History at Bristol

Women's self-employment has long been an important but often overlooked part of Britain's working history

Inspired by #IWD, we're spotlighting Dr Amy Edwards' @somsproject.bsky.social which explores the history of women’s self-employment in Britain 1970-2000

Watch the documentary 👉 brnw.ch/21x0DJY

@dariuswainwright.bsky.social

Trump’s approach to Iran is a departure from containment policy of his predecessors Trump has shifted American policy towards Iran from one of containment to direct confrontation.

Hot off the press: New article by our Darius Wainwright on Trump’s actions in Iran: theconversation.com/trumps-appro...

Happy publication day to @uobrishistory.bsky.social’s Professor Sumita Mukherjee!

Public Lecture: Food for Thought – The Bayeux Tapestry Revisited A public lecture by Professor Benjamin Pohl (Medieval History, University of Bristol) followed by a free drinks reception.

I’ll be talking about my recent research on the Bayeux Tapestry in a public lecture here in Bristol on Thursday 30 April. Attendance is FREE and includes a drinks reception 🍷 Everybody welcome! Please join us if you can and help spread the word! #medievalsky #skystorians

Fancy knowing more about the Bayeux Tapestry? At a free public lecture and reception?? Look no further! 👁️ 👁️

There have been 59 royal arrests in UK history – Charles I was not the last before Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Often it was family members calling for arrest over fears of succession.

'Most arrested royals were accused of treason and conspiracy, but these charges were often compounded with accusations of heresy and witchcraft.'

Dr @gvb1554.bsky.social (@uobrishistory.bsky.social) reflects on the history of royal arrests for The Conversation

theconversation.com/there-have-b...

Don't forget that applications are currently open for the Bristol Medieval Studies Summer School! Apply by 1st March to be eligible for a 10% discount!

Find out more at: www.bristol.ac.uk/centre-for-s...

#medievalsky #skystorians

🧵Following Andrew's arrest there's been a lot of talk in different media about this being 'unprecedented'. It most certainly is NOT! It might be in the modern age, but not before the 18C. I have identified 49 close relatives of the monarch put in custody from 1066.

Please join us for the launch of our 'Women Strike Back!' exhibition on Monday 9th March. The wonderful Vanessa Kasuule will be joining us for a poetry reading.

You can book your tickets via: ticketpass.org/event/ELVTJM...

Research Seminar - 23 Feb, 4pm (Hybrid)

Dr Alastair Ayton
Beyond a Borderland: The March of Wales and its Lords in Thirteenth-Century English Politics

Open to all!
Email mapping-the-march@bristol.ac.uk to register (online or in person).

Know your enemy In August 1215, Robert of Courson, the papal legate in Paris, issued a set of statutes for the scholars of the university, forbidding “lectures on the books of Aristotle on metaphysics and natural phi...

'The life and legacy of Maurice of Burgos have for too long been shrouded in mystery. This marvellous study is a window on a fascinating topic.'

Dr Fernando Cervantes (@uobrishistory.bsky.social) reviews Teresa Witcombe's On the Edges of Christendom in The TLS

www.the-tls.com/history/medi...

It was a pleasure to chat with @ecrpodcasters.bsky.social about visiting fellowships and how/why to apply for them. Hopefully folks will find it useful!
@bristolcms.bsky.social @uobrishistory.bsky.social @bristolcmspgr.bsky.social @uobrishistory.bsky.social

A photo of an ancient Greek ruined gate with text that reads "IGRCT travel bursaries. Deadline to apply: Feb 24th at noon".

📢 CALL FOR APPLICATIONS OPEN 📢

Deadline: February 24th at midday

The IGRCT is accepting applications for travel bursaries from UoB students and for event proposals from UoB staff and PGRs. Please see our website for more information: igrct.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/funding/

Bodies, Tides, Timber, and the Global History of London’s Docks, 1860–1928* Abstract. This article examines changes in the bodies and environment of labourers carrying timber imported into London’s docks in the 1860s to the 1920s t

On advance access: "Bodies, Tides, Timber, and the Global History of London’s Docks, 1860–1928"

by Simeon Koole (@uobrishistory.bsky.social) and @benmechen.bsky.social (@uclhistory.bsky.social)

#OpenAccess

doi.org/10.1093/past...

With support from @uobrishistory.bsky.social & @uobartsmatter.bsky.social, these Cantonese workshops form part of my new project to develop Chinese-language resources to support the global HK diaspora to research & preserve their family history. Feel really privileged to be able to do this work!

