Mark Kirby
@markkirby.bsky.social
Fellow, Lincoln College, Oxford. Architectural historian, C17 church architecture & furnishings. Chairman of Council of the Ecclesiological Society.
There's a great chapter on this by Robert Walker where he makes a good case for the window being painted by Viscount Scudamore. Very rare eg of an amateur glass painter. Available here: www.ecclsoc.org.uk/news/stained...
October 18, 2025 at 4:10 PM
There's a great chapter on this by Robert Walker where he makes a good case for the window being painted by Viscount Scudamore. Very rare eg of an amateur glass painter. Available here: www.ecclsoc.org.uk/news/stained...
The Bayerische Staadtsbibliothek is one of my go-to resources for good quality scans of early modern books. The download arrangement is a bit complicated and I use the auto-translate button. Amused by what looks like a weary "yeah, yeah ... whatever" to confirm I have read the T&Cs.
October 14, 2025 at 11:18 AM
The Bayerische Staadtsbibliothek is one of my go-to resources for good quality scans of early modern books. The download arrangement is a bit complicated and I use the auto-translate button. Amused by what looks like a weary "yeah, yeah ... whatever" to confirm I have read the T&Cs.
Here we are. These are of the library in its 1906-75 home, built by Read & MacDonald. The bookcases are 1738/39 & were relocated from their previous home. The new library was built with the same dimensions as the old, so this gives us our best idea of what the previous one looked like.
October 13, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Here we are. These are of the library in its 1906-75 home, built by Read & MacDonald. The bookcases are 1738/39 & were relocated from their previous home. The new library was built with the same dimensions as the old, so this gives us our best idea of what the previous one looked like.
Highlight for me was @mcculloughp.bsky.social talking about the book of romantic poetry which Rector Fitzherbert Adams inscribed to an anonymous lady (just her initials) but seemingly never had the courage to give to her. Heart-breaking. The stuff of novels & movies.
October 2, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Highlight for me was @mcculloughp.bsky.social talking about the book of romantic poetry which Rector Fitzherbert Adams inscribed to an anonymous lady (just her initials) but seemingly never had the courage to give to her. Heart-breaking. The stuff of novels & movies.
In 1973, a decent sherry party could be had for 50p per head.
September 18, 2025 at 9:45 AM
In 1973, a decent sherry party could be had for 50p per head.
Looking for a hi res copy of "The Temple Well-purged" from Foxe's Acts & Monuments for publication in a monograph. Grateful for any suggestions for sensibly-priced sources. Doesn't seem to be in BM, V&A or Rijksmuseum. Getty want £375!!!! Wikimedia copy here is a bit too "photocopy".
September 15, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Looking for a hi res copy of "The Temple Well-purged" from Foxe's Acts & Monuments for publication in a monograph. Grateful for any suggestions for sensibly-priced sources. Doesn't seem to be in BM, V&A or Rijksmuseum. Getty want £375!!!! Wikimedia copy here is a bit too "photocopy".
Rather liked the interior. Most unusual geometrical chancel screen with slightly domestic chancel beyond. Important early C16 E window, heavily restored in places (St Catherine looks very crisp); Ferrer family donors from the big house kneeling in prayer.
September 14, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Rather liked the interior. Most unusual geometrical chancel screen with slightly domestic chancel beyond. Important early C16 E window, heavily restored in places (St Catherine looks very crisp); Ferrer family donors from the big house kneeling in prayer.
St Michael's, Baddesley Clinton (Warks) sits in a woodland clearing with no sign of a village to be seen. Your reach it down a path from the NT house. Blocky nave looking like a dolls house. Very plain chancel of 1630s. Late C15 tower.
September 14, 2025 at 5:04 PM
St Michael's, Baddesley Clinton (Warks) sits in a woodland clearing with no sign of a village to be seen. Your reach it down a path from the NT house. Blocky nave looking like a dolls house. Very plain chancel of 1630s. Late C15 tower.
There are lots of pet dogs in windows at Sint Janskerk, Gouda, sleeping or sitting with the donor of the window. I approve.
August 27, 2025 at 10:15 AM
There are lots of pet dogs in windows at Sint Janskerk, Gouda, sleeping or sitting with the donor of the window. I approve.
Beautiful snow leopard at Chester Zoo. Proud father of a 2 month old cub (who stayed hidden).
August 23, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Beautiful snow leopard at Chester Zoo. Proud father of a 2 month old cub (who stayed hidden).
