Alex
@arichards.bsky.social
Avid cartographer, part-time psephologist, amateur musician.
And since the whole of England is now done, here's the whole of England in 1974. The absolutely massive original can be seen in full res here:
www.deviantart.com/imperatordee...
www.deviantart.com/imperatordee...
November 19, 2025 at 12:19 AM
And since the whole of England is now done, here's the whole of England in 1974. The absolutely massive original can be seen in full res here:
www.deviantart.com/imperatordee...
www.deviantart.com/imperatordee...
The final English county - Cornwall has seen very few changes since 1974. There have been a scattering of parish boundary amendments - mostly in the 80s but with another round of changes in 2021 which also saw a few parishes merged. The 80s also saw a raft of new parishes created... 1/5
November 19, 2025 at 12:17 AM
The final English county - Cornwall has seen very few changes since 1974. There have been a scattering of parish boundary amendments - mostly in the 80s but with another round of changes in 2021 which also saw a few parishes merged. The 80s also saw a raft of new parishes created... 1/5
Currently the last of the two-tier counties to be done (in the whole country in fact seeing as Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are entirely unitary), here's the parishes of Devon in 1974.
Devon has had relatively minor changes so far, with the most notable being Plymouth and Torybay... 1/5
Devon has had relatively minor changes so far, with the most notable being Plymouth and Torybay... 1/5
October 29, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Currently the last of the two-tier counties to be done (in the whole country in fact seeing as Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are entirely unitary), here's the parishes of Devon in 1974.
Devon has had relatively minor changes so far, with the most notable being Plymouth and Torybay... 1/5
Devon has had relatively minor changes so far, with the most notable being Plymouth and Torybay... 1/5
Reckon it's 50/50 on this terrace beingbthe setting for a spy thriller chase scene or a romcom date scene...
September 16, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Reckon it's 50/50 on this terrace beingbthe setting for a spy thriller chase scene or a romcom date scene...
In case you think I was kidding...
September 14, 2025 at 2:28 PM
In case you think I was kidding...
The Alhambra also has a colony of cats who the general public are NOT ALLOWED to stroke, feed, kidnap, pick up or go psspsspss to. Photos are fine however.
September 14, 2025 at 2:27 PM
The Alhambra also has a colony of cats who the general public are NOT ALLOWED to stroke, feed, kidnap, pick up or go psspsspss to. Photos are fine however.
You can lead a horse to Chapel, but you cannot make him pray...
September 14, 2025 at 11:15 AM
You can lead a horse to Chapel, but you cannot make him pray...
Why yes that is a direct bus from Malaga to Ukraine.
Not anywhere specific *in* Ukraine mind you.
Not anywhere specific *in* Ukraine mind you.
September 13, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Why yes that is a direct bus from Malaga to Ukraine.
Not anywhere specific *in* Ukraine mind you.
Not anywhere specific *in* Ukraine mind you.
And finally, here's a very good boy who wants some walkies as a palette cleanser. 12/12
September 9, 2025 at 9:26 PM
And finally, here's a very good boy who wants some walkies as a palette cleanser. 12/12
11. So is it just me or does Queen Isabella of Castilke appear to be *the actual light source* in this painting. Because that's a... bold level of historiographic glorification. 11/12
September 9, 2025 at 9:26 PM
11. So is it just me or does Queen Isabella of Castilke appear to be *the actual light source* in this painting. Because that's a... bold level of historiographic glorification. 11/12
10. A tricky subject to be sure, but apparently this is a painting of a painting stopping an earthquake and not, in fact, a House of Usher situation. 10/12
September 9, 2025 at 9:26 PM
10. A tricky subject to be sure, but apparently this is a painting of a painting stopping an earthquake and not, in fact, a House of Usher situation. 10/12
9. This painting is called 'the Virgin with St John and the Marias on the road to Calvary'. Note we're saying the Marias because I'm pretty certain there's only meant to be three max *including* the Virgin so somebody's lost count somewhere here. 9/12
September 9, 2025 at 9:26 PM
9. This painting is called 'the Virgin with St John and the Marias on the road to Calvary'. Note we're saying the Marias because I'm pretty certain there's only meant to be three max *including* the Virgin so somebody's lost count somewhere here. 9/12
8. San Francis asking the angel if they know it's over 30 degrees out there and he could really do without a heavenly being stealing his water. 8/12
September 9, 2025 at 9:26 PM
8. San Francis asking the angel if they know it's over 30 degrees out there and he could really do without a heavenly being stealing his water. 8/12
7. When you're trying to explain to your patrons and subscribers that you have writer's block. 7/12
September 9, 2025 at 9:26 PM
7. When you're trying to explain to your patrons and subscribers that you have writer's block. 7/12
6. Juan de Valdés: Would have excelled at hard rock and metal album covers. 6/12
September 9, 2025 at 9:26 PM
6. Juan de Valdés: Would have excelled at hard rock and metal album covers. 6/12
5. St. Thomas Aquinas: 'So if I move 10 feet and get a flanking bonus, does that negate the negative effect of being poisoned?'
