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materialwills.bsky.social
The Material Culture of Wills Project
@materialwills.bsky.social
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The Material Culture of Wills, England 1540-1790: a Leverhulme Trust project using digital tech & volunteers to transcribe 25,000 wills.

Volunteer for us: https://www.zooniverse.org/projects/hjsmith/the-material-culture-of-wills-england-1540-1790
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materialwills.bsky.social
The Material Culture of Wills Project @materialwills.bsky.social · Oct 16
📢THE WILLS PROJECT IS NOW LIVE ON ZOONIVERSE 📢

And now we need your help!

www.zooniverse.org/projects/hjs...

Using cutting edge technology we've generated transcriptions of 25,000 wills, now we need participants to check & correct them

🧵1/

🗃️ #skystorians #EarlyModern #CitizenScience
Reposted by The Material Culture of Wills Project
lsangha.bsky.social
This is the first recording of any of Chris Hoban's wills inspired music!

For lucky people in Devon, Chris will be performing ALL the wills songs at Topsham Folk Club on 18 January, with support from Miranda Sykes.

Grab your ticket now 👇

#Exeter #Devon 🗃️ #Events

wegottickets.com/event/680386
Chris Hoban
A master songwriter -- inventive and inspiring Show of Hands favourite - has crafted a unique evening with classical and folk musicians, retelling in song the moving, joyful and absorbing stories of ...
wegottickets.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Reposted by The Material Culture of Wills Project
lsangha.bsky.social
Alice Walter's will might be familiar if you read our project blog, as it was our Will of the Month in October 2024.

Read @emilymayvine.bsky.social's post, and see a transcription of the whole will here:

#EarlyModern 🗃️

sites.exeter.ac.uk/materialcult...
Will of the Month: Alice Walter and Her ‘Deaths Head’ Ring
The end of October and the beginning of November marks ‘Allhallowtide’ – the time of the year when Western Christians, including in early modern England, have traditionally turned their thoughts to th...
sites.exeter.ac.uk
November 5, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Reposted by The Material Culture of Wills Project
lsangha.bsky.social
📜WILLS ON THE RADIO!📜

The brilliant Chris Hoban was on local radio talking about the wills project and playing some songs!

This one is perhaps my favourite: based on the will of London widow Alice Walter, proved September 1665. TNA PROB 11/317/428.

#EarlyModern 🗃️

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXwB...
Chris Hoban - Rings On My Fingers (one )
YouTube video by Will Pollard
www.youtube.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Reposted by The Material Culture of Wills Project
lsangha.bsky.social
Transkribus is the handwritten text recognition tool that we used to transcribe 25,000 wills from 1540-1790 for our Leverhulme project.

Beginners' guide here 👇

#DigitalHumanities 🗃️ #EarlyModern
November 4, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Reposted by The Material Culture of Wills Project
lsangha.bsky.social
And here we all are, not being at all self-conscious about having our photo taken and enjoying Harry's visualisation of our bequests.
Photo of six people seated around a table with water and computers on the table top. Photo of six people seated around a table with lots of books and computers on the table. A screen showing a coloured graphic is on the wall at the front of the room.
October 29, 2025 at 1:42 PM
materialwills.bsky.social
It's been a busy week for the project!

1. A huge milestone: we're delighted to share that our @zooniverse.bsky.social volunteers have now checked ALL images! 🎉

Thank you to everyone who has contributed.

We're going to pause Zooniverse for now while we evaluate if more training is required.

🧵1/4
November 3, 2025 at 7:43 AM
materialwills.bsky.social
📢 In Case You Missed It 📢

October's 'Will of the Month' post is now live on our blog 📜

When Margery Gadyng died in childbirth in 1540, she made a nuncupative or 'oral' will, leaving ribbons to the women who witnessed her declare her final wishes.

Read more here👇 sites.exeter.ac.uk/materialcult...
A photograph of a brown embroidered ribbon on a black background. The ribbon is curled on the right hand side, and decorated with embroidery, including green plants and white and yellow flowers. Ribbon, embroidered, ca. 1600, English https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O10418/ribbon-unknown/ ©Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2025
October 30, 2025 at 9:57 AM
materialwills.bsky.social
📢 NEW Will of the Month Post 📢

October's will is an unusual & poignant example of a married woman who made a will

Margery Gadyng died in childbirth in 1540 - she declared her will to the midwife & women attending her, leaving them bequests of ribbons & rosaries

sites.exeter.ac.uk/materialcult...
A photograph of a rosary - a loop of string threaded with brown beads, some with symbols painted on them. Rosary of 30 unglazed earthenware beads of red and black clay, British Museum 2009,8038.1.a-b https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_2009-8038-1-a-b?selectedImageId=1310905001 © The Trustees of the British Museum
October 28, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Reposted by The Material Culture of Wills Project
lsangha.bsky.social
I'm pretty jealous of Jane - the cabinets are opened rarely to prevent light damage and to protect the delicate hinges.

