Owen Gower
@owentg.bsky.social
Doing comms for a charity tackling health inequalities at a hyperlocal level. Recovering museum professional. Historian of vaccination, smallpox, and Edward Jenner. Life between Bristol and Gloucester. Personal account, own views. He/him.
owengower.co.uk
owengower.co.uk
At Frank Matcham’s @everymanchelt.bsky.social tonight. I’m sure I’ve said it before but isn’t it just glorious?
November 7, 2025 at 7:10 PM
At Frank Matcham’s @everymanchelt.bsky.social tonight. I’m sure I’ve said it before but isn’t it just glorious?
Painswick churchyard by moonlight.
November 6, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Painswick churchyard by moonlight.
I was really ill with flu over Christmas last year, so I’m not taking any chances this year! With my history of medicine hat on, it’s just amazing to get a flu vaccine a little over 100 meters and 200 years from where Edward Jenner was providing vaccination against smallpox.
November 1, 2025 at 11:16 AM
I was really ill with flu over Christmas last year, so I’m not taking any chances this year! With my history of medicine hat on, it’s just amazing to get a flu vaccine a little over 100 meters and 200 years from where Edward Jenner was providing vaccination against smallpox.
In the grand surroundings of Cirencester’s Bingham Hall for a special @cirenhistoryfest.bsky.social screening of Daisy May and Charlie Cooper’s NightWatch followed by Q&A with @joannadurrant.bsky.social.
October 31, 2025 at 7:54 PM
In the grand surroundings of Cirencester’s Bingham Hall for a special @cirenhistoryfest.bsky.social screening of Daisy May and Charlie Cooper’s NightWatch followed by Q&A with @joannadurrant.bsky.social.
Finally The Mariners Arms, which closed in 2016 and is now a supermarket. Now I’m not 100% sure about this one, but I seem to remember that when it was a pub people would report their pint glasses moving about the tables of their own accord. Something to bear in mind when you’re doing your shopping.
October 31, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Finally The Mariners Arms, which closed in 2016 and is now a supermarket. Now I’m not 100% sure about this one, but I seem to remember that when it was a pub people would report their pint glasses moving about the tables of their own accord. Something to bear in mind when you’re doing your shopping.
A friend tells a story about an unusual encounter at the Berkeley Arms. He was in an upstairs room when one of the sash windows flew open. He went to close it but it was difficult, like it hadn’t been touched in a while. Then he noticed on the wall a photo of a woman leaning out of the same window.
October 31, 2025 at 4:59 PM
A friend tells a story about an unusual encounter at the Berkeley Arms. He was in an upstairs room when one of the sash windows flew open. He went to close it but it was difficult, like it hadn’t been touched in a while. Then he noticed on the wall a photo of a woman leaning out of the same window.
The White Hart dates back to the 1600s and ceased trading in 1969. It’s now home to a number of independent businesses and a spooky figure: a man in top hat and tails.
October 31, 2025 at 4:44 PM
The White Hart dates back to the 1600s and ceased trading in 1969. It’s now home to a number of independent businesses and a spooky figure: a man in top hat and tails.
Then on to The Chantry. When it opened as a museum the first floor was used as guest accommodation. One visitor was kept awake all night by a ghostly dog scratching at his door. A later visitor recalled feeling a dog brush past him on the stairs but when he looked there was nothing there.
October 31, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Then on to The Chantry. When it opened as a museum the first floor was used as guest accommodation. One visitor was kept awake all night by a ghostly dog scratching at his door. A later visitor recalled feeling a dog brush past him on the stairs but when he looked there was nothing there.
… This path, taken by people from neighbouring communities when they came to Berkeley to bury their dead, leads to an area known by older locals as “the weirdly”. It’s here on a stormy night you can hear the cries of the witch. Hooded figures in robes have also been glimpsed by the church tower.
October 31, 2025 at 3:00 PM
… This path, taken by people from neighbouring communities when they came to Berkeley to bury their dead, leads to an area known by older locals as “the weirdly”. It’s here on a stormy night you can hear the cries of the witch. Hooded figures in robes have also been glimpsed by the church tower.
In the churchyard is the tomb of Dicky Pearce, the last court jester (who also died at Berkeley Castle). You’re sure to hear him laugh again if you run around his grave three times. There’s also a tomb with marks left by the Devil when one night he came to claim the Witch of Berkeley for his own…
October 31, 2025 at 3:00 PM
In the churchyard is the tomb of Dicky Pearce, the last court jester (who also died at Berkeley Castle). You’re sure to hear him laugh again if you run around his grave three times. There’s also a tomb with marks left by the Devil when one night he came to claim the Witch of Berkeley for his own…
In a token nod to Halloween I took a quick lunchtime stroll around some of the spookier parts of Berkeley. First stop, Berkeley Castle where Edward II was (possibly, but maybe not) murdered. It’s said that you can hear his screams echoing around the town every year on the anniversary of his death.
