Josh Baker-Cox
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joshbakercox.bsky.social
Josh Baker-Cox
@joshbakercox.bsky.social
280 followers 460 following 120 posts
PhD at Bangor researching rebellions in 10th and early 12th century England and Normandy.

Lover of Norman (and Anglo-Norman) History, and general fan of Robert Curthose & Robert de Belleme.

https://medievalhistory.home.blog/
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joshbakercox.bsky.social
So I would like to preface this by saying that I have not painted anything in 7 years. And I have only ever been of modest skill (no Golden Demon awards let me put it that way). But doing this Robin Hood cookie, as silly as it sounds, has made me want to crack on with my SAGA vikings at long last.
An unpainted cookie of Robin Hood in profile, complete with feathered cap. An absolutely gloriously painted (if I say so myself) cookie. Obviously I had to make his shirt green, but I had eight colours to use and by god I was going to use as many as I could. Went with yellow hair, the underside of his hat is brown, the top a dark navy and the (literal) feather in his cap, is some sort of mauve, or a lilac.
November 17, 2025 at 1:59 PM
joshbakercox.bsky.social
When your computer freezes on the day Crusader Kings 3's new dlc releases and this evening while trying Europa Universalis V on release day your monitor breaks and won't turn back on but you can't prove these weren't just coincidences.
November 4, 2025 at 10:15 PM
joshbakercox.bsky.social
Not medieval I'm afraid, but things are getting wonderfully autumnal at Croome Court.

That said the first image is not just a church on the grounds of the Court, but also the parish church of Croome D'Abitot. Who was the first Norman sheriff of Worcester? Urse d'Abetot.
October 13, 2025 at 10:43 AM
joshbakercox.bsky.social
Finally here is a video of me wandering around the inner tower and the walls of the earlier shell keep, on top of the motte. If I sound out of breath, it's because I am. Apologies for the shoddy camera work and basic commentary, I didn't expect to use this.
September 8, 2025 at 10:34 AM
joshbakercox.bsky.social
And obviously I went to the castle. I had to fight my way through a literal marathon and ended up in what I can only describe as a torrential downpour that soaked me through my coat. So don't say I never think of you all. The whole design of the castle was quite striking actually.
Launceston castle (or at least the keep/inner bailey) sits above the outer portions of the castle, in the middle of the town, on a quite frankly ridiculously steep motte. The land slopes up gently to the right as you approach the gate the remains of the gate (now just two lonely towers either side of the path), but the steps are exhausting. Well they were for me. To give you a better idea of the height. Either side of these modern stairs are the remains of a wall that ran all the way up from the gate to the towers entrance. The tower itself is two separate parts, the remains of the inner tower, where the main bedroom was, stands above the remains of a wall that surrounded it. Best way I can describe it is imagine an upright cardboard tube, then around this imagine a slightly lower, but bigger tube. The keep! On either side of the image you can just make out the walls of the earlier shell keep, and in the middle is the round tower Richard of Cornwall plonked in the middle. Approximately half way up are some (relatively) evenly spaced square/rectangular holes running the entire circumference of the structure. In the middle one of these holes sits a pigeon, sheltering from the rain. A view from inside the tower of the window that looked out from the earls bedroom. Some steps or a cutaway sitting space can be seen beneath the hole where the window stood, with an almost arched point at the top. Beyond the now empty hole is a portion of the rather hilly countryside that can be found immediately around Launceston itself.
September 8, 2025 at 10:29 AM
joshbakercox.bsky.social
I have plenty more pictures from Tintagel, but I am struggling to choose them, so please also feast your eyes on these images from a 16th century (I believe) church at Launceston. Some of the outside paving stones look to me like they had a precious life inside a church.
