Helen J
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helgaj.bsky.social
Helen J
@helgaj.bsky.social
450 followers 1K following 110 posts
Community arts, heritage and archaeology. In Cumbria.
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helgaj.bsky.social
I had a poke about on the foreshore and found a jetty and few other features. There's more work to do, we'll be back...

It's a beautiful site in one of my favourite places.
Two lines of eroded wooden posts, the remains of a jetty, running down a stoney foreshore on an estuary at low tide. In the distance there are sandbanks. Looking from Drumburgh marsh across the Solway firth towards Scotland on a sunny day. It's low tide, the Solway sandbanks are exposed and the water is reflecting the bright blue sky. An inquisitive sheep has come into the trench, to see what's going on.
October 25, 2025 at 1:22 PM
helgaj.bsky.social
I've had a fantastic couple of weeks volunteering with Grampus Heritage at Drumbrugh on the Solway. We only went and found the best preserved section of Hadrian's Wall west of Carlisle! Far more than we were expecting. #archaeology #hadrianswall 🏺
Volunteers cleaning the Hadrian's wall stone work revealed in a long linear trench. In situ standing stone work of Hadrian's Wall, in an archaeology trench. The wall remains are about three courses high, with a rubble stone core. The faces are constructed of squared sandstone blocks, on a foundation of wider sandstone flags. The courses are stepped inwards on the southern face, but a flat verticale face on the North. It's roughly 3 metres wide at the base. The stone wall was built on a turf bank, which can be seen at the base of the trench. Part of the wall has been robbed in the medieval period down to the foundation. In situ standing stone work of the north face of Hadrian's Wall, in an archaeology trench. The wall remains are exposed to two courses high, with a rubble stone core. The wall has collapsed outward in the Roman period and been reinforced by clay/turf piled up against the stonework. A man is crouching on the edge of the trench to take a photo of the wall The south facing stone work of Hadrian's wall in an archaeology trench. The wall partially survives up to three courses, with a foundation of sandstone slabs. The courses are stepped inwards to stabilise the wall. A man is cleaning soil from the foundation stones.
October 25, 2025 at 1:22 PM
helgaj.bsky.social
Happy birthday to the Trip Hazard Twins, they were 1 yesterday! And it was their 4 month moving anniversary. In that time, Dipper has come out from under the bed and learnt that belly rubs are the best thing ever. Raven has discovered moths and catnip mice. And they are now both huge. #proofofcat
A blurry photo of a large long haired black cat on his back. He's chewing on a rainbow coloured ribbon attached to a stick that someone is waving off camera. A shrot haired black cat lying on a sofa. She has a rainbow ribbon that she's playing with wrapped around her front paws Two large black kittens, 8 months old, playing with a long rainbow coloured ribbon on a stick.
September 11, 2025 at 7:58 PM
helgaj.bsky.social
Also, spotted the La'al Ratty settling in for the night at Lawson's yard...
Looking through razorwire into a haulage yard. On a low loader lorry, decorated in the green red and gold of Lawson's Haulage livery, there is a small, narrow guage steam engine and coal tender. The engine and tender are painted burgundy, and have the initials R & ER painted on them for Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.
July 22, 2025 at 10:02 AM
helgaj.bsky.social
A couple of nice stiles on the edge of Cockermouth for @lakesstiles.bsky.social from our guided walk yesterday. I particularly like the triple hinged dog flap.
A stile next to a field gate at the end of a wooded lane. The narrow stile is made from red sandstone block steps, with a small red metal gate at the top, with a spring closure A narrow stepover stile on a wooden fence, with a flap for dogs cut out alongside. The flap is made from timber offcuts with three rusty gate hinges bent around the fence timber.
July 22, 2025 at 9:56 AM
helgaj.bsky.social
Wet cat splat on the kitchen floor after Sunday's storm.
A wet puddle on a stone flag floor, in the shape of a cat, with clear marks for the head and paws, and fur shaped splashes
July 22, 2025 at 9:42 AM
helgaj.bsky.social
I had a wonderful time last week, with Armand Verdier on his Tabouret Carré course. Met a lovely group of people and learnt a lot!
A square footstool in the process of being upholstered , with five coil springs tied to the wooded frame with strong cord A large amount of coil stuffing fixed to a foot stool. A foot stool with linen scrim covering the stuffing. The scrim has been stitched in the corners at the legs to give them a sharp edge. The top of the stool has been marked with blue pins to guide the stitching The first stuffing of an upholstered foot stool, with rows of stitching around the edges to hold the stuffing in place and create the structure and shape
July 15, 2025 at 8:31 PM
helgaj.bsky.social
It's me!
A close up of the pavement in a gloomy underpass, focused on the name Johnston carved into the stone slabs.
July 14, 2025 at 8:40 PM
helgaj.bsky.social
*Breaking News* the kittens have experienced the outside. And wow, it is a lot.
Two black cats in a door way, looking out with their eyes wide and expressions of shock and awe. two black cats sitting in slightly overgrown grass Two black cats meeting on a lawn, giving each other a nose kiss.
June 10, 2025 at 8:25 PM
helgaj.bsky.social
Woah
A screenshot of the MetOffice app, showing the forecast for Cockermouth, UK tomorrow, Monday 19th May, showing the percentage chance of light showers from 11am to 6pm ranging from 60%-80%.
May 18, 2025 at 9:27 PM
helgaj.bsky.social
I need to water the garden but kitten's first snuggle on the sofa is happening
Looking down on a short haired black cat curled up on grey sofa, snuggled between the back cushions and my hip.
May 15, 2025 at 8:42 PM
helgaj.bsky.social
We're delighted that this year's Annual Lecture will be with Gustav Milne and Angela Broomfield on New Research on the City Foreshore.

Join us on 22nd May, 7:00pm at the Institute of Archaeology, UCL or online on Zoom.

www.londonarchaeologist.org.uk/agm-and-annu...

#London #Archaeology 🏺
London Archaeologist AGM And Annual Lecture poster. Poster text: New Research on the City Foreshore. Gustav Milne and Angela Broomfield. 22nd May 2025, 7pm Institute of Archaeology Room 612, London WC1H 0PY Register at www.londonarchaeologist.org.uk The poster has two images, one is a sepia toned photo, taken side on from the foreshore of a set of wooden stairs leading down from the river wall to the foreshore surface. The other is a modern photo looking down onto the foreshore of a group of people recording timber baseplates at the base of a set of stairs. The river and Millennium Bridge can be seen in the background
May 11, 2025 at 8:52 PM
helgaj.bsky.social
Sorry, I can't come to phone right now, I'm busy teaching former feral kittens how to play with the ribbon on a stick.
Two young black cats crouching down on a colourful rug, eyes wide ready to bounce on something off camera. Two young black cats, one short hair and one long hair, playing with a long rainbow ribbon on a stick which is being held by the person taking the picture. The ribbon is tangled underneath the long haired cat and they are both thinking about pouncing on the end of the stick A small black short haired kitten, 8 months old, tangled in a long rainbow ribbon. Her eyes are wide watching the end of the stick where the ribbon is attached. A fluffy long haired black cat, 8 months old, sitting and licking his lips with his very pink tongue. He's just eaten some biscuits from his bowl.
May 11, 2025 at 3:57 PM
helgaj.bsky.social
A few birds I've met recently.
A male blackbird standing on the edge of a path in a garden, with a selection of worms in its mouth. A small quail pottering about in the long grass along a bank with trees and shrubs growing in it.
May 7, 2025 at 8:25 PM
helgaj.bsky.social
Yesteerday, I went for a walk to try and work out which fell you can see from my spare room. It's the one with the cairn, Broom Fell. #LakeDistrict #Cumbria
A dry stone wall on a very steep slope on the side of a Lakeland valley. Behind the wall two trees are growing close together, their still bare branches silhouetted against the sky. The slope is so steep, the wall stones have had to be laid horizontally stepping up the fellside. The large summit cairn on top of Broom Fell, a tall round cairn with a conical top. Next to it is a small dry stone wind shelter. The fell top is flat and grassy, looking towards distant fells A view down the Lorton valley from Greystones. The valley floor is a patchwork of green fields surrounded by dry stone walls and scattered farms. The valley is surrounded by fells covered in heather and gorse. Looking towards the centre of the lake District from Lords Seat. In the foreground the fell slopes away covered first with grass, then scattered trees and heather and beyond that a thick line forest. In the background, ridges of fells disappear into the distance
April 12, 2025 at 8:59 PM
helgaj.bsky.social
Estuary edge
Looking across the Solway Firth towards Criffel in Scotland. It's low tide and the sea is barely visible beyond a long stretch of sand and mudflats, with only two small figures in the distance. The sky is brilliant blue.
March 25, 2025 at 7:48 PM
helgaj.bsky.social
Yes, everything is on fire, but spring is here.
A carpet of crocuses in a graveyard, surrounded by trees Close up of crocuses and moss growing between the roots of a tree Sunset view of a river, twisting between rocks and gravel, with trees on its banks Looking out over a pine forest to some Lakeland fells on a sunny day with fluffy white clouds in the sky
March 4, 2025 at 7:04 PM
helgaj.bsky.social
Haven't been able to do any digging this season, but I managed a visit to Uncovering Roman Carlisle with @alisonjohnston.bsky.social today. Lovely to see the hypocaust in the sun!

(And lots of frantic last day recording)
View of an archaeology excavation in the sunshine. It's a large open area excavation with about 20 people working on site in different coloured hi viz jackets. In the foreground is an area of Roman concrete floor. On two sides are deep trenches, the remains of Roman walls robbed for stone in the 1100s. Beyond that are pillars of tiles which formed the hypocaust underfloor heating.
March 1, 2025 at 10:01 PM
helgaj.bsky.social
Spent the morning in the heritage store. Met this dude.
A view of the heritage store, a narrow space with a very low ceiling. There are shelves of boxes on either side and more stacked up on the floor. In the foreground is a large drum.
February 20, 2025 at 1:12 PM
helgaj.bsky.social
A couple of West Cumbrian stone circles for #StandingStoneSunday.

Elva Plain circle overlooking Bassenthwaite and Kinniside near Ennerdale Bridge.
View of half of the Elva Plain stone circle looking towards the Siddaw Massif. The circle is formed of low pink granite boulders, which are half buried in a grassy field. A view of Elva Plane stone circle. An incomplete ring of low boulders on a plateau in a grassy field. The Kinnisde stone circle with a view over the moors and fells beyond . It's a small stone circle of granite boulders. The stones are set in concrete in 1925 and it's unclear if this was the original location of the circle Kinnisde stone circle looking out towards the coast. In the centre of the circle there is a small rise which might be the remains of a barrow.
January 26, 2025 at 8:41 PM
helgaj.bsky.social
A whistle stop visit to the frosty Shire
A cold and atmospheric photo of a small island in the river at Stratford upon Avon, it's plants and trees are covered in frost. There are swans swimming in the background, and there's a deep fog, with only the shadows of trees visible in the distance. An abstract sculpture of two metal swans reaching their necks up with their wings outstretched. In a park on a cold, frosty day, with a deep fog. A night view of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford upon Avon on a frosty day. The theatre is lit up with the lights reflecting in river. In the foreground is a small island with frost covered trees and shrubs.
January 11, 2025 at 9:07 PM
helgaj.bsky.social
I was back hunting for Hadrian's Wall again yesterday. This site is gorgeous.
Three people in a grassy field, sloping away from the camera. They're using an earth resistance meter. There are measuring tapes laid out on the ground in a 2 metre transects, which they are following. In the background there is an estuary coast line and the distant shore opposite. It's sunny with a clear blue sky, and the sun is casting long shadows of trees and hedgrows across the grass. A solitary tree standing in a grassy field, with bare branches. It might be an ash tree, I'm not sure. It's silhouetted against a blue sky with whispy clouds. There are long shadows on the grass. Behind the tree the land slopes down to the estuary, with a distant promitory. Looking over a grassy field towards the Solway estuary at sunset. Sandbanks are appearing as the tide goes out, and the Scottish coastline is visible as a dark line. There are low whiskpy clouds in the sky, which is lit up with muted pinks and yellow colours of sunset which are reflected in the water
December 13, 2024 at 3:21 PM
helgaj.bsky.social
I needed some new trainers so I stopped at Allonby on my way to the NB factory shop. Love it so much, it's probably my favourite beach. #TidesOutTuesday
The top of stoney beach, leading down to a large sandy estuary, with the tide a long way out. In the distance on the horizon there is a mountain on the opposite shore. The sky is blue with fluffy clouds and it looks a lot warmer than it really was. On a beach looking back across a long stretch of sand at low tide towards a village of low stone houses built along the seafront. Blue sky and white clouds reflected in a pool of water on a large flat sandy beach at low tide.
November 26, 2024 at 9:10 PM
helgaj.bsky.social
I went up to Drumburgh to help Grampus Heritage find Hadrian's Wall, it's somewhere in that field, and there's a fort somewhere too. But the geophys machine was having a wobble, so we had a walk about the farm and a look at Drumburgh Castle, a medieval peel tower.
A grassy field, at the top of a slope looking down to the Solway Firth estuary. There are hedges along the sides of the field and at the bottom of the slope, with a solitary tree with bare branches. To the left is a small headland into the estuary. The tide is in. On the horizon is the line of the Scottish shoreline A large three storey stone house, with a slate roof. Built from uneven red sandstone blocks. There is a grand staircase up to the main door, which is at first floor level. There is a sandstone crest immediately above the door. On a plinth above the door at roof level there are two carved stone eagles with their wings spread. A small door in a solid sandstone building. Right of the door is a Roman altar ston. It's approximately 1m high, and 30cm wide, rectangular pillar shapped. It has a wider base and capital, with a bowl shaped depression carved into the top for offerings.
November 26, 2024 at 9:10 PM
helgaj.bsky.social
I spent the weekend at the nautical archaeology society conference, all about rivers. Here's some I met along the way.

It was great to catch up with people.
A view of the river Wear I Durham, looking towards the Elvert Bridge, a stone medieval bridge with four arches. On the hill behind there is Durham cathedral and the castle. On the railway crossing the River Tyne in Newcastle, with the iconic view of the city bridges. The blue steel metro bridge is in the foreground, and the green arch of the Tyne Bridge behind. Looking down on the river Eden, a fast flowing rocky river, with some rapis. Itsrunning through a gorge with a small island of trees in the middle of the channel A night time long exposure photo of the river derwent looking towards the confluence with the river cocker. The lights from buildings on the banks are reflecting in the water
November 18, 2024 at 9:04 PM