Alun Withey
@dralun.bsky.social
BBCRadio3/AHRC New Gen Thinker. Award-winning historian of early modern medicine, the body & beards! Senior lecturer at Exeter Uni, loves guitars, drums & *good* coffee.
Blogs at DrAlun.Wordpress.com. TikTok & Instagram: @dralunwithey
Blogs at DrAlun.Wordpress.com. TikTok & Instagram: @dralunwithey
Currently doing some work on feelings of bodily discomfort while travelling. One common affliction was a sore bum caused by long journeys on horseback. One 18thc vicar noted that his backside was so sore that he dipped it into the river for relief. What must passers-by have thought?!
October 14, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Currently doing some work on feelings of bodily discomfort while travelling. One common affliction was a sore bum caused by long journeys on horseback. One 18thc vicar noted that his backside was so sore that he dipped it into the river for relief. What must passers-by have thought?!
Reposted by Alun Withey
"A barrage on the senses."
Today's article pick from Damn History, a free monthly newsletter for readers/writers of #popularhistory. Congrats to writer @dralun.bsky.social!
Read/subscribe to Damn History: damn-history-16d93f.beehiiv.com/subscribe
dralun.wordpress.com/2025/08/19/j...
Today's article pick from Damn History, a free monthly newsletter for readers/writers of #popularhistory. Congrats to writer @dralun.bsky.social!
Read/subscribe to Damn History: damn-history-16d93f.beehiiv.com/subscribe
dralun.wordpress.com/2025/08/19/j...
Jolted and Jumbled: Riding in a Sedan Chair in the 18th Century
If there is one form of transport that perhaps typifies the 18th century more than any other, it is a sedan chair. Recently I have been doing some work on stage coaches, and the experien…
dralun.wordpress.com
September 10, 2025 at 1:15 PM
"A barrage on the senses."
Today's article pick from Damn History, a free monthly newsletter for readers/writers of #popularhistory. Congrats to writer @dralun.bsky.social!
Read/subscribe to Damn History: damn-history-16d93f.beehiiv.com/subscribe
dralun.wordpress.com/2025/08/19/j...
Today's article pick from Damn History, a free monthly newsletter for readers/writers of #popularhistory. Congrats to writer @dralun.bsky.social!
Read/subscribe to Damn History: damn-history-16d93f.beehiiv.com/subscribe
dralun.wordpress.com/2025/08/19/j...
Jolted and Jumbled: Riding in a Sedan Chair in the 18th Century
If there is one form of transport that perhaps typifies the 18th century more than any other, it is a sedan chair. Recently I have been doing some work on stage coaches, and the experience of what it was actually like to travel in…
If there is one form of transport that perhaps typifies the 18th century more than any other, it is a sedan chair. Recently I have been doing some work on stage coaches, and the experience of what it was actually like to travel in…
Jolted and Jumbled: Riding in a Sedan Chair in the 18th Century
If there is one form of transport that perhaps typifies the 18th century more than any other, it is a sedan chair. Recently I have been doing some work on stage coaches, and the experience of what it was actually like to travel in one. This is already turning up some interesting evidence, suggesting that, far from our romantic costume-drama idea of wafting around the countryside in quiet comfort and contemplation, travelling by coach was nothing less than a barrage on the senses.
dralun.wordpress.com
August 19, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Jolted and Jumbled: Riding in a Sedan Chair in the 18th Century
If there is one form of transport that perhaps typifies the 18th century more than any other, it is a sedan chair. Recently I have been doing some work on stage coaches, and the experience of what it was actually like to travel in…
If there is one form of transport that perhaps typifies the 18th century more than any other, it is a sedan chair. Recently I have been doing some work on stage coaches, and the experience of what it was actually like to travel in…
Just found a reference to a Swiss duchess making a 390-mile journey from her home to Paris…in a sedan chair!! Think of the poor guys carrying it! Blog post to follow next week.
a man is kneeling on the floor in a gym
ALT: a man is kneeling on the floor in a gym
media.tenor.com
August 15, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Just found a reference to a Swiss duchess making a 390-mile journey from her home to Paris…in a sedan chair!! Think of the poor guys carrying it! Blog post to follow next week.
Just passed a very nice afternoon in the literary company of, amongst others. Jeremy Bentham, Alexander Pope, Jonathan Swift, Hester Lynch Piozzi and Jane Austen. Research for a new article which is coming along nicely.
August 14, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Just passed a very nice afternoon in the literary company of, amongst others. Jeremy Bentham, Alexander Pope, Jonathan Swift, Hester Lynch Piozzi and Jane Austen. Research for a new article which is coming along nicely.
In records of folklore from Shropshire, “a person whose teeth are far apart is born to travel”.
June 18, 2025 at 12:44 PM
In records of folklore from Shropshire, “a person whose teeth are far apart is born to travel”.
Currently spending a happy few hours trawling through Victorian folklore collections, looking for evidence of customs and superstitions surrounding travel. Finding some great ones!
June 18, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Currently spending a happy few hours trawling through Victorian folklore collections, looking for evidence of customs and superstitions surrounding travel. Finding some great ones!
Today starts with an espresso, trip to physio for knackered back and knee, then, (🤞🏻🤞🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻) a bit of writing for the potential new book.
May 19, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Today starts with an espresso, trip to physio for knackered back and knee, then, (🤞🏻🤞🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻) a bit of writing for the potential new book.
My copy of @benltjackson.bsky.social’s ‘Material Masculinities’ arrived yesterday and already half way through it. Excellent stuff & really enjoying it & learning a lot.
