Ste Lingard
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stelingard.bsky.social
Ste Lingard
@stelingard.bsky.social
820 followers 400 following 950 posts
History & archaeology, esp. of northern England. Alumnus @ Sheff & Brum history. Freelance researcher & project manager in heritage sector @ www.sglingard.com. Chair @StHelensTownAFC.bsky.social.
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stelingard.bsky.social
Parr St. Peter's in happier days, in characteristic pose peering over the terraces into Gaskell Park. #StHelens #HeritageAtRisk #Churches
📷 my own, from 2009.
A large church steeple visible above a terraced street, with a park and playground in the foreground. There is a blue sky, but no leaves on the trees - a nice early winter day.
November 11, 2025 at 10:15 AM
stelingard.bsky.social
Remembering two of my Great Great Grandfathers killed in the #FirstWorldWar: Sgt. Thomas Hallwood DCM (pictured below; killed at Ypres) & L/Cpl. William Molyneux (killed at Delville Wood) both of the Fifth South Lancs), and my other relatives lost in or affected by war. #ArmisticeDay #Remembrance
A black and white photograph of a woman and a man: she wears a long skirt and a blouse, and is seated, her hands in a lap holding a small bag; he is in British Army uniform, resting on a table positioned next to her, with his right arm around her shoulder. They are Mrs Ellen and then Rifleman (later Corporal and Sergeant) Mr Thomas Hallwood, one set of my maternal Great Great Granparents. The photograph was taken at Arthur's Studio, Market St., St. Helens. I have the original.
November 11, 2025 at 9:48 AM
stelingard.bsky.social
It really is. (Was it the Golden Ball, by any chance? 🍺)
November 10, 2025 at 2:53 PM
stelingard.bsky.social
Aerial view of #York w. the two Norman mottes marked w. yellow dots: that on the left is the earlier & the right (Clifford's Tower) later. It makes the choice of sites even clearer than from on the ground, showing their relationship with the rivers Ouse & Foss. #MotteMonday #Castles #Yorkshire
A Google satellite view of an urban area, with two rivers forming a 'Y' shape', converging in the lower centre of the image.
November 10, 2025 at 8:23 AM
stelingard.bsky.social
#VoteAdderParty
November 8, 2025 at 11:41 PM
stelingard.bsky.social
Roman actor's mask found at Stockton Heath, near #Warrington, in 1869. It is perhaps the most striking item found associated with the Wilderspool site, along what is now the A49, a little south of the Mersey. Now in Warrington Museum.
#RomanSiteSaturday #Theatre #Cheshire #RomanBritain
📷 my own
A ceramic face mask, with holes for eyes, nostrils and mouth. Part of the forehead and an eye socket are missing, due to damage. It is on display in a museum case.
November 8, 2025 at 8:32 AM
stelingard.bsky.social
The reassuringly solid Saxon font at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Kingston Deverill. It was found buried in the churchyard during building work in the C19, and is still in use. It is an evocative survivor, given the village's association with King Alfred. #FontsOnFriday #Wiltshire
📷 my own
A large stone font, made from a single block; a crack has been repaired with metal pins and what appears to be a lead solder. It is undecorated, is mounted on a simple stone column, and has an equally simple wooden cover. For more information, visit: http://apps.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityhistory/Church/Details/979?menuType=Church A fabric banner depicting a bearded male figure in Central Casting 'early medieval king' clothing, cloak, tunic, crown and all. His right hand holds a sword aloft, held by the blade just below the hilt - so that the hilt and handle appear as a cross. His left hand holds a document with writing on it. The words 'ALFRED THE GREAT' are written above him, and 'THE DEVERILLS' (a reference to a group of villages which each end in that name) beneath him.
November 7, 2025 at 12:15 PM
stelingard.bsky.social
The main entrance to an office built to the Ministry of Works 'spider block' design. This was no ordinary office, though, and its staff no ordinary people: this is Block D at #BletchleyPark. #AdoorableThursday
📷 my own, from 2012.
A pair of wooden doors, painted grey and set in a glass brick surround. They give entrance to a large brick two storey structure, functional and stolid looking. Single storey wings run away on either side.
November 6, 2025 at 9:19 AM
stelingard.bsky.social
Castleberg, an inland promontory fort overlooking the River Wharfe just west of #Ilkley, #NorthYorkshire. Undated, w. no known excavations. The landscape speaks. #HillfortsWednesday
Detail from an Ordnance Survey map showing a hatched hill labelled 'Castleberg Fort' (the latter word in gothic font) just east of a river and west of a road. A Google satellite image showing a river winding from middle left to bottom centre, through a gently rolling green landscape with some streets and houses in the top right. A yellow oval annotation highlights raised ground with what appear to be the remains of concentric banks and ditches between the river and the houses.