Jane's research focuses on global goods in our 25,000 wills - both imported objects and material culture that imitated them.
materialwills.bsky.social The Material Culture of Wills Project @materialwills.bsky.social · 19d
One of our PhD students Jane Tozer recently visited @nationaltrust.org.uk Ham House during their 'Open Cabinets' event while researching 'japanning' - furniture finishes that imitated East Asian lacquerwork.

The cabinets are opened only twice a year - Jane captured this beautiful photograph:
A photograph of a black and gold cabinet, taken at the National Trust property Ham House. The black cabinet has several patterned drawers, and its doors are open. It stands on an ornate gold table, next to a wooden chair and a patterned screen, on a wooden floor, and in front of patterned walls. Description: a lacquer cabinet made from imported incised Coromandel lacquer panels with japanned interiors and mounted on a European gilded wood stand. 
October 27, 2025 at 10:21 AM
materialwills.bsky.social
One of our PhD students Jane Tozer recently visited @nationaltrust.org.uk Ham House during their 'Open Cabinets' event while researching 'japanning' - furniture finishes that imitated East Asian lacquerwork.

The cabinets are opened only twice a year - Jane captured this beautiful photograph:
A photograph of a black and gold cabinet, taken at the National Trust property Ham House. The black cabinet has several patterned drawers, and its doors are open. It stands on an ornate gold table, next to a wooden chair and a patterned screen, on a wooden floor, and in front of patterned walls. Description: a lacquer cabinet made from imported incised Coromandel lacquer panels with japanned interiors and mounted on a European gilded wood stand. 
October 23, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Reposted by The Material Culture of Wills Project
drdavesteele.bsky.social
Don’t forget to sign up for this Wednesday’s presentation on digitising Early Modern handwritten documents
materialwills.bsky.social The Material Culture of Wills Project @materialwills.bsky.social · 28d
Project Research Fellows Harry Smith and Emily Vine are looking forward to speaking as part of the Warwick History 'Post-Doc' Club series, next Wed 22 October @ 17.00.

They'll be discussing 'Digitization & Citizen Science'📜💻

Follow this link for Zoom details:
warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/his...
A poster with a white background and black text, with a blue border at the top of the poster, and photographs of manuscripts. The title of the poster reads Warwick History ‘POST-DOC’ CLUB METHODOLOGIES SERIES. Online Meeting: Weds 22 October at 5pm DIGITIZATION & CITIZEN SCIENCE: Inviting collaborative research to transcribe handwriting. With Harry Smith and Emily Vine of the Material Culture of Wills, 1540-1790 project at the University of Exeter.
October 20, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Reposted by The Material Culture of Wills Project
lsangha.bsky.social
📢TODAY📢

Tune in to hear @bhamhistory.bsky.social and @emilymayvine.bsky.social discuss our unique methodology 👇

Weds 22 Oct, 5pm
Zoom
#EarlyModern 🗃️ #DigitalHumanities @cemsexeter.bsky.social @uniofexeterhass.bsky.social @uoearchhist.bsky.social @dhlabexeter.bsky.social
materialwills.bsky.social The Material Culture of Wills Project @materialwills.bsky.social · 28d
Project Research Fellows Harry Smith and Emily Vine are looking forward to speaking as part of the Warwick History 'Post-Doc' Club series, next Wed 22 October @ 17.00.

They'll be discussing 'Digitization & Citizen Science'📜💻

Follow this link for Zoom details:
warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/his...
A poster with a white background and black text, with a blue border at the top of the poster, and photographs of manuscripts. The title of the poster reads Warwick History ‘POST-DOC’ CLUB METHODOLOGIES SERIES. Online Meeting: Weds 22 October at 5pm DIGITIZATION & CITIZEN SCIENCE: Inviting collaborative research to transcribe handwriting. With Harry Smith and Emily Vine of the Material Culture of Wills, 1540-1790 project at the University of Exeter.
October 22, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Reposted by The Material Culture of Wills Project
lsangha.bsky.social
If you want to know more about our use of handwritten text recognition software (Transkribus) on the wills project, tune in on Zoom next week 👇

All welcome (not just postdocs!).

