thread
Reposted by Dr Lizzie Swarbrick 🇵🇸
November 12, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Thou art moss and unto moss thou shalt return
November 10, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Thou art moss and unto moss thou shalt return
Reposted by Dr Lizzie Swarbrick 🇵🇸
am reminded of the old joke: what did James Watson discover?
Rosalind Franklin’s notes.
Rosalind Franklin’s notes.
November 7, 2025 at 9:15 PM
am reminded of the old joke: what did James Watson discover?
Rosalind Franklin’s notes.
Rosalind Franklin’s notes.
Okay, but are you ‘general feeling of guilt’ lapsed Catholic or ‘will anoint yourself in any handy holy well’ lapsed Catholic?
November 7, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Okay, but are you ‘general feeling of guilt’ lapsed Catholic or ‘will anoint yourself in any handy holy well’ lapsed Catholic?
Reposted by Dr Lizzie Swarbrick 🇵🇸
Looking forward to talking to East Lothian Embroiders and Textile Artists about Women's clothing in late medieval Scotland on Saturday 22nd at the Bleaching Field Centre, Dunbar at 2pm.
November 7, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Looking forward to talking to East Lothian Embroiders and Textile Artists about Women's clothing in late medieval Scotland on Saturday 22nd at the Bleaching Field Centre, Dunbar at 2pm.
Reposted by Dr Lizzie Swarbrick 🇵🇸
Remember guys, @pcsunion.bsky.social staff at the BL are on strike for the next two weeks. Please don't cross the picket line to go to reading rooms, attend exhibitions or anything else. They've endured so much on low pay since the cyberattack in 2023 and the least we can do is have their backs now.
Secret Maps opens today! 🤫 🗺️
From medieval manuscripts to Cold War espionage, our new exhibition explores how maps have hidden as much as they revealed for over 600 years.
Book now: bit.ly/BLSecretMaps
From medieval manuscripts to Cold War espionage, our new exhibition explores how maps have hidden as much as they revealed for over 600 years.
Book now: bit.ly/BLSecretMaps
October 26, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Remember guys, @pcsunion.bsky.social staff at the BL are on strike for the next two weeks. Please don't cross the picket line to go to reading rooms, attend exhibitions or anything else. They've endured so much on low pay since the cyberattack in 2023 and the least we can do is have their backs now.
Reposted by Dr Lizzie Swarbrick 🇵🇸
Genuinely delighted to download a PhD thesis from a university repository where the author has neglected to remove the words "BITCH THIS IS YOUR THESIS" from the filename.
October 30, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Genuinely delighted to download a PhD thesis from a university repository where the author has neglected to remove the words "BITCH THIS IS YOUR THESIS" from the filename.
Bat dog, bat dog, alone in the world is a little bat dog!
October 28, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Bat dog, bat dog, alone in the world is a little bat dog!
Free Palestine.
Migrants are great.
Trans people are wonderful.
If you don’t believe in these things then go ahead and unfollow.
Migrants are great.
Trans people are wonderful.
If you don’t believe in these things then go ahead and unfollow.
October 22, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Free Palestine.
Migrants are great.
Trans people are wonderful.
If you don’t believe in these things then go ahead and unfollow.
Migrants are great.
Trans people are wonderful.
If you don’t believe in these things then go ahead and unfollow.