Lorraine
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wolfq4.bsky.social
Lorraine
@wolfq4.bsky.social
1.5K followers 720 following 400 posts
Historian | Archivist | Taphophile | Architecture | Built Heritage | 16-17th century witchcraft in the west of Scotland |
Music fan with wanderlust. Personal acct, so views my own! Occasionally random posts
https://archivisthistoryblog.wordpress.com/home/
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wolfq4.bsky.social
Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · Nov 9
Hello from a newbie 👋
I'm interested in architectural history, fashion history, interiors, the built environment, cemeteries, 16/17th c. West of Scotland witchcraft, and pretty much everything in-between.
I also write a blog archivisthistoryblog.wordpress.com/home/
Feel free to say hi!
Home
Welcome to the Archivist History Blog I am a professional Archivist interested in documenting the stories of people, events, buildings and places.  I am also a Historian, althoug…
archivisthistoryblog.wordpress.com
wolfq4.bsky.social
Day 12 of #12DaysOfChristmas #ArchiveChristmasCard with a #GothicYuletide spin.
Hope everyone had a #MerryChristmas and are now safely travelling home, although maybe not flying on a broomstick or a bat!
#CreepyChristmas
#DarkChristmas
Victorian Christmas card with subject possibly taken from Italian folklore story of La Befana, who is a friendly witch who delivers gifts to children on 5th January. Or maybe its just two stereotypical witches depictions of women on pointy hats riding broomsticks in the air Bats and their winged cherub type jockeys to wish a bright new year.
December 25, 2025 at 10:15 PM
wolfq4.bsky.social
For anyone who isn't rushing about finishing their last minute Christmas shopping or trying to finish wrapping gifts, have a read of my post about Christmas greeting cards and weird Victorian imagery and symbolism!
Merry Christmas all! 🎄
archivisthistoryblog.wordpress.com/2025/12/20/c...
A Creepy Victorian Christmas
The first commercially produced Christmas card is usually credited to an artist by the name of John Callcott Horsley, RA (Royal Academician) who was a British painter and illustrator, known for his…
archivisthistoryblog.wordpress.com
December 24, 2025 at 10:38 AM
wolfq4.bsky.social
Day 11 of #12DaysOfChristmas #ArchiveChristmasCard with a #GothicYuletide spin.
Today is #ChristmasPudding so enjoy these warnings about overeating. Victorians knew how to spoil all the fun with some well chosen criticism & body shaming..
#CreepyChristmas
#DarkChristmas
#Christmas2025
#ChristmasEve
A terrifying Christmas pudding upsetting your sleep. This image was not actually a postcard at first, but from a magazine illustration. Victorian card warning fair girls not to eat unhealthy foods or to excess over the festive season
December 24, 2025 at 10:34 AM
wolfq4.bsky.social
Day 10 of #12DaysOfChristmas posts showing #ArchiveChristmasCard s with a #GothicYuletide twist.
Today's theme is #snowman so enjoy this #CreepyChristmas offering!
#DarkChristmas
#Christmas2025
A group of scared looking children with a melting snowman, published by Raphael Tuck & Sons A Robin looking upon a sinister depiction of a snowman holding sprigs of seasonal holly and mistletoe This weird vintage Christmas postcard features a woman appearing from inside a large snowman as a black bird looks on. No idea what the symbolism is behind this imagery other than to slightly unsettle the viewer.. A sad melting snowman is holding an umbrella in this Victorian christmas postcard
December 23, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by Lorraine
greigforbes.bsky.social
“Sit still. You’re only here for scale.”
“Throw the stick!”
thisismyglasgow.bsky.social This Is My Glasgow @thisismyglasgow.bsky.social · 5d
This 19th century stone bridge in front of Pollok House in Glasgow has a unusual feature: a second miniature arch well away from the main river (spaniel included for scale).