#EarlyModern 🗃️ #DigitalHumanities #HTR #CitizenScience
materialwills.bsky.social The Material Culture of Wills Project @materialwills.bsky.social · 28d
Project Research Fellows Harry Smith and Emily Vine are looking forward to speaking as part of the Warwick History 'Post-Doc' Club series, next Wed 22 October @ 17.00.

They'll be discussing 'Digitization & Citizen Science'📜💻

Follow this link for Zoom details:
warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/his...
A poster with a white background and black text, with a blue border at the top of the poster, and photographs of manuscripts. The title of the poster reads Warwick History ‘POST-DOC’ CLUB METHODOLOGIES SERIES. Online Meeting: Weds 22 October at 5pm DIGITIZATION & CITIZEN SCIENCE: Inviting collaborative research to transcribe handwriting. With Harry Smith and Emily Vine of the Material Culture of Wills, 1540-1790 project at the University of Exeter.
October 14, 2025 at 11:13 AM
materialwills.bsky.social
Project Research Fellows Harry Smith and Emily Vine are looking forward to speaking as part of the Warwick History 'Post-Doc' Club series, next Wed 22 October @ 17.00.

They'll be discussing 'Digitization & Citizen Science'📜💻

Follow this link for Zoom details:
warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/his...
A poster with a white background and black text, with a blue border at the top of the poster, and photographs of manuscripts. The title of the poster reads Warwick History ‘POST-DOC’ CLUB METHODOLOGIES SERIES. Online Meeting: Weds 22 October at 5pm DIGITIZATION & CITIZEN SCIENCE: Inviting collaborative research to transcribe handwriting. With Harry Smith and Emily Vine of the Material Culture of Wills, 1540-1790 project at the University of Exeter.
October 14, 2025 at 11:06 AM
materialwills.bsky.social
Fantastic to see @lsangha.bsky.social and project Creative Fellow Chris Hoban share the fruits of their creative collaboration as part of the Futures Festival at Exeter Phoenix!
lsangha.bsky.social Dr Laura Sangha @lsangha.bsky.social · 29d
A career highlight for me to join Chris Hoban and various musicians (a string quartet! a hurdy-gurdy man!) on Saturday to deliver an afternoon of history & music at Exeter Phoenix.

It's so special to be able to share my #EarlyModern research with the public in such a powerful & meaningful way. 📜🎵🎻🗃️
A group of people seated on stage in a line with another standing in front of them singing into a microphone. An audience watches on.
October 13, 2025 at 12:56 PM
materialwills.bsky.social
There's still time to grab your ticket for a FREE 'WILLS PROJECT' EVENT

Join @lsangha.bsky.social & musician Chris Hoban this Saturday for a FREE performance of history & music inspired by #EarlyModern wills 📜🎵

📍Exeter Phoenix
📅Sat 11 Oct
🕐13.30

Register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/stories-an...
www.eventbrite.co.uk
October 8, 2025 at 8:57 AM
materialwills.bsky.social
📢 A round up of our recent news 📢

1. UPCOMING 'WILLS PROJECT' EVENT:

Join @lsangha.bsky.social and musician Chris Hoban for a FREE performance of history & music inspired by #EarlyModern wills 📜🎵

📍Exeter Phoenix
📅Sat 11 Oct
🕐13.30

Register here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/stories-an...
🧵1/3
Stories and Songs: Wills as Windows onto Past Lives
A unique performance of history and original music inspired by Tudor, Stuart and Georgian wills.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
October 1, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Reposted by The Material Culture of Wills Project
lsangha.bsky.social
Chris and I are really excited to be part of the FUTURES Festival and to have the chance to perform the wills music in the Phoenix Auditorium, following our sold out event earlier this year.
A box of printed programmes for the event 'An Evening of Stories and Songs: Wills as Windows onto Past Lives', presented by Arts and Culture. Chris Hoban and Laura Sangha. Another box contains 'Complete Song Lyrics' booklets, words by Chris Hoban.
September 29, 2025 at 8:22 AM
materialwills.bsky.social
📢 A FREE wills project event - Exeter, 11 October 📢

Project co-investigator @lsangha.bsky.social & Creative Fellow musician Chris Hoban invite you to join them for a unique performance of history and original music inspired by #EarlyModern wills 📜 #history