November 5, 2025 at 8:49 AM
stelingard.bsky.social
The West Tower (15th century) at the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, #Ormskirk. Its sandstone bulk appears solid, but the church was added to Historic England's 'at risk' register last year. #TowerTuesday #Lancashire #ChurchCrawling
📷 my own, from August.
A large, stone church tower of robust and weathered sandstone, set in a rather gothic looking graveyard. It is of three stages, with diagonal buttresses and a crenelated parapet, with pinnacles. The sky is a menacing grey.
November 4, 2025 at 10:07 AM
stelingard.bsky.social
The south-western motte at #LewesCastle, #Sussex (yes, there are two). It is a socking great thing, still mightily impressive more than 900 years after it was constructed and despite some Georgian tinkering and a partial collapse. #Castles #MotteMonday Pic my own, from 2016.
A very large mound of earth indeed, topped by an angular stone tower and several trees. It is late winter and the scene is stark, with little growth and a gloomy sky.
November 3, 2025 at 8:57 AM
stelingard.bsky.social
Romans to the left of us, Reivers to the right of us...stuck in the middle at Epiacum / Whitley Castle Roman Fort, near Alston. The Maiden Way Roman road runs yard from this spot, but isn't visible in the pic. #FingerpostFriday #RomanRoadsFriday #RomanBritain #Cumberland
A three fingered fingerpost set in upland countryside. It reads: ROMANS (to the left) REIVERS (to the right) ROME 1121 miles (to the back left) I half remember that the finger pointing to Rome is in the wrong direction. There are shadows cast by the fingerpost and some fencing visible, so the sun is behind the camera - to the south, meaning the Rome finger is pointing north.
October 31, 2025 at 7:39 AM
stelingard.bsky.social
The 15th century wooden gates at Walmgate Bar, #York (with an edited shot to show how they would look when closed). Magnificent. #AdoorableThursday
📷 my own, from 2022
A stone arched gateway with a large wooden door either side. There are two bollards blocking vehicle access. A composite image showing two large and very old wooden doors side by side, giving the appearance they are closed.
October 30, 2025 at 10:02 AM
stelingard.bsky.social
Mercury in classical pose, winged hat, money bag, cloak and all. (The #RoyalSignals would look rather more casual if this version was their 'Jimmy'.) Found at #Housesteads fort, and on display in the museum there. #RomanBritain #ReliefWednesday #Northumberland
A stonework relief depiction of the God mercury, rectangular and in portrait aspect. He is naked apart from his winged hat, and has a cloak over his left arm. His left hand holds a staff and is right a money bag. He faces slightly to the left. The lower part of the stone is damaged, with a crack across his right ankle and his left foot missing entirely.
October 29, 2025 at 8:09 AM
stelingard.bsky.social
'Round barrow 550m north of High Nova Farm,' near #Pickering. Seriously - if you squint at the middle of the shot you can make out a wide, low, bump in the crop (more obvious in person). In its ploughed-out state it is more than 30m across. #TumulusTuesday #NorthYorskshire
📷 my own, from July.
A wide photograph of a large field under grain crop approaching harvest time. There are hedges and trees in the far distance, under a blue sky decked with wisps of cloud. A wide, low bump is visible in the centre of the field. For information about the barrow - a Scheduled Ancient Monument - look up Historic England list entry 1015440.
October 28, 2025 at 9:39 AM
stelingard.bsky.social
Æthelstan, arguably first King of England, died at #Gloucester #OnThisDay in 939, 'about 41 years, except one day' after his grandfather #KingAlfred. Buried at #MalmesburyAbbey, his remains were later lost. His (empty) C15 tomb survives. #Athelstan #Wiltshire
📷 my own, from 2016
A large stone tomb with a sculpture of a recumbent man in robes, his feet warmed by a dog. There are cabinets with what appear to be souvenirs for sale, in the background.
October 27, 2025 at 10:08 AM
stelingard.bsky.social
Alfred of Wessex died #OnThisDay in 899. Here he is in #stainedglass, with St. Bartholomew, at St. Bart's church, Lyng, #Somerset. The village is connected by causeway to #Athelney, where Big A famously holed up in 878 to evade Guthrum the Dane. #StainedGlassSunday #AlfredTheGreat
📷 my own
A large stained glass window of two lights: the one to the left depicts Alfred the Great, and to the right St. Bartholomew. Alfred has 'the Alfred Jewel' positioned at the front of a crown. Interpretation has changed since then, that is more likely the handle to use as a pointer when reading. There is text at the bottom of each panel, to be read across both. It says: TO THE GLORY OF GOD & IN MEMORY OF THE REV A.H.A. SMITH, VICAR OF THIS PARISH FOR 14 YEARS WHO INITIATED THE RESTORATION OF THIS CHURCH & WHO DIED IN 1903 BEFORE THE WORK WAS COMMENCED. THIS WINDOW WAS ERECTED BY GRATEFUL FRIENDS & PARISHONERS.