Cont./

#glasgow #pollokhouse #architecture #architecturephotography #bridge
December 22, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Reposted by Lorraine
drlindseyfitz.bsky.social
I missed #Caturday but this cat belongs on your timeline regardless of the day!
A grumpy, round looking cat with a stern expression. The caption reads: "This cat looks like it runs a whole city with an iron fist in the 1800s."
December 22, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Reposted by Lorraine
listerlanecem.bsky.social
Good day all.
Winter cherry blossom.
Image features white-pink cherry blossom on the bare branches of a winter flowering cherry tree at Lister Lane Cemetery.
December 22, 2025 at 9:42 AM
wolfq4.bsky.social
Day 9 of #12DaysOfChristmas posts with a #GothicYuletide twist.
Today's theme is #clown although not a usual seasonal symbol here, they are in Spain, to bring joy to the darkness of winter. Which might take a bit of getting used to for me!
#CreepyChristmas
#DarkChristmas
#ArchiveChristmasCard
Clowning around on the ice isn't safe.. Warning of danger at Christmas showing a clown ice skating while another has fallen through the ice Christmas postacrd showing a clown eating a seasonal dish which looks very much like an advertisement for a drink reused as a greetings card
December 22, 2025 at 10:19 AM
wolfq4.bsky.social
Day 7 and 8 of my #12DaysOfChristmas posts with a #GothicYuletide twist since I started a day late and can't count!
Did you know #Santa / St Nicholas wasn't always a benevolent friend to children? Read more in 'alt'..
#CreepyChristmas
#DarkChristmas
#ArchiveChristmasCard
#ArchiveAdventCalendar
St Nicholas would send the Devil and his demons to watch children to see if they were naughty or nice... could today's elf on the shelf be the present-day incarnation of a 19th c demon? Remember that when they are up to mischief in your house at night! If a child was naughty, he would be kidnapped and punished by St Nicholas and his minions: the devil and demons. What was really in those sacks on the back of his sleigh?..
December 21, 2025 at 12:16 PM
wolfq4.bsky.social
Since its the last #Caturday before Christmas, here are some terrifying examples of bizarre Victorian feline themed Christmas cards for day 6 of #12DaysOfChristmas with a #GothicYuletide twist.
More info via 'alt'. Enjoy!
#CreepyChristmas
#DarkChristmas
#ArchiveChristmasCard
#ArchiveAdventCalendar
Louis Wain series of Christmas postcards showing nursery rhyme little Jack Horner as a fully dressed cat with a plum pie Louis Wain designed Christmas card depicting a feline giant and Jack mouse from the Jack and the beanstalk story Revenge is sweet and cat flavoured. A Christmas feast for a group of dapper mice There was a tradition of surveillance and threat of violence in Christmas cards to warn children of the consequences of being naughty. Design by Louis Wain.
December 20, 2025 at 12:22 PM
wolfq4.bsky.social
Some rather surreal and disturbing looking anthropomorphic vegetable Victorian Christmas cards for day 5 of #12DaysOfChristmas with a #GothicYuletide twist.
Peckish anyone..?
#CreepyChristmas
#DarkChristmas
#ArchiveChristmasCard
#ArchiveAdventCalendar
Four anthropomorphic vegetable Christmas or trade cards, some created by London publisher Herman Rothe in the 1870s - 90s with seasonal good wishes Anthropomorphic vegetable Christmas or trade card likely created by London publisher Herman Rothe in the 1870s - 90s
December 19, 2025 at 8:16 AM
wolfq4.bsky.social
Day 4 of #12DaysOfChristmas with a #GothicYuletide twist. Another strange #Victorian Christmas card, or should it be Easter? Headless egg with arms and legs, but missing a sock.. so many questions.
#CreepyChristmas
#DarkChristmas
#ArchiveChristmasCard
#ArchiveAdventCalendar
The "headless humpty" vintage Victorian Christmas postcard featuring limbs hatching from an egg, and holding an envelope. The message reads "With many merry Christmas Greetings".
December 18, 2025 at 8:27 AM
wolfq4.bsky.social
Day 3 of my #12DaysOfChristmas posts with a #GothicYuletide twist. This bonkers #Archive #Victorian Christmas card shows a stag beetle dancing with a frog, because surely nothing says Christmas more than that!
#CreepyChristmas
#DarkChristmas
#ArchiveChristmasCard
#ArchiveAdventCalendar
Victorian Christmas card featuring a stag beetle dancing with a frog, with a fly holding a tambourine and dragonflies in the background with the message "may Christmas be merry" Because why not..
December 17, 2025 at 9:20 AM
wolfq4.bsky.social
Day 2 of my #12DaysOfChristmas posts with a #GothicYuletide twist. This Victorian Christmas card shows a bird 'robin' the mail. See what they did there..? 😆
#CreepyChristmas
