Dr Alan Montgomery
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classicalalan.bsky.social
Dr Alan Montgomery
@classicalalan.bsky.social
Historian, artist, tour guide and FSAScot. A lover of legend and folklore.
Buy my art and my books here: https://linktr.ee/classicalalan
I must say Glasgow was looking rather lovely today, with Kelvingrove Park showing the last of its autumnal colour...
November 10, 2025 at 7:47 PM
This is my painting 'Sun Henges', watercolour and gold ink on recycled cotton rag paper. It is one of several new works inspired by folk art and ancient megaliths that are now available for sale on my Etsy shop here: shorturl.at/HDzSI
#StandingStoneSunday #Art
November 9, 2025 at 8:58 AM
A wonderful selection of ancient Roman finds from the city of Colchester in Essex, known in ancient times as Camulodunum, including jewellery, coin hoards, pottery and fresco fragments. Now on display at Colchester Castle. @colmuseums.bsky.social #FindsFriday
November 7, 2025 at 8:25 AM
This is the Roman bathhouse at Bearsden in Glasgow, the only visible remains of the fort on the Antonine Wall that once stood there. Featuring hot and cold rooms as well as plunge pools and a latrine, it also had glazed windows and painted plaster decoration. #RomanFortThursday
November 6, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Some impressive ancient stonework from Corbridge Roman site just south of Hadrian's Wall for #WallsonWednesday.
November 5, 2025 at 8:35 AM
I am heading off to Brittany next week, and I plan to make a visit to one of my favourite ancient monuments - the corridor tomb in the forest near Trédion that is known as la Loge au Loup ('the Den of the Wolf'). #TombTuesday
November 4, 2025 at 10:54 AM
They do exist, not sure if there any in Britain though...
November 3, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Looking down on the elegant mosaic in the west wing corridor of Chedworth Roman villa for #MosaicMonday
November 3, 2025 at 10:09 AM
This is my painting 'Sun and Stones', watercolour and gold ink on recycled cotton rag paper. It is one of several new works inspired by folk art and ancient megaliths that are now available for sale on my Etsy shop here: shorturl.at/HDzSI
#StandingStoneSunday #Art
November 2, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Here's me at a Hallowe'en fancy dress party in Glasgow circa. 1992, dressed as Oscar Wilde with a carnation in my hand. Look at all that hair!
#Halloween
October 31, 2025 at 1:22 PM
This rare gilded bronze Roman head probably belonged to the cult statue of the goddess Sulis Minerva from her temple by the sacred spring in Bath. It was found in Stall Street in 1727 and can now be seen in the Roman Baths Museum. #FindsFriday
October 31, 2025 at 8:54 AM
This drawing originally appeared as an illustration in Wendy Mewes's brilliant book 'Brittany: Stone Stories'.
October 29, 2025 at 8:34 AM
This is my drawing of the creepy Ankou sculpture on the church of Lannédern in Brittany. Ankou is a psychopomp, the servant of death who takes the deceased to the otherworld.
The original artwork is now available on my Etsy shop here: shorturl.at/HDzSI
#WyrdWednesday
October 29, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Tarot card inspired art - watercolour with gold and silver ink on recycled cotton rag paper - now available on my Etsy shop here: shorturl.at/HDzSI
#Art #Tarot
October 28, 2025 at 11:47 AM
This is the dolmen of Mané-Croc'h near Erdeven in Brittany. A T-shaped passage grave, its name can be translated as 'the hill of the sorceress'. #TombTuesday
October 28, 2025 at 11:15 AM
This is my watercolour of the Iron Age stele at Sainte-Tréphine in Brittany. It is said to mark the grave of Tryphine, who was decapitated by her wicked husband but miraculously revived by St Gildas.
The original artwork is now available on my Etsy shop here: shorturl.at/HDzSI
#StandingStoneSunday
October 26, 2025 at 8:39 AM
My favourite stretch of the Antonine Wall, the Roman frontier in Scotland, can be found at Dullatur. Here the Wall's enormous ditch is remarkably well preserved, tangible evidence of the impressive scale of this 38-mile-long monument.
#RomanSiteSaturday
October 25, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Looking down at a lovely Norman doorway into the 12th-century church of St Mary the Virgin at Ashbury in Oxfordshire. #AdoorableThursday
October 23, 2025 at 11:44 AM
The weather-beaten walls of Camber Castle for #WallsonWednesday. Constructed by Henry VIII, this artillery fortress was designed to guard the important harbour at Rye.
October 22, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Another fun evening at @stoneclub.bsky.social yesterday - it was great to hear @peteralanross.bsky.social talk about his new book Upon a White Horse and pick up a signed copy. And how lovely that my wee Antonine Wall book gets a mention in the bibliography!
October 21, 2025 at 12:11 PM
This one is one my new series of paintings inspired by ancient megaliths and folk art. It is watercolour and gold ink on cotton rag paper and I've called it 'Sun and Dolmen'.
Check them out on my Etsy shop here: shorturl.at/HDzSI
#TombTuesday
October 21, 2025 at 10:34 AM
These elaborate fourteenth-century tombs in St Thomas's church in Winchelsea Sussex are thought to be the final resting places of members of the wealthy Alard family, probably Robert, his wife Isabel and brother Henry. #TombTuesday
October 21, 2025 at 10:18 AM
I spent the weekend in Rye, Sussex and made sure to visit the amazing town model, a faithful recreation of Rye as it was in the 1800s. It was constructed in the 1970s by Joy and Ted Harland who used all sort of materials, including recycled TV packaging, bottle brushes, cardboard and a lot of glue.
October 20, 2025 at 12:59 PM
A beautiful detail from one of the Alard family tombs in St Thomas's Church in Winchelsea for #MedievalMonday
October 20, 2025 at 7:03 AM
This is my watercolour of the cave known as the Grotte d'Artus in the forest of Huelgoat, Brittany. According to legend, King Arthur lies slumbering inside and will awaken once again when he is needed... #FolkyFriday #Art
The original artwork is now available on my Etsy shop here: shorturl.at/HDzSI
October 17, 2025 at 9:09 AM