Narrow wall of the church, it is covered top to bottom (and so are all the walls as a matter of fact) in rows of carvings. Various tree or plant like imagery on some rows, intertwining shapes on others, and on certain rows are shields carved with different designs that repeat: some have two chevrons one above another others have a cross going from each "corner" and a single dot in each triangle formed from that division. Some paving stones outside the church. There were various ones (further along I think I saw one that may have originally been next to this one). This particular one has writing down it's left side, and what look to me like carvings of various parts of a cadaver. On the right is what looks like the arm and part of the ribcage of a skeleton. More floor carvings, this showing more writing in a border, the corner of which contains a cross in a circle. The paving slab ahead of it bears no such inscription. The opposite end of the church, the wall continues with the repeating rows of patterns, but this time in the center is a figure lying face down next to a spherical object, almost like an urn. Either side of this figure are smaller carved figures, possibly representing saints? Each figure is looking towards this larger carving, so the ones of the left are looking to the right, and vice versa.
September 8, 2025 at 10:07 AM
joshbakercox.bsky.social
"...no power on earth can get us to her in the stronghold of Tintagel? It stands completely surrounded by the sea and can be reached only by a narrow cliff. Three armed Knights could hold it against you, even though you had the whole kingdom of Britain at your back." De gestis Britonum
A view of the ruined barbican of Tintagel from just outside the castle's main entrance. A rugged hill rises up from the valley to the right, and the sea can be seen through the dip in the landscape The (thankfully very sturdy) bridge that joins the mainland courtyards and their collection of buildings to the island courtyards over the isthmus. The island portion rises up above the mainland part of the castle, though the buildings are somewhat harder to notice without zooming in as the stone blends in quite well with the surroundings Looking back towards the bridge (right hand side, background) from the island courtyard are the remains of a small two storey house, the walls have been reduced to about waist high on the right length, but the width closest to my position taking this photograph goes up to (or perhaps just above) the first floor's floor level. Two straight rows of stone foundations run parallel to each other and this small building, and represent earlier stages of the castle's construction. The row closest to the house marks where an earlier, slightly larger hall once stood, and the row further to the right shows where the wall of the original (even bigger) 13th century great hall stood. No grand sweeping vista of the castle here I'm afraid, this was just my attempt at being a bit arty. Above what is a dividing wall from the expansion of the kitchen in the castles second phase, are the remains of a window set in a very jagged wall made from quite flat stones of varying sizes, giving the appearance of almost a bed of razor sharp clams (not the best description perhaps, but there's a reason I didn't go on to do English at university). Through the remains of this window is an almost green-grey sea, waves crashing against a steep portion of coastline with a large rock sticking out a few metres into the sea.
September 8, 2025 at 9:48 AM
joshbakercox.bsky.social
Three images of what I thought was just a very lovely building. Called The George, it was built in the 16th century to accommodate pilgrims
A broad gate set in an old wooden frame with floral decorations at the top. It's open, and you can see right through a long courtyard to an open gate in the distance underneath a structure. Lots of black wood and whitewashed walls that you would think of when imagining Elizabethan buildings A slightly more zoomed in image of the open courtyard, on the left is a wood framed covered staircase.
July 17, 2025 at 1:18 PM
joshbakercox.bsky.social
More coins! On the right four genuine coins of Coenwulf, and on the left an example of two coins minted in Winchcombe itself: one from Harðacnut (1035-42) and one from William the Conqueror (1066-87) Was the martyrdom of St Kenelm a hoax? Me sneaking myself into images, but only reflections because I'm very mysterious. It's actually an image of the corner of a building, namely the old bakery, which existed since at least 1282!
July 17, 2025 at 1:18 PM
joshbakercox.bsky.social
But, while not being able to get into the abbey itself sucked immensely (not sure I can ever forgive you, English Heritage), it did mean that we went to Winchcombe and, for the first time, had a poke around their little museum! And it was honestly really nice, had items from various eras.
