Dr Melita Thomas
@melitat.bsky.social
I'm an author and historian, and editor of Tudor Times. I love history, books, gardens, walking in the countryside, the sea, and interacting with interesting people on social media. Not forgetting art and cats, of course!
Crocuses valiantly trying to stay upright in the chilly wind.
February 16, 2026 at 10:47 AM
Crocuses valiantly trying to stay upright in the chilly wind.
A wombat at @austreptilepark.bsky.social A fantastic day spent there. Impressive conservation projects going on.
February 15, 2026 at 11:58 PM
A wombat at @austreptilepark.bsky.social A fantastic day spent there. Impressive conservation projects going on.
Reposted by Dr Melita Thomas
Mr. Cat loves his box.
February 15, 2026 at 5:27 AM
Mr. Cat loves his box.
Reposted by Dr Melita Thomas
Ending Sunday with...
• Siegfried Sassoon •
• Siegfried Sassoon •
February 15, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Ending Sunday with...
• Siegfried Sassoon •
• Siegfried Sassoon •
Reposted by Dr Melita Thomas
looking after my sister’s cat while she’s out of town and this is the posture of dissent
“Thank you, no, I’ll be facing the wall until mother returns.”
“Thank you, no, I’ll be facing the wall until mother returns.”
February 15, 2026 at 11:33 PM
looking after my sister’s cat while she’s out of town and this is the posture of dissent
“Thank you, no, I’ll be facing the wall until mother returns.”
“Thank you, no, I’ll be facing the wall until mother returns.”
Reposted by Dr Melita Thomas
Felt like someone was staring at me
February 15, 2026 at 8:52 PM
Felt like someone was staring at me
Reposted by Dr Melita Thomas
February 15, 2026 at 10:31 PM
According to legend, if you want to see a fairy, you must eat a primrose. Leaving primroses on your doorstep will ensure fairies will bless your house, and putting primroses in a cowshed will convince them not to steal the milk. Celtic Druids believed the flower helped ward off evil spirits
February 15, 2026 at 9:00 AM
According to legend, if you want to see a fairy, you must eat a primrose. Leaving primroses on your doorstep will ensure fairies will bless your house, and putting primroses in a cowshed will convince them not to steal the milk. Celtic Druids believed the flower helped ward off evil spirits
#1000TudorPeople M is for Sir John Morgan, a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre, an order devoted to promoting Christian pilgrimage. Back in Wales, he was fêted by the bard Gwilym Tew as Y Marchog Tew (the fat knight). A Lancastrian, he fought with Henry, Earl of Richmond, at Bosworth. bit.ly/3PjugG6
February 14, 2026 at 11:47 PM
#1000TudorPeople M is for Sir John Morgan, a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre, an order devoted to promoting Christian pilgrimage. Back in Wales, he was fêted by the bard Gwilym Tew as Y Marchog Tew (the fat knight). A Lancastrian, he fought with Henry, Earl of Richmond, at Bosworth. bit.ly/3PjugG6
Reposted by Dr Melita Thomas
Out on the Solheimajokull Glacier in southern Iceland. The glacier sits between two volcanoes. It’s shrinking at a rate of around 50 metres per year #glacier #solheimajokull #iceland
February 14, 2026 at 11:28 PM
Out on the Solheimajokull Glacier in southern Iceland. The glacier sits between two volcanoes. It’s shrinking at a rate of around 50 metres per year #glacier #solheimajokull #iceland
Reposted by Dr Melita Thomas
East window at Shipdham, All Saints, Norfolk #norfolk #churches #stainedglass #heritage #history #19thcentury #nativity #tracery
February 14, 2026 at 9:55 AM
East window at Shipdham, All Saints, Norfolk #norfolk #churches #stainedglass #heritage #history #19thcentury #nativity #tracery
Reposted by Dr Melita Thomas
Tiny, delicate oak-pin #fungus (Cudoniella acicularis). Not true mushroom despite shape! Produces spores in asci or 'sacs' within 'pinhead', not from gills under 'umbrella'. Widespread in Britain but not common (or maybe just underrecorded). This one on rotting oak stump in Old Wood LWS, Shropshire.
February 14, 2026 at 6:40 PM
Tiny, delicate oak-pin #fungus (Cudoniella acicularis). Not true mushroom despite shape! Produces spores in asci or 'sacs' within 'pinhead', not from gills under 'umbrella'. Widespread in Britain but not common (or maybe just underrecorded). This one on rotting oak stump in Old Wood LWS, Shropshire.
Reposted by Dr Melita Thomas
Reminder that I have a starter pack of cat accounts run by real people who post original content with meaningful ALT text! go.bsky.app/J8yqxnN
February 14, 2026 at 11:32 PM
Reminder that I have a starter pack of cat accounts run by real people who post original content with meaningful ALT text! go.bsky.app/J8yqxnN
Reposted by Dr Melita Thomas
Animals lining up to get into Noah's ark, 1565. With extra sheep, as allowed or possibly commanded by God. Also appreciate attention to Noah family pets by Jacopo Bassano, whose day is today.