Doctors of the church: *Furiously check rulebooks* 5/12
Doctors of the church: *Furiously check rulebooks* 5/12
September 9, 2025 at 9:26 PM
5. St. Thomas Aquinas: 'So if I move 10 feet and get a flanking bonus, does that negate the negative effect of being poisoned?'
Doctors of the church: *Furiously check rulebooks* 5/12
Doctors of the church: *Furiously check rulebooks* 5/12
4. Is the Apostle John sitting in Jesus's lap here? Between that and the meal of whole roast lamb there's some weird symbolism going on in this one. 4/12
September 9, 2025 at 9:26 PM
4. Is the Apostle John sitting in Jesus's lap here? Between that and the meal of whole roast lamb there's some weird symbolism going on in this one. 4/12
3. The world's least horny (and oddly proportioned) Saint Sebastian. Just seriously, when was the last time you saw this guy depicted with anything more than a modesty robe? 3/12
September 9, 2025 at 9:26 PM
3. The world's least horny (and oddly proportioned) Saint Sebastian. Just seriously, when was the last time you saw this guy depicted with anything more than a modesty robe? 3/12
2. An extract from the Tryptich of the Calvary of 'I have heard of subtetly and people who use it are cowards' (Franken I, Seville, 1585) 2/12
September 9, 2025 at 9:26 PM
2. An extract from the Tryptich of the Calvary of 'I have heard of subtetly and people who use it are cowards' (Franken I, Seville, 1585) 2/12
A collection of images observed today at the Museo de Bellas Artes in Sevilla:
1. St Jerome and the poorly kitty (no thats not a lion, come off it). 1/12
1. St Jerome and the poorly kitty (no thats not a lion, come off it). 1/12
September 9, 2025 at 9:26 PM
A collection of images observed today at the Museo de Bellas Artes in Sevilla:
1. St Jerome and the poorly kitty (no thats not a lion, come off it). 1/12
1. St Jerome and the poorly kitty (no thats not a lion, come off it). 1/12
Dorset's administrative history is a bit of an ever accelerating affair. The early years after 1974 saw minimal changes- most notably the expansion of Blandford Forum. Bournemouth and Poole became unitary authorities in the 90s, but surprisingly saw no boundary changes with the rest of Dorset 1/3
July 13, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Dorset's administrative history is a bit of an ever accelerating affair. The early years after 1974 saw minimal changes- most notably the expansion of Blandford Forum. Bournemouth and Poole became unitary authorities in the 90s, but surprisingly saw no boundary changes with the rest of Dorset 1/3
Finally wrapped up another county, so here's Somerset in 1974. This is another one of those counties to have been extensively reorganised since then - indeed it was essentially a harbinger for the current round of re-organisation in 2019 1/3
June 13, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Finally wrapped up another county, so here's Somerset in 1974. This is another one of those counties to have been extensively reorganised since then - indeed it was essentially a harbinger for the current round of re-organisation in 2019 1/3
What about building a replica of Scarborough Castle *at Scarborough*?
June 12, 2025 at 9:43 PM
What about building a replica of Scarborough Castle *at Scarborough*?
Wiltshire has had a bit of an interesting history since 1974. There was an initial period of significant change in the 80s and 90s that saw largescale enlargements of the urban parishes and culminated with the district of Thamesdown being turned into a new unitary council of Swindon 1/4
March 31, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Wiltshire has had a bit of an interesting history since 1974. There was an initial period of significant change in the 80s and 90s that saw largescale enlargements of the urban parishes and culminated with the district of Thamesdown being turned into a new unitary council of Swindon 1/4
Just wrapped up the latest in my 1974 parish maps - here's the modern ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire and Bristol in 1974. As well as the obvious inclusion of three districts from the former Avon- Northavon, Kingswood and Bristol itself - the other things that jumps out... 1/2
February 23, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Just wrapped up the latest in my 1974 parish maps - here's the modern ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire and Bristol in 1974. As well as the obvious inclusion of three districts from the former Avon- Northavon, Kingswood and Bristol itself - the other things that jumps out... 1/2