Characteristically good analysis here by @timothysnyder.bsky.social. On-point insight to the psychology of autocracy below. Helpful for historians as well as political commentators.
August 18, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Characteristically good analysis here by @timothysnyder.bsky.social. On-point insight to the psychology of autocracy below. Helpful for historians as well as political commentators.
Came across this fascinating piece among my great grandfather's papers; he was a RN Chief Gunner in early C20 & WW1. HMS Excellent was in service 1787-1835 during the French Revolutionary/Napoleonic wars and fought in Nelson’s fleet at the Battle of Cape St Vincent in 1797.
July 26, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Came across this fascinating piece among my great grandfather's papers; he was a RN Chief Gunner in early C20 & WW1. HMS Excellent was in service 1787-1835 during the French Revolutionary/Napoleonic wars and fought in Nelson’s fleet at the Battle of Cape St Vincent in 1797.
Very grateful to Christopher Howse for his review of @ecclsoc.bsky.social Stained Glass Revivals in today's @telegraphnews.bsky.social. "Learned & beautifully illustrated". Also grateful to all the authors for sharing their expertise. Copies available to buy here: www.ecclsoc.org.uk/news/stained...
July 26, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Very grateful to Christopher Howse for his review of @ecclsoc.bsky.social Stained Glass Revivals in today's @telegraphnews.bsky.social. "Learned & beautifully illustrated". Also grateful to all the authors for sharing their expertise. Copies available to buy here: www.ecclsoc.org.uk/news/stained...
They are depicted in one of the stained glass windows in the spectacular Sint Janskerk, Gouda. Astonishing that it survived the Dutch Revolt.
July 25, 2025 at 8:16 AM
They are depicted in one of the stained glass windows in the spectacular Sint Janskerk, Gouda. Astonishing that it survived the Dutch Revolt.
Fab new buses around where I live. Love the Fritz Lang vibe.
July 24, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Fab new buses around where I live. Love the Fritz Lang vibe.
Excellent. Reminds me of this similarly witty book title.
July 23, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Excellent. Reminds me of this similarly witty book title.
What do you mean, “it's a bit wonky”?
St Mary, Lapworth, Warks.
St Mary, Lapworth, Warks.
July 12, 2025 at 5:03 PM
What do you mean, “it's a bit wonky”?
St Mary, Lapworth, Warks.
St Mary, Lapworth, Warks.
Not sure of the date of the organ. Late C17? I didn't pay enough attention to the paintings on the shutters. Oh well, I'll just have to go back again.
June 29, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Not sure of the date of the organ. Late C17? I didn't pay enough attention to the paintings on the shutters. Oh well, I'll just have to go back again.
And herrenbanken - a sort of gentry pew for wealthy Amsterdam merchantmen to preserve their status from the hoi polloi thronging around
June 29, 2025 at 6:45 PM
And herrenbanken - a sort of gentry pew for wealthy Amsterdam merchantmen to preserve their status from the hoi polloi thronging around
Dutch church pulpits have HUGE sounding boards.
June 29, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Dutch church pulpits have HUGE sounding boards.
Inside feels more recognisably a northern European answer to Palladio's Venetian churches. Beautiful Tuscan arcades.
June 29, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Inside feels more recognisably a northern European answer to Palladio's Venetian churches. Beautiful Tuscan arcades.
The Westerkerk, Amsterdam, 1620-31, by the Dutch Renaissance architect Hendrick de Keyser. I don't know what to make of the exterior. Medieval massing and Classical nods. Strange elongated height. Love it.
June 29, 2025 at 6:45 PM
The Westerkerk, Amsterdam, 1620-31, by the Dutch Renaissance architect Hendrick de Keyser. I don't know what to make of the exterior. Medieval massing and Classical nods. Strange elongated height. Love it.
Remains of the archbishop’s palace at Maidstone. Rather picturesque.
June 28, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Remains of the archbishop’s palace at Maidstone. Rather picturesque.
Wedding chuppah; I've only seen fabric ones before so this was an interesting surprise. And finally the smaller, more intimate and more easily heated winter synagogue elsewhere in the complex.
June 21, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Wedding chuppah; I've only seen fabric ones before so this was an interesting surprise. And finally the smaller, more intimate and more easily heated winter synagogue elsewhere in the complex.
Women's galleries with latticed fronts supported by smaller columns. 1744 Ark in Brazilian jacaranda wood, housing the Torah scrolls.
June 21, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Women's galleries with latticed fronts supported by smaller columns. 1744 Ark in Brazilian jacaranda wood, housing the Torah scrolls.