February 14, 2026 at 6:39 PM
Animals lining up to get into Noah's ark, 1565. With extra sheep, as allowed or possibly commanded by God. Also appreciate attention to Noah family pets by Jacopo Bassano, whose day is today.
Reposted by Dr Melita Thomas
#OTD 1539 Nicholas Carew, a long time friend of Henry VIII, convicted of treason related to the Exeter Conspiracy bit.ly/1GHJlp7 Although he was Anne Boleyn's cousin, Carew, had supported Katharine of Aragon. When Henry tired of Anne, Carew promoted another cousin, Jane Seymour’s, interests.
February 14, 2026 at 11:29 PM
#OTD 1539 Nicholas Carew, a long time friend of Henry VIII, convicted of treason related to the Exeter Conspiracy bit.ly/1GHJlp7 Although he was Anne Boleyn's cousin, Carew, had supported Katharine of Aragon. When Henry tired of Anne, Carew promoted another cousin, Jane Seymour’s, interests.
Reposted by Dr Melita Thomas
February 13, 2026 at 12:32 PM
Reposted by Dr Melita Thomas
I'm glad to say the reprint of #1000TudorPeople has now arrived and the book is available bit.ly/3PjugG6 again.
February 13, 2026 at 11:05 PM
I'm glad to say the reprint of #1000TudorPeople has now arrived and the book is available bit.ly/3PjugG6 again.
Reposted by Dr Melita Thomas
C17th cherub on pulpit within Necton,
All Saints, west Norfolk #churches #norfolk #17thcentury #earlymodern #heritage #history #cherub #woodcarving #materialculture #photography
All Saints, west Norfolk #churches #norfolk #17thcentury #earlymodern #heritage #history #cherub #woodcarving #materialculture #photography
February 13, 2026 at 10:02 PM
C17th cherub on pulpit within Necton,
All Saints, west Norfolk #churches #norfolk #17thcentury #earlymodern #heritage #history #cherub #woodcarving #materialculture #photography
All Saints, west Norfolk #churches #norfolk #17thcentury #earlymodern #heritage #history #cherub #woodcarving #materialculture #photography
Reposted by Dr Melita Thomas
Sometimes you make the painting for the song. (Apex Twin #3)
.
Good Morning
10”x10” Oil on cradled wood panel
.
Available on my website
.
Good Morning
10”x10” Oil on cradled wood panel
.
Available on my website
February 13, 2026 at 10:48 PM
Sometimes you make the painting for the song. (Apex Twin #3)
.
Good Morning
10”x10” Oil on cradled wood panel
.
Available on my website
.
Good Morning
10”x10” Oil on cradled wood panel
.
Available on my website
Reposted by Dr Melita Thomas
I feel this way about pretty much all vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. You shouldn't be allowed to dump cyanide into municipal drinking water and you shouldn't be allowed to recreationally spread viruses around shared public spaces.
My most authoritarian opinion is that the MMR vaccine should be mandatory, with only medical (not religious or floofy) exemptions allowed. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
This Is How a Child Dies of Measles
When your family becomes a data point in an outbreak
www.theatlantic.com
February 13, 2026 at 5:09 PM
I feel this way about pretty much all vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. You shouldn't be allowed to dump cyanide into municipal drinking water and you shouldn't be allowed to recreationally spread viruses around shared public spaces.
Reposted by Dr Melita Thomas
On her birthday: Mary of Burgundy, painted (posthumously) by Michael Pacher in around 1490. Wonderful pure profile, beauty of the line.
February 13, 2026 at 8:19 PM
On her birthday: Mary of Burgundy, painted (posthumously) by Michael Pacher in around 1490. Wonderful pure profile, beauty of the line.
Reposted by Dr Melita Thomas
It was believed in medieval times that hedgehogs had spikes so they could roll over fruit to carry home to their children, which is not true but is a really cute idea
February 13, 2026 at 11:26 AM
It was believed in medieval times that hedgehogs had spikes so they could roll over fruit to carry home to their children, which is not true but is a really cute idea
Reposted by Dr Melita Thomas
Last thing I shot on film!
February 13, 2026 at 7:17 PM
Last thing I shot on film!
Reposted by Dr Melita Thomas
#FontsOnFriday & what must be one of the most remarkable Romanesque fonts in England - this gorgeous Hereford School example from Castle Frome
For more #ChurchCrawling in the Welsh Marches & Shropshire, watch the episode here >>>
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNjB...
For more #ChurchCrawling in the Welsh Marches & Shropshire, watch the episode here >>>
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNjB...
February 13, 2026 at 7:43 AM
#FontsOnFriday & what must be one of the most remarkable Romanesque fonts in England - this gorgeous Hereford School example from Castle Frome
For more #ChurchCrawling in the Welsh Marches & Shropshire, watch the episode here >>>
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNjB...
For more #ChurchCrawling in the Welsh Marches & Shropshire, watch the episode here >>>
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNjB...