Richard Cassidy
rjcassidy.bsky.social
Richard Cassidy
@rjcassidy.bsky.social
Potters around with pipe rolls, and sometimes memoranda rolls or even receipt and issue rolls. 13th century English government finance, in other words. Also does crosswords and dotes on grandchildren.
Traditional proud author photo, at publishers’ stand at #IMC2025.
July 9, 2025 at 12:39 PM
A carved and half-eaten chicken brought back to life? The most impressive miracle in the Evesham abbey miracle book, from ‘Saint Simon de Montfort’, ed and trans by David Cox.
An editorial note speculates that this might have been a joke. #medievalsky
May 1, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Received and read the new book by @medievalabby.bsky.social
In just over 100 pages, this provides a great introduction to a complicated set of records, with case studies showing how they can be used (for example) to illustrate royal gift-giving and household management.
#medievalsky
April 25, 2025 at 10:45 AM
St Valentine’s day is of course memorable as the anniversary of the death in 1257 of Henry III’s elephant in the Tower of London. (See the icon by my name. Recorded in pipe roll for 1257.) #medievalsky
February 14, 2025 at 12:12 PM
You’re going to need a bigger bookshelf. Arrived today, all 800 pages of it. #medievalsky
January 27, 2025 at 3:02 PM
It must be true. There was a commemorative stamp in 1965.
January 20, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Shameless plug for my short guide to pipe rolls: just one day left to get the paperback at £5 off.
www.routledge.com/Approaching-...
#medievalsky
December 5, 2024 at 1:52 PM
If you find pipe rolls, like this, a bit off-putting, then you might be interested in my book Approaching Pipe Rolls. It tries to explain what pipe rolls are, and how to read and understand them. The paperback edition is published today (link below). #medievalsky
November 29, 2024 at 9:35 AM
Waterloo Bridge and the industrial South Bank, from the Monet in London exhibition at the Courtauld. I would recommend it, esp to Londoners, but it is apparently sold out. Sorry.
November 27, 2024 at 4:36 PM
A few weeks ago, I told @kfduggan.bsky.social that I vaguely recalled a story about F W Maitland having a monkey in his study. I have now remembered where I read it, in the biography by C H S Fifoot. Maitland seems to have had quite a menagerie in his house in Cambridge.
November 18, 2024 at 1:50 PM
Let’s also remember his sense of humour. I found these entries in the index to his book, Paths to Kingship - he could lighten a serious topic, and had a wide range of interests.
November 16, 2024 at 6:08 PM
My favourite is this draft Irish treasurer’s account from the 1280s (E 101/691/15). It is complete, not torn or damaged, and is clearly an offcut from a large piece of parchment, trimmed off along the straight edge.
November 12, 2024 at 8:46 AM
Medieval Women In Their Own Words, the new exhibition at the British Library. Well worth a visit, if you can get there. Amazing documents, from the Luttrell Psalter (which you probably know well, but is better in person), to the 1234 close roll with the first reference to Licoricia of Winchester.
October 29, 2024 at 4:46 PM
Michaelmas daisies in the front garden, flowering on schedule to mark the feast of St Michael - and quarter day, when rent is traditionally due.
September 29, 2024 at 11:25 AM
In the front garden, daisies blooming on cue for Michaelmas day.
September 29, 2023 at 10:41 AM