Our latest quarterly round up: a busy three months in the life of the Hong Kong History Centre here at the University of Bristol @hongkonghistory.bsky.social @uobrishistory.bsky.social @bristoluni.bsky.social

Book stall, pedlar, and shoppers, Hong Kong, c.1938 (Photo courtesy of Historical Photographs of China Project, Hutchinson Family Collection, reference Hn-d044)

'We understand Hong Kong as a subject providing a wide range of opportunities, as a city and a territory with a distinctive past that has never been more alive.'

Excellent write up on the @hongkonghistory.bsky.social in the latest @iias.bsky.social newsletter

For more pp.38-40 👉 brnw.ch/21wZEyV

TOMORROW!
Please join us for More-than-Human Curation, 2nd in our More-than-Human/ities seminar series w/ York University, Toronto
Come explore how art & wildlife interact in museum settings & curatorship🦣🌾
Wed 4 Feb
17:45–19:15
Register here yorku.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1ON4d36KQQWSXZUwX10Nuw

🏳️‍🌈 As #LGBTplusHM returns this February, Dr Irina Roldugina (Russian Dept) tells us about a fascinating Cold War encounter between Western queer individuals and the Soviet Union

Read more about Irina's research as part of her @leverhulme.ac.uk project 👉 brnw.ch/21wZwbk

@lgbthm.bsky.social

Gas guzzlers Most people today think of carbon dioxide (CO2) in relation to CO2 emissions, principally from the burning of fossil fuels, and the ever- growing levels of this gas in the atmosphere and the ocean. Bu...

'There is good and bad news about the gas that has given us everything...and could yet take everything away.'

Emeritus Prof Peter Coates (@uobrishistory.bsky.social) reviews @peterbrannen.bsky.social The Story of CO2 is the Story of Everything in @thetls.bsky.social

www.the-tls.com/science-tech...

From the D-Day landings to the offside rule, here’s how pubs have shaped Britain If history has taught us anything, it is that there’s no better way to solve the nation’s problems than tackling them over a pint or two

'The alehouse became the second space in the community after the church.'

Dr @markhailwood.bsky.social (@uobrishistory.bsky.social) research on the history of the pub in 16th and 17th century England features in today's @telegraph.co.uk

Read more 👇

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01...

Bristol CMS PGR Conference 2026 "Power and Performance" keynote speaker Dr Cathy Hume

We are really excited to announce the second of our fantastic keynote speakers: author, literary historian, Middle English and Biblical poetry expert... our very own Dr Cathy Hume (@cathyhume.bluesky.social)! 🎉🎊🎉

Who was Hecate, Mistress of Magic? ✨

From local goddess to ruler of night, sorcery and the crossroads between worlds. Discover the history of this guardian of travellers and spirits...

Watch Prof Ronald Hutton's* lecture 👉 gres.hm/goddess-hecate

* also of History at Bristol

Poster showing the details of the book launch event with a gradient green background, with each book cover featured in the centre of the page

Double book launch 📚

Celebrating new books by @latemedievalist.bsky.social and @mattlampitt.bsky.social, with introductions by Professor Christian Liddy & Professor Miranda Griffin.

Food and drinks provided.

🗓 26 Jan 2026, 5–7pm
📍 The Mount Without, The Crypt, Bristol

All welcome to attend!

Don't forget to get those proposals in! #medievalsky #skystorians

We're delighted to announce the first of our amazing keynote speakers: medieval historian, author, co-host of 'Gone Medieval' and 'We're Not So Different' podcasts, and co-creator and host of several HistoryHit TV series... Dr Eleanor Janega 🎉🎉🎉(@goingmedieval.bsky.social)! #medievalsky #skystorian

December: Bayeux Tapestry could have been originally designed as mealtime reading for medi | News and features | University of Bristol New research by an historian from the University of Bristol offers an intriguing suggestion about one of history’s biggest mysteries – the original purpose of the world-famous Bayeux Tapestry.

A press release from the University of Bristol about an exciting new article by @benpohl.bsky.social and published by Historical Research: www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2025/de...

Chewing over the Norman Conquest: the Bayeux Tapestry as monastic mealtime reading* Abstract. This article offers a new contextualization of the Bayeux Tapestry by exploring its use as mealtime reading in a monastic refectory. This concept

My tasty take (pun intended) on the Bayeux Tapestry—a subject on which I had vowed never to publish. Available Open Access with @ihr.bsky.social. See what you make of it, and bon appetit! academic.oup.com/histres/adva...

The Bayeux Tapestry is beautiful, but what was its purpose? New research might have the answer A new theory proposes that the Bayeux Tapestry was designed to deliver moral messages to medieval monks over dinner

Very nice and nuanced write-up of my latest research by @historyextra.bsky.social! Many thanks to @djmusgrove.bsky.social & Co.! 😊 www.historyextra.com/period/norma...