Rebecca Tyson
@tyguson.bsky.social
PhD student at University of Bristol; RHS Marshall Fellow (2024-25) at Institute of Historical Research; 11th-century Normandy, maritime and riverine environments, the Norman invasion fleet.
https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/persons/rebecca-tyson
https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/persons/rebecca-tyson
Finally, for completeness, here we are approaching Pevensey Bay in lovely conditions at sunset. Hastings is to the right and Beachy Head to the left. The seamarks of Beachy Head and Fairlight are like arms funnelling you in from the English Channel when making a passage from the Somme. #MedievalSky
November 12, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Finally, for completeness, here we are approaching Pevensey Bay in lovely conditions at sunset. Hastings is to the right and Beachy Head to the left. The seamarks of Beachy Head and Fairlight are like arms funnelling you in from the English Channel when making a passage from the Somme. #MedievalSky
Yep, and that is high water too! This is what the Somme estuary looks like at low tide looking out towards the English Channel...
November 12, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Yep, and that is high water too! This is what the Somme estuary looks like at low tide looking out towards the English Channel...
In contrast to the harbours along the Alabaster coast, the Somme estuary is vast and easily accessible. This is where you have to come if you can't get into harbours along the way or if you're travelling as a fleet. It's very shallow though, hence the constant depth readings #MedievalSky
November 12, 2025 at 12:12 PM
In contrast to the harbours along the Alabaster coast, the Somme estuary is vast and easily accessible. This is where you have to come if you can't get into harbours along the way or if you're travelling as a fleet. It's very shallow though, hence the constant depth readings #MedievalSky
The last video I took before it got so bouncy and windy that all I could do was hold on and focus on navigating us into Fécamp in the dark (a harbour that the pilot guide says not to attempt in the northerly gale force conditions we were in at the time). It was a long, wet day/night #MedievalSky
November 12, 2025 at 11:57 AM
The last video I took before it got so bouncy and windy that all I could do was hold on and focus on navigating us into Fécamp in the dark (a harbour that the pilot guide says not to attempt in the northerly gale force conditions we were in at the time). It was a long, wet day/night #MedievalSky
I've been watching back videos from when I sailed from Dives-sur-Mer to Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, following the route of the Norman invasion fleet in 1066. 130km of c. 70m chalk cliffs in a strong N/NE wind that turned into a gale just before we reached Fécamp. Similar conditions to 1066 #MedievalSky
November 12, 2025 at 11:46 AM
I've been watching back videos from when I sailed from Dives-sur-Mer to Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, following the route of the Norman invasion fleet in 1066. 130km of c. 70m chalk cliffs in a strong N/NE wind that turned into a gale just before we reached Fécamp. Similar conditions to 1066 #MedievalSky
I saw some teeny tiny perfect mushrooms in the woods this morning. I love the way the things I see and hear on this walk change every day through the seasons.
November 11, 2025 at 9:11 AM
I saw some teeny tiny perfect mushrooms in the woods this morning. I love the way the things I see and hear on this walk change every day through the seasons.
Another sealskin book cover @mearcsteppende.bsky.social, this time from Norway 🦭
November 4, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Another sealskin book cover @mearcsteppende.bsky.social, this time from Norway 🦭
I have just spent a rather lovely and relaxing couple of hours needle felting a poppy to be added to the BioTapestry where it will join these beautiful contributions on the Meadow panel representing the wonderful biodiversity of Gwent.
October 27, 2025 at 3:49 PM
I have just spent a rather lovely and relaxing couple of hours needle felting a poppy to be added to the BioTapestry where it will join these beautiful contributions on the Meadow panel representing the wonderful biodiversity of Gwent.
I’ve just seen this advertised in the window of my local library and made an audible ‘oooh’!
October 25, 2025 at 2:11 PM
I’ve just seen this advertised in the window of my local library and made an audible ‘oooh’!
I sailed on a reconstruction of this ship from Paris to Honfleur in August and it was such an adventure!
See #Saga25 for my posts from the trip.
See #Saga25 for my posts from the trip.
October 23, 2025 at 10:42 AM
I sailed on a reconstruction of this ship from Paris to Honfleur in August and it was such an adventure!
See #Saga25 for my posts from the trip.
See #Saga25 for my posts from the trip.
As I approach the end of my PhD I’ve been thinking about the contribution I’m making to my field. I’ve never felt so much a part of the history of Norman scholarship as this evening when I used my second-hand copy of v.1 of Orderic Vitalis’ Ecclesiastical History for the first time #Medievalsky
October 21, 2025 at 6:26 PM
As I approach the end of my PhD I’ve been thinking about the contribution I’m making to my field. I’ve never felt so much a part of the history of Norman scholarship as this evening when I used my second-hand copy of v.1 of Orderic Vitalis’ Ecclesiastical History for the first time #Medievalsky
It’s a good year for figs! This is the second big batch I’ve had from my tree in the last two weeks and there are still more ripening on there. If anyone has any fig recipes they can recommend I would be very grateful 🙂
October 9, 2025 at 2:32 PM
It’s a good year for figs! This is the second big batch I’ve had from my tree in the last two weeks and there are still more ripening on there. If anyone has any fig recipes they can recommend I would be very grateful 🙂
Here is the press release
September 28, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Here is the press release
The group building the reconstruction of the Mora, William the Conqueror's flagship, has announced that the project has gone into receivership due to financial difficulties.
