Paul Jenkins
@pauljthinks.bsky.social
Brummie Welshman interested in Ancient and Modern History, Literature and Travel. Writing a novel about politics and religion at the end of the 4th Century CE. Blogging at https://ybrumro.wordpress.com/
A visit to Herculaneum today. While much smaller than Pompeii it is just as impressive. A sense of a prosperous seaside town until the tragedy of the eruption of 79BCE.
October 28, 2025 at 5:27 PM
A visit to Herculaneum today. While much smaller than Pompeii it is just as impressive. A sense of a prosperous seaside town until the tragedy of the eruption of 79BCE.
The three magnificent Greek temples at Paestum dedicated to Poseidon, Hera and Athena. A particular privilege to be able to go inside the first two.
October 26, 2025 at 11:39 AM
The three magnificent Greek temples at Paestum dedicated to Poseidon, Hera and Athena. A particular privilege to be able to go inside the first two.
Despite the crowds the wonder which is Pompeii. Few other places which can make you feel so close to the past.
October 25, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Despite the crowds the wonder which is Pompeii. Few other places which can make you feel so close to the past.
A moving visit this morning to the cemetery at Huisnes sur Mer (near Mont St Michel) where 11000 Herman soldiers from World War Two are buried. A timely reminder that there are victims on both sides in every conflict.
September 24, 2025 at 12:28 PM
A moving visit this morning to the cemetery at Huisnes sur Mer (near Mont St Michel) where 11000 Herman soldiers from World War Two are buried. A timely reminder that there are victims on both sides in every conflict.
Had the chance to visit en route the beautiful Gothic cathedral in Dol de Bretagne dedicated to the 6th C Welsh saint Samson. The previous Romanesque Cathedral was burned down by King John’s army in 1203 but in a fit of religious remorse he paid for the replacement.
September 22, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Had the chance to visit en route the beautiful Gothic cathedral in Dol de Bretagne dedicated to the 6th C Welsh saint Samson. The previous Romanesque Cathedral was burned down by King John’s army in 1203 but in a fit of religious remorse he paid for the replacement.
I’ve had a tradition of trying to photograph as many war memorials as I can when I am out cycling. Here’s four from Brittany. Just the same variation of design from village to village as in Britain. Really striking how many names there are. France had twice the rate of casualties as Britain.
September 20, 2025 at 5:07 PM
I’ve had a tradition of trying to photograph as many war memorials as I can when I am out cycling. Here’s four from Brittany. Just the same variation of design from village to village as in Britain. Really striking how many names there are. France had twice the rate of casualties as Britain.
Another four gems today on our cycle tour of historic Suffolk churches - Debenham, Earl Stonham, Felsham and finishing with St Peter and St Paul in Lavenham.
September 13, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Another four gems today on our cycle tour of historic Suffolk churches - Debenham, Earl Stonham, Felsham and finishing with St Peter and St Paul in Lavenham.
Followed by St Michael’s Framlingham. Famous for housing the tomb of the Duke of Norfolk but for me the highlight was a wonderful medieval wall painting of the Throne of Mercy.
September 12, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Followed by St Michael’s Framlingham. Famous for housing the tomb of the Duke of Norfolk but for me the highlight was a wonderful medieval wall painting of the Throne of Mercy.
A great start to our Suffolk church crawl. St John’s Market Needham - an unimposing exterior which hides a spectacular medieval hammer beam roof.
September 12, 2025 at 4:15 PM
A great start to our Suffolk church crawl. St John’s Market Needham - an unimposing exterior which hides a spectacular medieval hammer beam roof.
Perhaps my all time favourite artefact from the ancient world. The Vindolanda tablet of the letter from Claudia Severa the wife of the commander of a fort near Vindolanda inviting her friend Sulpicia Lepidina to her birthday party on this day 1900 or so years ago. Such a fond window into the past.
September 11, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Perhaps my all time favourite artefact from the ancient world. The Vindolanda tablet of the letter from Claudia Severa the wife of the commander of a fort near Vindolanda inviting her friend Sulpicia Lepidina to her birthday party on this day 1900 or so years ago. Such a fond window into the past.
And with a rather special Neolithic long barrow - Wayland’s Smithy- thrown in for good measure.
August 30, 2025 at 5:15 PM
And with a rather special Neolithic long barrow - Wayland’s Smithy- thrown in for good measure.
What’s better than one Iron Age Hill Fort? It’s two Iron Age Hill Forts - Lillington Castle and Uffington Castle (of White Horse fame) both in today’s stretch of the Ridgeway.