A display of various pieces of stonework from the abbey not at Hailes, but Winchcombe itself! The image shows faces in stonework (corbel brackets), ball flower decorations and a sort of integrated pillar. All of these date from the 12th to the early 14th centuries. At the bottom left of the image shows a map of the abbey's location in Winchcombe. Six Anglo-Saxon coins that were found in the town, in a display case (with my reflection making me look unimpressed for some reason, I promise, I was very impressed). In order from top to bottom, left column then right column, the coins are: Coenwulf (aka Kenulf), 796-821, a moneyer named Dunn, from the Rochester mint; Ceolwulf, 821-23, moneyer named Wodel, East Anglia mint; Offa of Mercia, 757-96, moneyer named Eahlmund, London mint; the three coins on the right are all from Coenwulf and minted in Canterbury, the top one by a moneyer named Swefheard, the other two by one named Tidbeahrt. All the coins have a relatively similar design, the monarchs head on one side, and various designs of cross on the other. The exception is the coin of Ceolwulf which, in place of a cross, has the words "pod-del mo-neta" divided by three lines. A bit of information about Coenwulf: as king of Mercia he chose Winchcombe to be his administrative centre, and his palace is thought to be at the east end of Abbey Terrace, where the building society now stands. He had the abbey built in the town, and both he and his son Kenelm were buried there. More Coenwulf info: he died in 821 while campaigning against the Welsh, and succeeded by his brother Ceolwulf, who took succeeded in bringing Powys under Mercian control. However he proved to be an unpopular king and was removed from the throne in 823 by his replacement, Beornwulf. Winchcombe did, however, have its own mint! Coins from seven kings have been found, the earliest being Edgar (959-75) and the latest was none other than William the Conqueror (1066-87).
July 17, 2025 at 1:18 PM
joshbakercox.bsky.social
More paintings, left of the small heraldic shields, there are repeating alternating squares that seem to contain a neutral coloured castle on a red background, then a black eagle (almost reminiscent of a one headed reichsadler), and so on so forth, like a chessboard. The windows at the far end, not fully stain glass, but with some stain glass images in the top and middle third showing saints I believe? The right hand side of the buildings interior, more shields within squares, but also a diamond pattern between two windows that alternates between rows of red lions rampant (happy to be corrected as I'm not heraldic expert) followed by three vertical red stripes in a white background
July 17, 2025 at 12:45 PM
joshbakercox.bsky.social
Sadly the roof was in need of repairs so I couldn't get better shots of some of the wall paintings, sorry!
A view of the font from further back, showing the bell rope in front of a double window A faded mural showing a large figure bearing a staff that is the same height as he is, there also appears to be some sort of creature or bird on his left (our right) shoulder Damaged and faded wall painting, shows patterns of leaves and other repeating shapes More murals and wall paintings, showing little shields and heraldry off to the left, colourful patterns around the windows, and a part of a figure to the right.
July 17, 2025 at 12:45 PM
joshbakercox.bsky.social
So turns out you can't just go to Hailes Abbey anymore, and that I guess over COVID they changed it to a booking visit system? Either way, I still got to poke around the church which is always lovely to see!
Exterior of half the church, showing the main entrance way. An angle looking further to the right capturing the rest of the church, with the main entrance on the left. There are some graves on the right hand of the image. An old, plain font (possibly Norman?) standing by the door (off image to the left) and among some old tiles. A faded mural above and left of the main door. It shows a man, seemingly a hunter, carrying a shield bearing three objects I can't quite make out. Left of him run towards a rabbit or hare that is underneath a leafless tree
July 17, 2025 at 12:35 PM
joshbakercox.bsky.social
Currently trying to write the first part of a new "chapter" draft (I find introductions always take a while), but I'm being kept company by a tiny ceramic octopus from a Spanish island. They are as yet unnamed however, which I think is criminal.

Also I have only just noticed they have six arms.