October 31, 2025 at 2:45 PM
In a token nod to Halloween I took a quick lunchtime stroll around some of the spookier parts of Berkeley. First stop, Berkeley Castle where Edward II was (possibly, but maybe not) murdered. It’s said that you can hear his screams echoing around the town every year on the anniversary of his death.
Sunshine and showers on today’s autumnal lunchtime stomp. I love walking these same routes through the changing seasons.
October 24, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Sunshine and showers on today’s autumnal lunchtime stomp. I love walking these same routes through the changing seasons.
Some memorial inscriptions that caught my eye during my lunchtime stomp around the churchyard.
October 22, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Some memorial inscriptions that caught my eye during my lunchtime stomp around the churchyard.
The view over towards Downham (or Smallpox) Hill from the Cotswold Way this morning. I’m aiming to walk the whole 112 miles of this long distance path to raise funds for Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers. You can sponsor me here: www.stewardship.org.uk/pages/cotswo...
October 17, 2025 at 11:22 AM
The view over towards Downham (or Smallpox) Hill from the Cotswold Way this morning. I’m aiming to walk the whole 112 miles of this long distance path to raise funds for Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers. You can sponsor me here: www.stewardship.org.uk/pages/cotswo...
Our local refugee charity, which does such important work welcoming people fleeing persecution, is facing an uncertain future. Over the next six months I’m walking the 112 mile Cotswold Way to try and raise money for them. I’d be thrilled if you’d sponsor me: www.stewardship.org.uk/pages/cotswo...
October 15, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Our local refugee charity, which does such important work welcoming people fleeing persecution, is facing an uncertain future. Over the next six months I’m walking the 112 mile Cotswold Way to try and raise money for them. I’d be thrilled if you’d sponsor me: www.stewardship.org.uk/pages/cotswo...
To The Regal in Tenbury Wells last night for Seth Lakeman with Benji Kirkpatrick & Archie Churchill-Moss. We now think we’ve seen all of the performing Lakemans this year (also Sean L with Kathryn Roberts, Geoff L, and Sam L with Cara Dillon) unless there are any others out there!
October 12, 2025 at 6:09 PM
To The Regal in Tenbury Wells last night for Seth Lakeman with Benji Kirkpatrick & Archie Churchill-Moss. We now think we’ve seen all of the performing Lakemans this year (also Sean L with Kathryn Roberts, Geoff L, and Sam L with Cara Dillon) unless there are any others out there!
I’ve been away and vaguely offline in Cornwall for a few days, what did I miss? It’s been lovely to have a little break but I was so glad to make it back just in time for this amazing sunset on Friday evening.
October 12, 2025 at 9:07 AM
I’ve been away and vaguely offline in Cornwall for a few days, what did I miss? It’s been lovely to have a little break but I was so glad to make it back just in time for this amazing sunset on Friday evening.
Exciting post from @jonpountney1.bsky.social today. I’m a big fan of the Valleys and a big fan of Jon’s work, so I think I’m going to enjoy this.
October 2, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Exciting post from @jonpountney1.bsky.social today. I’m a big fan of the Valleys and a big fan of Jon’s work, so I think I’m going to enjoy this.
Too much to do and not enough time. I need a
October 1, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Too much to do and not enough time. I need a
My favourite photo from a trip to Avoncroft Museum yesterday. The windmill was being supervised by a friendly and knowledgeable volunteer showed us videos on his phone of the mill in operation. Excited to see you could purchase flour from the mill in the shop and, of course, I had to buy some.
September 28, 2025 at 8:15 PM
My favourite photo from a trip to Avoncroft Museum yesterday. The windmill was being supervised by a friendly and knowledgeable volunteer showed us videos on his phone of the mill in operation. Excited to see you could purchase flour from the mill in the shop and, of course, I had to buy some.
Also made a cat friend.
September 26, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Also made a cat friend.
Beautiful light in the churchyard yesterday evening.
September 26, 2025 at 6:22 AM
Beautiful light in the churchyard yesterday evening.
A beautiful evening to head out on a wander. This route between Berkeley church and the village of Newport is quite possibly the same one referred to as “le Churchewey” in a charter of 1317. Amazing to think that people may have been walking on this path for over 700 years.
September 25, 2025 at 7:46 PM
A beautiful evening to head out on a wander. This route between Berkeley church and the village of Newport is quite possibly the same one referred to as “le Churchewey” in a charter of 1317. Amazing to think that people may have been walking on this path for over 700 years.
Afternoon wanderings in Gloucester.
September 21, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Afternoon wanderings in Gloucester.
Settling in for another day at Gloucester History Festival in the wonderful Blackfriars Priory, and great to finally meet @eckerusla.bsky.social in person!
September 21, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Settling in for another day at Gloucester History Festival in the wonderful Blackfriars Priory, and great to finally meet @eckerusla.bsky.social in person!