August 30, 2025 at 4:59 PM
What’s better than one Iron Age Hill Fort? It’s two Iron Age Hill Forts - Lillington Castle and Uffington Castle (of White Horse fame) both in today’s stretch of the Ridgeway.
There’s few things more impressive than a good Iron Age hill fort - Barbury Castle in Wiltshire.
August 29, 2025 at 2:50 PM
There’s few things more impressive than a good Iron Age hill fort - Barbury Castle in Wiltshire.
Seen on the North Downs Way yesterday the remains of Kit’s Coty prehistoric burial chamber near Maidstone c2000BCE.
August 20, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Seen on the North Downs Way yesterday the remains of Kit’s Coty prehistoric burial chamber near Maidstone c2000BCE.
St Mary’s and All Saints at Fotheringay in Northamptonshire. A real gem of a perpendicular church. Richard III was born at the castle here and Mary Queen of Scots executed.
August 8, 2025 at 5:48 PM
St Mary’s and All Saints at Fotheringay in Northamptonshire. A real gem of a perpendicular church. Richard III was born at the castle here and Mary Queen of Scots executed.
Spent last week staying in the grounds of Plas Newydd the former home of the Marquess of Anglesey and now owned by the National Trust. The mural in the house by Rex Whistler wowed when I first came here in 1979 and did so again this time.
July 26, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Spent last week staying in the grounds of Plas Newydd the former home of the Marquess of Anglesey and now owned by the National Trust. The mural in the house by Rex Whistler wowed when I first came here in 1979 and did so again this time.
The statue of Tom Ellis in Bala. One of the stars of Welsh Liberal politics at the end of the 19th Century and ally of Lloyd George. Died at the age of only 40. Might well have gone into greater things.
July 21, 2025 at 12:56 PM
The statue of Tom Ellis in Bala. One of the stars of Welsh Liberal politics at the end of the 19th Century and ally of Lloyd George. Died at the age of only 40. Might well have gone into greater things.
Visited Bryn Celli Du on Anglesey this morning. A neolithic burial chamber which exudes a beautiful sense of connection with the past.
July 20, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Visited Bryn Celli Du on Anglesey this morning. A neolithic burial chamber which exudes a beautiful sense of connection with the past.
109 years since the start of the Battle of the Somme, one of the bloodiest battles in history. Here lie some of the young men killed on that day. A reminder in more uncertain times of the horrors of war.
July 1, 2025 at 9:17 AM
109 years since the start of the Battle of the Somme, one of the bloodiest battles in history. Here lie some of the young men killed on that day. A reminder in more uncertain times of the horrors of war.
The Rollright Stones on the border of Warwickshire and Oxfordshire are a very special set of prehistoric monuments. Spent part of two summers on a dig here when I was a student in the early 1980s. Lovely to pop back to see this afternoon.
June 27, 2025 at 5:38 PM
The Rollright Stones on the border of Warwickshire and Oxfordshire are a very special set of prehistoric monuments. Spent part of two summers on a dig here when I was a student in the early 1980s. Lovely to pop back to see this afternoon.
The Rollright Stones on the border of Warwickshire and Oxfordshire are a very special set of prehistoric monuments. Spent part of two summers on a dig here when I was a student in the early 1980s. Lovely to pop back to see this afternoon.
June 27, 2025 at 5:36 PM
The Rollright Stones on the border of Warwickshire and Oxfordshire are a very special set of prehistoric monuments. Spent part of two summers on a dig here when I was a student in the early 1980s. Lovely to pop back to see this afternoon.
Yes, I remember Adelstrop …. A cycle today to the place behind Edward Thomas’s iconic poem written on the eve of World War One.
June 27, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Yes, I remember Adelstrop …. A cycle today to the place behind Edward Thomas’s iconic poem written on the eve of World War One.
The lifting of Pont Jacques Chaban Demas in Bordeaux followed by the arrival of the tall ships. Quite a feat of engineering.
June 18, 2025 at 11:53 AM
The lifting of Pont Jacques Chaban Demas in Bordeaux followed by the arrival of the tall ships. Quite a feat of engineering.
Le Musee d’Aquitaine in Bordeaux has a wonderful collection of Roman gravestones. This one of a young girl holding her pet dog is so moving.
June 17, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Le Musee d’Aquitaine in Bordeaux has a wonderful collection of Roman gravestones. This one of a young girl holding her pet dog is so moving.
Sunshine, architecture, wine and history- Bordeaux takes some beating.
June 16, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Sunshine, architecture, wine and history- Bordeaux takes some beating.