A tiny, unnamed ceramic octopus, light blue in colour, with black spots on each of their arms. They are sat on a copy of Mark Hagger's 'Norman Rule in Normandy, 911-1144'
July 1, 2025 at 12:34 PM
joshbakercox.bsky.social
So I've decided to take a break from chronicles and am making some flash cards for Latin case endings while listening to (currently) illusion by Dua Lipa. And don't give me that look, I'm not just about viking/folk metal, or bands who stylise their names to look like a lightning strike.
March 20, 2025 at 2:28 PM
joshbakercox.bsky.social
Why yes, I am procrastinating instead of writing about William's 1062/3 conquest of Maine, how did you know?
March 4, 2025 at 12:27 PM
joshbakercox.bsky.social
My reaction when I think I've written something really good (it isn't good at all but I'm riding high on misplaced confidence at the time)
March 4, 2025 at 12:21 PM
joshbakercox.bsky.social
Just been to the peace dove art installation at Tewkesbury Abbey, tried to get an arty shot of the outside of the cathedral but I am the furthest thing from artistic!
February 27, 2025 at 8:45 PM
joshbakercox.bsky.social
I'm not sure my sister truly appreciates my attempts to both entertain and educate her while she's stuck on public transport. I know! No pleasing some people...
February 26, 2025 at 4:12 PM
joshbakercox.bsky.social
Spotify have done their yearly wrap which I think is always a fun little event. Here are some snapshots of mine and i do not know what was going on in October, but apparently it was an absolute mood.
My top five artists were 1: Be'lakor, 2: Rammstein, 3: PAIN, 4: Ashbury Heights, 5: Feurschwanz. Top five songs were 1: Deutschland, 2: Go With The Flow, 3: Sweep of Days, 4: Angst, 5: Happy Idiot March was my Goth Happy Rock Neue Deutsche Härte phase, where I was really into artists like Rammstein, OOMPH! and Unheilig June was my Viking Instrumental Melodic Death Metal season, with bands like Be'lakor, Amorphis and The Unguided And finally, last but by no means least, October was my Pink Pilates Princess Strut moment, with Dua Lips, The Weeknd and One Republic. I think I only listened to one One Republic song to be honest.
December 5, 2024 at 2:01 AM
joshbakercox.bsky.social
You know what I don't care what anyone says, I think it's a perfectly acceptable time to break out the Christmas themed shirts, punny or otherwise.
A picture of a totally, for real, very handsome man (though the face is not in the image so you have to take my word for it) wearing a red t-shirt with a turkey wearing a Santa hat emerging out of a breast pocket, and the words "go pluck yourself" above it. There is a banner from the band Amon Amarth in the background. And yes I may be having a bit of fun while typing the alt text for this.
November 26, 2024 at 1:42 AM
joshbakercox.bsky.social
Me now it's the end of the day.
November 25, 2024 at 5:57 PM
joshbakercox.bsky.social
Also, between hunting for rebellions among the pages of Orderic, I've been occasionally using a bit of software called 'My Family Tree' I found for free on the Windows store in an effort to map out some, well, family trees. Visualising kinship is always useful (I swear, it's not just for fun).
A currently very much incomplete family tree of the Bellême family, starting with William (died 1028), his sons William Talvas, Fulk, Warin, Robert, Ivo (or Yves, Bishop of Séez) and Benedict. Then beneath them we have Warin's daughter, Adela, married to Rotrou II, count of Perche. Beneath William Talvas there is his son Oliver, who may have been illegitimate, and his children with Hildeburg; Arnulf and the infamous Mabel. Presents a list of each individual in the family tree, and a breakdown of available info such as death dates, age (if both birth and death dates are present), place of death, sex etc.
November 22, 2024 at 1:04 PM
joshbakercox.bsky.social
Well this was nice to wake up to this morning. Made even nicer by the fact I'm warm inside while I can just glance out the window for a brief respite from Orderic (I joke I love him really).
November 19, 2024 at 12:47 PM
joshbakercox.bsky.social
If I ever feel down, I just remember that Constantine V has gone down in history as Constantine 'the Shit'.
November 14, 2024 at 2:19 PM