Mercian Migrant
@mercianmigrant.bsky.social
Enthusiast of early medieval insular stone sculpture and natural history. Former teacher of science. Born in Mercia; lives in Sussex.
Thank you @sussexpast.bsky.social for organising an excellent Sussex Archaeological Society conference today on Early Medieval Sussex. Thanks to the many contributors including @mattpope.bsky.social @archaeochaussee.bsky.social
November 8, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Thank you @sussexpast.bsky.social for organising an excellent Sussex Archaeological Society conference today on Early Medieval Sussex. Thanks to the many contributors including @mattpope.bsky.social @archaeochaussee.bsky.social
Today's dull, grey day is now illuminated by the arrival of this beautiful new investigation into the Book of Kells by @victoriawhitworth.bsky.social . Colourful illustrations; comparisons with stone sculpture. No doubt it will be full of fascinating incites. #medievalbluesky
October 3, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Today's dull, grey day is now illuminated by the arrival of this beautiful new investigation into the Book of Kells by @victoriawhitworth.bsky.social . Colourful illustrations; comparisons with stone sculpture. No doubt it will be full of fascinating incites. #medievalbluesky
Took a trip to #Florence in search of, not Renaissance art, but an original panel of the 8th century Franks casket #saxonsunday #runes Displayed in the Bargello museum. The rest of the carved whale bone Northumbrian box is in the British Museum www.britishmuseum.org/collection/o...
June 15, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Took a trip to #Florence in search of, not Renaissance art, but an original panel of the 8th century Franks casket #saxonsunday #runes Displayed in the Bargello museum. The rest of the carved whale bone Northumbrian box is in the British Museum www.britishmuseum.org/collection/o...
Looks like AI has hunted you down - Tom Horn, the American outlaw 🤣
May 8, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Looks like AI has hunted you down - Tom Horn, the American outlaw 🤣
Made a visit to the Ahenny crosses in October. The figurative carving on each base was completely covered with lichen and the imagery was totally masked. Does the @opwireland.bsky.social have a management and conservation programme to remove lichen from Ireland’s iconic high crosses? #medievalsky
May 5, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Made a visit to the Ahenny crosses in October. The figurative carving on each base was completely covered with lichen and the imagery was totally masked. Does the @opwireland.bsky.social have a management and conservation programme to remove lichen from Ireland’s iconic high crosses? #medievalsky
April 20, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Wormington, Worcestershire. Late 10th / early 11th century. #GoodFriday
April 18, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Wormington, Worcestershire. Late 10th / early 11th century. #GoodFriday
Thanks for highlighting Park Wood. Spent a very pleasant morning there.
April 15, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Thanks for highlighting Park Wood. Spent a very pleasant morning there.
Anglo-Saxon Essex bling from mid 6th to mid 7th century burials (Southend Central Museum). #medievalsky #Essex #Southend @southendonsea.bsky.social
April 12, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Anglo-Saxon Essex bling from mid 6th to mid 7th century burials (Southend Central Museum). #medievalsky #Essex #Southend @southendonsea.bsky.social
9th century decorated stone fragment with coiled and interlaced serpent from the original minster church at Great Wakering, Essex. On display in Southend Central Museum. @southendonsea.bsky.social @ascorpus.bsky.social #medievalsky #Southend #Essex
April 10, 2025 at 6:00 PM
9th century decorated stone fragment with coiled and interlaced serpent from the original minster church at Great Wakering, Essex. On display in Southend Central Museum. @southendonsea.bsky.social @ascorpus.bsky.social #medievalsky #Southend #Essex
Took a trip to Riga in February and was keen to find out more about pre-Christian society in the Baltic States. These pagan symbols were the best I could find (and will be hung on the Christmas tree). However, I’m not sure how ‘genuine’ they are. I hope this book will help.
April 5, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Took a trip to Riga in February and was keen to find out more about pre-Christian society in the Baltic States. These pagan symbols were the best I could find (and will be hung on the Christmas tree). However, I’m not sure how ‘genuine’ they are. I hope this book will help.
I’m no expert, but surely we can’t rule out Irish inspiration for spiral scroll. I recently visited the Irish high crosses at Castledermot, Co. Kildare, both with spiral scroll decoration. The scrolls at Whalley seem to sprout up from a triangular base and form a ‘tree of life’ motif.