#DarkChristmas
#ArchiveChristmasCard
#ArchiveAdventCalendar
Bizarre Victorian Christmas card showing a highwayman bird 'robin' the mail on his trusty steed... Badum tish
December 16, 2025 at 8:00 AM
wolfq4.bsky.social
Starting the first of my
#12DaysOfChristmas posts today with a slight twist. A lot of Victorian Christmas cards were just amazingly bizarre and quirky, so every day until the 25th, I'll post one for you to enjoy!
#CreepyChristmas
#DarkChristmas
#ArchiveChristmasCard
A Victorian design Christmas Card featuring a smiling, anthropomorphised plum pudding wearing a 'hat' made of a plate and glass, and standing on two wine bottles for legs, with cutlery for arms. With slightly eerie lettering saying "A Merry" which looks like branches and a more cheerful type of "Christmas" with branches of holly.
December 15, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Reposted by Lorraine
roaringmeg.bsky.social
#Christmas #ChristmasLights
December 13, 2025 at 10:11 AM
wolfq4.bsky.social
Happy #Caturday
Cat on a chair somewhere in Scotland
December 13, 2025 at 11:27 AM
wolfq4.bsky.social
Anne Rice, author of #InterviewWithTheVampire #MayfairWitches and #Talamasca fame died #otd 2021 🖤
She is laid to rest in this beautiful tomb at Metairie in #Nola
#IWTV
wolfq4.bsky.social Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · Oct 28
Day 28 of #31DaysOfGraves is #Column
A lovely classical style example from Metairie #Cemetery in #Nola is the #tomb of Author Anne Rice of #InterviewWithTheVampire fame
#iwtv
#Lestat
#Loustat
#DarkTourist
#NewOrleans
#Taphophile
#DeathHistorian
Historian Lorraine Murray at the tomb of Author, Anne Rice, Metairie Cemetery, New Orleans, 2023 Photo credit: S Murray
December 11, 2025 at 5:28 PM
wolfq4.bsky.social
I enjoyed doing my last #history talk for the year, for the Tourist Guide Association in #Glasgow. The topic was rather timely - Catherine Cranston - with liberal mention of Charles Rennie #Mackintosh on the anniversary of his passing in 1928.
#Skystorians
#Tearooms
#GlasgowStyle
Photo by Lorraine Murray, Dec 2025 of the Quaker Meeting House sign near Charing Cross in Glasgow
December 10, 2025 at 9:45 PM
wolfq4.bsky.social
My new talk developed for the "Mackintosh Illuminated" project from NTS focusing on #Mackintosh and his circle and shining a light on their work & legacy.
I will be talking about the Scottish Patrons of #Mackintosh Catherine Cranston, Walter Blackie and William Davidson on #IWD 8 March 26.
.. 3/3
"The Patrons of Mackintosh" by Lorraine Murray Date: 8 march 2026 Time: 13:00 Venue: Mackintosh at the Willow Cost: £8 To book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-talk-on-the-patrons-of-mackintosh-with-lorraine-murray-tickets-1970289804845 Image of William Davidson. Photo Credit: The Hunterian, Glasgow (Mackintosh Architecture)
December 10, 2025 at 8:30 AM
wolfq4.bsky.social
This tribute to Charles Rennie #Mackintosh is by Mr. J. Jeffrey Waddell, taken from The Glasgow Herald of 15th December 1928.
Mackintosh died on 10 Dec 1928 in London at age 60.
2/3 ..
Glasgow Herald article on Charles Rennie Mackintosh 1928
December 10, 2025 at 8:14 AM
wolfq4.bsky.social
Today is the anniversary of the death of Charles Rennie #Mackintosh, (died 1928) an east end Glaswegian by birth, who went on to influence Art, Design, and Architecture in a unique way, and contributed to the dissemination of what became known as "The Glasgow Style" internationally.
1/3 ..
Charles Rennie Mackintosh Image: public domain
December 10, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Reposted by Lorraine
pastglasgow.co.uk
The founder of the What Every Woman Wants department store has died aged 87.

Vera Weisfeld launched the women's fashion chain with her husband, Gerald, in Glasgow in 1971 before expanding across the UK.

📷 Newsquest
December 6, 2025 at 8:18 PM
wolfq4.bsky.social
Tell me where you're from without telling me where you're from.

#IrnBru
#ScotlandsOtherNationalDrink
#Tunnocks
#StAndrewsDay
Irn Bru and a Tunnock's Tea Cake. The snack of champions
December 1, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Reposted by Lorraine
ciliplgbtq.bsky.social
Perhaps of interest to #archive folks:

Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (EDIB) Self-Assessment Toolkit (SAT) workshop. The EDIB SAT will be embedded as part of the Archive Service Accreditation assessment from Spring 2026:

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/equality-d...

#EDI
#DEI
Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Self-Assessment Toolkit
This workshop introduces the EDIB Self-Assessment Toolkit, developed by Archives West Midland.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 6:40 AM