Claire Richardson
@clairehistory.bsky.social
PhD candidate at ARU Cambridge studying the Norman Cross PoW material culture at Peterborough Museum. Author of Exploring the Lives of Victorian Prostitutes. Member of Peterborough Women’s History Group #ME/CFS
Pleased to say I will be giving a talk on Martha ‘Patty’ Clare and what life was like for her and her family in Northborough in July. If you’re a fan of poet John Clare and his Northborough Sonnets, this will definitely be an interesting afternoon
November 19, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Pleased to say I will be giving a talk on Martha ‘Patty’ Clare and what life was like for her and her family in Northborough in July. If you’re a fan of poet John Clare and his Northborough Sonnets, this will definitely be an interesting afternoon
Had a little chuckle when I found this in the records earlier
November 14, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Had a little chuckle when I found this in the records earlier
Pootled up to St Guthlac’s in the most beautiful weather. Chatting to the vicar, he told me that the door was 150 years old but the tracery is 13th century! Fantastic bit of Victorian restoration
November 13, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Pootled up to St Guthlac’s in the most beautiful weather. Chatting to the vicar, he told me that the door was 150 years old but the tracery is 13th century! Fantastic bit of Victorian restoration
Finally home and fed. My day started with a couple of drunks fighting over who would protect me at a bus stop (yes really!), included a brief moment stuck in a lift, a conversation with Carenza Lewis (who is very lovely) and culminated in a replacement bus service. Rest now 😴
November 1, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Finally home and fed. My day started with a couple of drunks fighting over who would protect me at a bus stop (yes really!), included a brief moment stuck in a lift, a conversation with Carenza Lewis (who is very lovely) and culminated in a replacement bus service. Rest now 😴
View from a corner of the garden at sunset
October 29, 2025 at 5:12 PM
View from a corner of the garden at sunset
A lesson in perspective. Looking east and west on the Welland at the same time
October 25, 2025 at 6:36 PM
A lesson in perspective. Looking east and west on the Welland at the same time
Spent some of this afternoon meeting some glossy ibises! Only glossy in the sun, which thankfully came out
October 25, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Spent some of this afternoon meeting some glossy ibises! Only glossy in the sun, which thankfully came out
An old but novel view of the cathedral through the Guildhall now the metal fence has been removed
October 14, 2025 at 6:10 PM
An old but novel view of the cathedral through the Guildhall now the metal fence has been removed
What you can see here is current work on a unique building in Deeping St James. It has/had a thatched cat slide roof, typical of fenland architecture and featured a wonderful A-shaped cruck gable end. Not listed: was my fear when it was sold recently. I hope they’re working with professionals 😢
October 12, 2025 at 8:57 AM
What you can see here is current work on a unique building in Deeping St James. It has/had a thatched cat slide roof, typical of fenland architecture and featured a wonderful A-shaped cruck gable end. Not listed: was my fear when it was sold recently. I hope they’re working with professionals 😢
My version has a grovelling apology!
October 12, 2025 at 8:18 AM
My version has a grovelling apology!
Superb haul of books found in my local antiques shop. 1st edition Pevsner and a 1911 version of Lavengro (which has some amazing Norman Cross references)
October 11, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Superb haul of books found in my local antiques shop. 1st edition Pevsner and a 1911 version of Lavengro (which has some amazing Norman Cross references)
The Lincolnshire fens in autumn looking east over Cross Drain and Cradge Bank
October 9, 2025 at 3:40 PM
The Lincolnshire fens in autumn looking east over Cross Drain and Cradge Bank
Is this legal? Are tobacco products allowed to be advertised? 🤔
October 7, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Is this legal? Are tobacco products allowed to be advertised? 🤔
Spotted in the garden this afternoon enjoying the autumn sunshine
October 6, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Spotted in the garden this afternoon enjoying the autumn sunshine
Chilly morning down by the River Nene
October 5, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Chilly morning down by the River Nene
Gorgeous day in Cambridge with a bevy of fabulous people. The pictures show Parker’s Piece and one of the rare walls near the station
September 30, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Gorgeous day in Cambridge with a bevy of fabulous people. The pictures show Parker’s Piece and one of the rare walls near the station
Got a newer train this morning with a clean carpet and fancy seats. I feel a lot less like a piece of lost luggage now. There’s a usable table too!
September 30, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Got a newer train this morning with a clean carpet and fancy seats. I feel a lot less like a piece of lost luggage now. There’s a usable table too!
Spotted this in Dunelm today. Is this an internet thing that I don’t know about or is should I be worried about their products?! 😂
September 24, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Spotted this in Dunelm today. Is this an internet thing that I don’t know about or is should I be worried about their products?! 😂
The art of history and flora reclaiming a stark white wall
September 20, 2025 at 1:03 PM
The art of history and flora reclaiming a stark white wall
Current view from the garden. Lovely temperature and I just spotted a chiffchaff!
September 19, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Current view from the garden. Lovely temperature and I just spotted a chiffchaff!
Dramatically failed to get any decent pictures of this afternoon’s events but can confirm it was brilliant and it was fantastic to meet lots of other people invested in Norman Cross. Watch this space for wonderful new things
September 17, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Dramatically failed to get any decent pictures of this afternoon’s events but can confirm it was brilliant and it was fantastic to meet lots of other people invested in Norman Cross. Watch this space for wonderful new things
Amazing what you can find hidden in your notes! One of the smallest ladybirds I’ve ever found 🐞
September 15, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Amazing what you can find hidden in your notes! One of the smallest ladybirds I’ve ever found 🐞
Perfect weather for my visit to Tansor and Warmington for a talk. I’d forgotten how good the earthworks are around there and quite how beautiful the countryside is
September 11, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Perfect weather for my visit to Tansor and Warmington for a talk. I’d forgotten how good the earthworks are around there and quite how beautiful the countryside is
Burghley House was the perfect location for a catch up with a great friend for her birthday. So lucky to have such an amazing location on our doorstep
September 9, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Burghley House was the perfect location for a catch up with a great friend for her birthday. So lucky to have such an amazing location on our doorstep
Spent a really productive morning in the archives again. This little gem was an unexpected but delightful find. A sheaf of wheat, perhaps?
September 8, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Spent a really productive morning in the archives again. This little gem was an unexpected but delightful find. A sheaf of wheat, perhaps?