Register for your free ticket below 👇
lsangha.bsky.social Dr Laura Sangha @lsangha.bsky.social · Sep 29
🎺ANNOUNCEMENT!🎺

STORIES & SONGS: WILLS AS WINDOWS ONTO PAST LIVES

Join Chris Hoban and I at #Exeter Phoenix for a unique performance of history & original music inspired by #Tudor, #Stuart & Georgian wills! 🗃️

FREE! Claim your ticket: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1738865536...
Stories and Songs: Wills as Windows onto Past Lives
A unique performance of history and original music inspired by Tudor, Stuart and Georgian wills.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
September 29, 2025 at 9:49 AM
materialwills.bsky.social
📢 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT 📢

September's 'Will of the Month' post is live on our blog 📜

Written by Dylan Cox, a 3rd year Exeter History student, it explores the will of a C17th London gentleman, and his charitable bequests & mourning rings 💍

#skystorians #history

sites.exeter.ac.uk/materialcult...
A photograph of a gold mourning ring and a small gold crucifix. Catalogues caption: an Example of a ‘Enamelled gold mourning ring, The hoop with a skull reserved in black enamel inscribed Non hic Sr. N. S. obt 30 June 86, England, date 1686’. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2025 https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O125929/mourning-ring-unknown
September 29, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Reposted by The Material Culture of Wills Project
lsangha.bsky.social
I really liked the fact that Dylan chose to research a 'boring' will from our collection - one with very few personal or sentimental bequests. As you will read, even wills like this contain a lot of rich historical detail.

Bravo Dylan!
September 26, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Reposted by The Material Culture of Wills Project
lsangha.bsky.social
📢SEPTEMBER WILL OF THE MONTH📢

It's a special one! Written by Exeter undergraduate student Dylan Cox, who undertook work experience with the project team. He explores the will of a London gentleman 👇

#EarlyModern 🗃️ @leverhulme.ac.uk @uniofexeterhass.bsky.social

sites.exeter.ac.uk/materialcult...
A drawing showing a large complex of buildings - tall walls with lots of windows, it looks a bit like a prison. At the top text reads 'The Prospect of Bridewell'.
September 26, 2025 at 8:58 AM
materialwills.bsky.social
📢 NEW WILL OF THE MONTH POST 📢

We're delighted to share this very special post by Dylan Cox, a 3rd year History student at Exeter. 📜

Dylan has transcribed & researched the will of a London gentleman who made several bequests, including to Bridewell prison 🧵1/2

sites.exeter.ac.uk/materialcult...
A 1720 drawing of Bridewell Prison, seen from above, from “The Prospect of Bridewell” from John Strype‘s An Accurate Edition of Stow’s “A Survey of London“ (1720) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridewell_Palace#/media/File:Prospect_of_Bridewell.jpg
September 25, 2025 at 7:58 AM
materialwills.bsky.social
In Case You Missed It: Last week we circulated our Autumn 2025 Newsletter 🍂✉️

Want to catch up on what we've been up to recently? You can now read it over on our website 👇

#history #EarlyModern #skystorians
lsangha.bsky.social Dr Laura Sangha @lsangha.bsky.social · Sep 22
ICYMI: last week the Wills Project circulated our autumn newsletter, with an update on what we've achieved over the past 6 months or so.

#EarlyModern 🗃️ @leverhulme.ac.uk @uniofexeterhass.bsky.social

Download the pdf or plain version from our news page: sites.exeter.ac.uk/materialcult...
A newsletter - mainly consisting of text, with some photos of a workshop in the bottom corner. A newsletter - mainly consisting of text, with some photos of a print workshop and some images of the prints that were made.
September 22, 2025 at 9:46 AM
materialwills.bsky.social
We'll be sending out our Autumn 2025 Newsletter tomorrow 🍂✉️
Sign up to our mailing list before then to receive a copy in your inbox! 👇
materialwills.bsky.social The Material Culture of Wills Project @materialwills.bsky.social · Sep 16
In the next few days we'll be circulating our Autumn 2025 project newsletter! 🍂✉️

To receive a copy and find out what we've been up to over the last few months, make sure you're signed up to our mailing list: forms.office.com/e/JbUEq4Za1u

@leverhulme.ac.uk @uoearchhist.bsky.social #history
A screenshot of the banner for The Material Culture of Wills Autumn 2025 newsletter.
September 18, 2025 at 8:26 AM