April 29, 2025 at 11:38 AM
My copy of @benltjackson.bsky.social’s ‘Material Masculinities’ arrived yesterday and already half way through it. Excellent stuff & really enjoying it & learning a lot.
Currently doing a bit of research on Welsh Mariners wills. That of Morgan Morgans of Swansea (d.1710) sounds a bit piratey! His only goods consisted of an old bed, 4 muskets and two pistols, his clothes, and a small barrel…cue a spirited shanty about a dead man’s rum!
April 14, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Currently doing a bit of research on Welsh Mariners wills. That of Morgan Morgans of Swansea (d.1710) sounds a bit piratey! His only goods consisted of an old bed, 4 muskets and two pistols, his clothes, and a small barrel…cue a spirited shanty about a dead man’s rum!
Reposted by Alun Withey
Calling all Exeter academics... have you noticed the videos we've been collaborating on with @dralun.bsky.social on TikTok & Instagram? Would you like to work on similar videos to showcase your research to reach a wider audience? If so, drop us an email at socialmedia@exeter.ac.uk lnkd.in/eRyDEiu8
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
lnkd.in
March 18, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Calling all Exeter academics... have you noticed the videos we've been collaborating on with @dralun.bsky.social on TikTok & Instagram? Would you like to work on similar videos to showcase your research to reach a wider audience? If so, drop us an email at socialmedia@exeter.ac.uk lnkd.in/eRyDEiu8
Perhaps I’m getting old, but every movie trailer I seem to see these days has some combination of a character looking rapidly from side to side, an evil person saying something threatening in a deep voice, some acrobatic fighting, and someone running into battle shouting “aaaaaaah”
March 5, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Perhaps I’m getting old, but every movie trailer I seem to see these days has some combination of a character looking rapidly from side to side, an evil person saying something threatening in a deep voice, some acrobatic fighting, and someone running into battle shouting “aaaaaaah”
My wife and son went out about an hour ago, so I thought I would get some work done. But young master Barney spotted his chance, and this could take a while. And to add a little bit of extra excitement, he has just done a fart of contentment on my leg!
March 1, 2025 at 12:55 PM
My wife and son went out about an hour ago, so I thought I would get some work done. But young master Barney spotted his chance, and this could take a while. And to add a little bit of extra excitement, he has just done a fart of contentment on my leg!
A new post about some fantastic marginalia found in a 1773 medical book that I bought a few years ago. vm.tiktok.com/ZNd1naKPn/
TikTok - Make Your Day
vm.tiktok.com
February 20, 2025 at 11:16 AM
A new post about some fantastic marginalia found in a 1773 medical book that I bought a few years ago. vm.tiktok.com/ZNd1naKPn/
Not sure this boy is enjoying his first trip to Costa!
February 18, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Not sure this boy is enjoying his first trip to Costa!
Welcome to the family Barney 🐾❤️❤️
February 8, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Welcome to the family Barney 🐾❤️❤️
Puppy collection day! Both very excited & very nervous about what I’ve let myself in for! 🐾
February 8, 2025 at 6:47 AM
Puppy collection day! Both very excited & very nervous about what I’ve let myself in for! 🐾
Favourite 18thc name of the day: Mr Topham Beauclerk, noted as dandy and Macaroni in a 1767 letter by lady Caroline Lennox
January 30, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Favourite 18thc name of the day: Mr Topham Beauclerk, noted as dandy and Macaroni in a 1767 letter by lady Caroline Lennox
18th-century slang terms, from James Caulfield’s ‘Blackguardiana’ vm.tiktok.com/ZGdS68Rcg/
TikTok - Make Your Day
vm.tiktok.com
January 12, 2025 at 12:52 PM
18th-century slang terms, from James Caulfield’s ‘Blackguardiana’ vm.tiktok.com/ZGdS68Rcg/
@amdharrington.bsky.social Hi Anna. Thanks for following & such a coincidence because I was only thinking about you yesterday at the BSECS conference. I wonder if I might catch you for a chat at some point as I’d like to ask about some sources in your talk a couple of years back.
January 10, 2025 at 12:23 PM
@amdharrington.bsky.social Hi Anna. Thanks for following & such a coincidence because I was only thinking about you yesterday at the BSECS conference. I wonder if I might catch you for a chat at some point as I’d like to ask about some sources in your talk a couple of years back.
Lovely to be back in Oxford. Giving a paper at the British Society of 18th-century studies (BSECS) conference this morning, about the history of motion sickness in stage coaches!
January 8, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Lovely to be back in Oxford. Giving a paper at the British Society of 18th-century studies (BSECS) conference this morning, about the history of motion sickness in stage coaches!
A brand new blog post about the problems of tipping in the past, and how travellers complained of all the unwanted and unexpected things they had to pay for! dralun.wordpress.com/2025/01/06/t...
To Tip or Not To Tip: A Victorian Traveller’s Perspective
Like it or not, tipping is a big part of hospitality and the service industry. Debates about how much/whether to tip rumble on, but they are not new. Even in the 18th and 19th centuries, travellers…
dralun.wordpress.com
January 6, 2025 at 2:57 PM
A brand new blog post about the problems of tipping in the past, and how travellers complained of all the unwanted and unexpected things they had to pay for! dralun.wordpress.com/2025/01/06/t...
Reposted by Alun Withey
Dr @dralun.bsky.social spoke to @mattchorley.bsky.social about politicians and beards! 🧔
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Matt Chorley - Nick Eardley sits in - BBC Sounds
Nick discusses adult social care with Sir Ed Davey & Andy Burnham.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 6, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Dr @dralun.bsky.social spoke to @mattchorley.bsky.social about politicians and beards! 🧔
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...