April 4, 2025 at 5:49 PM
I’m no expert, but surely we can’t rule out Irish inspiration for spiral scroll. I recently visited the Irish high crosses at Castledermot, Co. Kildare, both with spiral scroll decoration. The scrolls at Whalley seem to sprout up from a triangular base and form a ‘tree of life’ motif.
An Anglo-Scandinavian warrior on a 10th c. cross shaft at Brailsford, #Derbyshire. Holding a hilted sword across his waist and a round shield high to his left. #medievalsky
March 30, 2025 at 10:08 PM
An Anglo-Scandinavian warrior on a 10th c. cross shaft at Brailsford, #Derbyshire. Holding a hilted sword across his waist and a round shield high to his left. #medievalsky
NT Collections does have a photo of the bits too.
March 25, 2025 at 7:59 PM
NT Collections does have a photo of the bits too.
This is the image of what I assume is a conserved cross on the NT Collections website. I’ve not actually visited.
March 25, 2025 at 7:44 PM
This is the image of what I assume is a conserved cross on the NT Collections website. I’ve not actually visited.
Merry Christmas one and all! (The Moone Cross, Co. Kildare, Ireland)
December 25, 2024 at 9:59 AM
Merry Christmas one and all! (The Moone Cross, Co. Kildare, Ireland)
It’s Early Medieval & Viking day on the Oxbow Books Advent Calendar! 50% off 10 titles. #medievalsky
December 6, 2024 at 12:37 PM
It’s Early Medieval & Viking day on the Oxbow Books Advent Calendar! 50% off 10 titles. #medievalsky
Successful browse in the local NT used book shop. OS maps on Monastic Britain (1978) and Britain in the Dark Ages (1966). Two for a fiver - be rude not to.
December 2, 2024 at 5:40 PM
Successful browse in the local NT used book shop. OS maps on Monastic Britain (1978) and Britain in the Dark Ages (1966). Two for a fiver - be rude not to.
Traditional Sussex music and carols from the West Gallery tradition (the time before parish churches had organs). What a great way to begin December/ Advent. Even included a Serpent in the band and a mummers play (known in Sussex as Tipteerers). #Sussex
December 1, 2024 at 5:08 PM
Traditional Sussex music and carols from the West Gallery tradition (the time before parish churches had organs). What a great way to begin December/ Advent. Even included a Serpent in the band and a mummers play (known in Sussex as Tipteerers). #Sussex
Oxbow Books have launched their advent calendar again. Each day, 10 books reduced by 50%. Day 1 is Roman & Roman Provinces. Search online for ‘Casemate UK books blog’. Looking forward to the Early Medieval days! #medievalsky
December 1, 2024 at 11:01 AM
Oxbow Books have launched their advent calendar again. Each day, 10 books reduced by 50%. Day 1 is Roman & Roman Provinces. Search online for ‘Casemate UK books blog’. Looking forward to the Early Medieval days! #medievalsky
Had such a wonderful rock ‘n’ road trip in Ireland in the summer (shared on the other site), so returned in October for more road tripping in Wicklow, Kildare and Tipperary.
November 29, 2024 at 1:18 PM
Had such a wonderful rock ‘n’ road trip in Ireland in the summer (shared on the other site), so returned in October for more road tripping in Wicklow, Kildare and Tipperary.
In search of Saint Brigit, 5th/6th century Abbess of Kildare. One of the top three patron saints of Ireland (the undecorated high cross, possibly the ‘fire house’ and a rush St Brigid’s cross, all at Kildare Cathedral. Plus the nearby St Brigit’s Well) #medieval #medievalsky #Ireland
November 20, 2024 at 6:59 PM
In search of Saint Brigit, 5th/6th century Abbess of Kildare. One of the top three patron saints of Ireland (the undecorated high cross, possibly the ‘fire house’ and a rush St Brigid’s cross, all at Kildare Cathedral. Plus the nearby St Brigit’s Well) #medieval #medievalsky #Ireland
The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes on on Irish early #medieval high crosses (Moone, Castledermot, Clonca, Camus). #medievalsky #medievalbluesky
November 18, 2024 at 10:15 AM
The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes on on Irish early #medieval high crosses (Moone, Castledermot, Clonca, Camus). #medievalsky #medievalbluesky
A 10th century round-shaft cross. Leek, #Staffordshire, England. #saxonsunday #standingstonesunday #medieval #medievalsky #medievalbluesky
November 17, 2024 at 12:24 PM
A 10th century round-shaft cross. Leek, #Staffordshire, England. #saxonsunday #standingstonesunday #medieval #medievalsky #medievalbluesky