I've followed the project closely for several years and visited last month while Saga Farmann was moored outside. What a shame
I've followed the project closely for several years and visited last month while Saga Farmann was moored outside. What a shame
September 28, 2025 at 7:20 PM
The group building the reconstruction of the Mora, William the Conqueror's flagship, has announced that the project has gone into receivership due to financial difficulties.
I've followed the project closely for several years and visited last month while Saga Farmann was moored outside. What a shame
I've followed the project closely for several years and visited last month while Saga Farmann was moored outside. What a shame
The site photos are from that carefree summer on the Dorset coast, when I split my time between digging at Worth Matravers and making a photo-record of the stonework at Corfe Castle as part of the major conservation project that had just started.
September 17, 2025 at 9:49 PM
The site photos are from that carefree summer on the Dorset coast, when I split my time between digging at Worth Matravers and making a photo-record of the stonework at Corfe Castle as part of the major conservation project that had just started.
So pleased to discover this article (doi:10.15184/aqy.2025.10133) on the results from an archaeological dig at Worth Matravers that I was part of in 2007! A rare stone anchor was found with one burial and it's very interesting that the C14 dates didn't require marine correction so close to the sea.
September 17, 2025 at 9:32 PM
So pleased to discover this article (doi:10.15184/aqy.2025.10133) on the results from an archaeological dig at Worth Matravers that I was part of in 2007! A rare stone anchor was found with one burial and it's very interesting that the C14 dates didn't require marine correction so close to the sea.
Thank you, Lewis. It looks like a fascinating project. I actually received the first publication on the Sutton Hoo reconstruction this week, so I’m really looking forward to learning more about it.
September 12, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Thank you, Lewis. It looks like a fascinating project. I actually received the first publication on the Sutton Hoo reconstruction this week, so I’m really looking forward to learning more about it.
Call for Papers @imc-leeds.bsky.social
Following my recent fieldwork sailing down the Seine in a reconstructed tenth-century ship, @stevedehailes.bsky.social and I are organising a panel on practice-based/experiential research in medieval studies. We welcome abstracts from any field. #Medievalsky
Following my recent fieldwork sailing down the Seine in a reconstructed tenth-century ship, @stevedehailes.bsky.social and I are organising a panel on practice-based/experiential research in medieval studies. We welcome abstracts from any field. #Medievalsky
September 12, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Call for Papers @imc-leeds.bsky.social
Following my recent fieldwork sailing down the Seine in a reconstructed tenth-century ship, @stevedehailes.bsky.social and I are organising a panel on practice-based/experiential research in medieval studies. We welcome abstracts from any field. #Medievalsky
Following my recent fieldwork sailing down the Seine in a reconstructed tenth-century ship, @stevedehailes.bsky.social and I are organising a panel on practice-based/experiential research in medieval studies. We welcome abstracts from any field. #Medievalsky
September 10, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Exciting times at the new Museum of the Viking Age vikingtidsmuseet.no/english/
There is a live feed of the Oseberg ship being (very slowly) moved into its new position.
#Medievalsky
There is a live feed of the Oseberg ship being (very slowly) moved into its new position.
#Medievalsky
September 10, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Exciting times at the new Museum of the Viking Age vikingtidsmuseet.no/english/
There is a live feed of the Oseberg ship being (very slowly) moved into its new position.
#Medievalsky
There is a live feed of the Oseberg ship being (very slowly) moved into its new position.
#Medievalsky
I visited Saint Fiacre's chapel in Lisieux Cathedral last week. The Brother Cadfael books were, in retrospect, probably an early influence that led me to an interest in the medieval period and I have a great affection for gardening monks.
August 30, 2025 at 8:57 PM
I visited Saint Fiacre's chapel in Lisieux Cathedral last week. The Brother Cadfael books were, in retrospect, probably an early influence that led me to an interest in the medieval period and I have a great affection for gardening monks.
I’m in Normandy for the rest of the month with family, though I’m taking every opportunity to think about my thesis. Today I visited an exhibition on the river Risle which was very interesting and made something I’ve been wondering about for a while become clear. I love it when that happens!
August 22, 2025 at 3:10 PM
I’m in Normandy for the rest of the month with family, though I’m taking every opportunity to think about my thesis. Today I visited an exhibition on the river Risle which was very interesting and made something I’ve been wondering about for a while become clear. I love it when that happens!
When the Klåstad ship was discovered it had stones like these in its hold, both acting as ballast and revealing the cargo as this type of stone was used for whetstones historically. Other goods could also have been carried and traded by this ship type though.
August 17, 2025 at 7:08 AM
When the Klåstad ship was discovered it had stones like these in its hold, both acting as ballast and revealing the cargo as this type of stone was used for whetstones historically. Other goods could also have been carried and traded by this ship type though.
Well that’s the end of this excellent adventure. I’ve spent 2 weeks travelling down the Seine from Paris to Honfleur managing navigation, radio communication with the maritime authorities, booking our harbours, and acting as translator and tour guide as well as crew. I’m tired but happy 🙂 #Saga25
August 16, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Well that’s the end of this excellent adventure. I’ve spent 2 weeks travelling down the Seine from Paris to Honfleur managing navigation, radio communication with the maritime authorities, booking our harbours, and acting as translator and tour guide as well as crew. I’m tired but happy 🙂 #Saga25