October 26, 2025 at 8:46 AM
stelingard.bsky.social
Part of the reconstructed fort of #Mamucium, at Castlefield, #Manchester, viewed from a train on the viaduct that destroyed some of the site. The Western Wall & granaries are visible, with a gatehouse & other features out of shot. #RomanFortThursday #Lancashire #Railways #RomanBritain
📷 my own
The ruins of a Roman fort, stabilsed and partly rebuilt, with a block of flats and other city buildings in the background. It is a damp, grey, Autumnal day.
October 23, 2025 at 8:23 AM
stelingard.bsky.social
Windows in the Chapter House at #WellsCathedral, in the Decorated Gothic style from around the turn of the 14th century. It is a beautiful, serene space, designed for discussion of church affairs and legal proceedings. #WindowsOnWednesday #Somerset #Cathedrals
📷 my own
Two spectacular arched windows, with fan vaulting above. Light floods in.
October 22, 2025 at 9:00 AM
stelingard.bsky.social
The famous "site of King Arthur's tomb" (and that of Queen Guinevere) at #GlastonburyAbbey. Two actual kings (Edmund the Elder & Edmund Ironside) were buried in the background of the wider shot, yet neither is marked on site & most visitors don't know. #Glastonbury #TombTuesday #KingArthur
📷 my own
Cast iron plaque on a pole set into a lawn. It reads: "SITE OF KING ARTHUR'S TOMB. IN THE YEAR 1191 THE BODIES OF KING ARTHUR AND HIS QUEEN WERE SAID TO HAVE BEEN FOUND ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE LADY CHAPEL. ON 19TH APRIL 1278 THEIR REMAINS WERE REMOVED IN THE PRESENCE OF KING EDWARD I AND QUEEN ELEANOR TO A BLACK MARBLE TOMB ON THIS SITE. THIS TOMB SURVIVED UNTIL THE DISSOLUTION OF THE ABBEY IN 1539." A large lawn with a paved area in the centre, with plaque marking the site of "King Arthur's Tomb". Ruined church walls line the view on the right, and the remains of the apse - and site of actual royal graves - are in the background.
October 21, 2025 at 10:23 AM
stelingard.bsky.social
The motte at #Berkhamstead Castle, #Hertfordshire, pictured on a visit in August 2012. It is about 14m tall and plainly visible from the nearby railway line - always a highlight of train journeys from home in the north west to & from Euston. #MotteMonday
A large earthen mound, covered in grass. A line of rubble goes up the slope, the remains of a former wall. Another, taller, rubble-core wall stands a little to the left. There are trees in the background. The sky is pale blue, with wispy clouds. It looks like a nice day.
October 20, 2025 at 9:19 AM
stelingard.bsky.social
Former #milestone from the Prescot-Warrington turnpike road, now the A57. It was damaged by a bomb dropped by a #Zeppelin in April 1918, only the second raid on #Lancashire and the final effective raid on the UK. Now in Victoria Park, #Widnes. #FWW #StandingStoneSunday
📷 my own
A large but slightly battered looking milestone in a manicured public park. The lettering 'TO PRESCOT V MILES', 'TO LIVERPOOL XIII MILES' and 'BOLD' is visible.
October 19, 2025 at 5:43 PM
stelingard.bsky.social
For #SteepleSaturday, the marvellous church of the Holy Trinity, #Bosham. The bottom three storeys of the tower are #Saxon, the top Norman & the spire 15thC. Famously, this was King Harold II's local church and parts of it are depicted in the #BayeuxTapestry. #Sussex
📷 by me
A beautiful old parish church, viewed across its graveyard, framed by trees. The steeple is at the far end: the spire has a steeply pitched tile roof.
October 18, 2025 at 10:20 AM
stelingard.bsky.social
Time for #PubFrontFriday! I only fancy a little drink this week, so it's The How Quarry Inn, much-loved local...in the model village at Ryedale Folk Museum. Tiny yet evocative. ##NorthYorkshire #BlackSheepBrewery
📷 my own
A lovingly build model pub, of small stones, slates and pieces of wood. There is a Black Sheep Brewery Sign above the legend 'THE HOW QUARRY INN' over the door. Leaves fill the small garden - each being about half the size of the door!
October 17, 2025 at 8:24 AM
stelingard.bsky.social
The former Coop clothing factory in #Wigan, viewed down King St. West. Founded by Timothy Coop, built 1871 to designs by R. Todd of Southport, with later extensions - the original part is in the centre. One of many gems in the backstreets of our industrial towns. #Lancashire #IndustrialHeritage
A large and ornate factory building in a rather grand and Italianate style, with arches, a balustrade and decorative brick. Viewed down a street with a sort of canyon formed by later Victorian brick buildings. GII listed.
October 16, 2025 at 3:38 PM