Alun Withey

Thanks Lisa, & lovely to see you again after so many years 😊

Warlike habiliments! Fantastic

I think that’s the perfect habiliment choice!

a man in a suit says brilliant while standing next to a woman ALT: a man in a suit says brilliant while standing next to a woman

Until today, I didn’t know that the word ‘habiliments’ existed, meaning the trappings or clothing linked to someone’s job, status or way of life.

I have but I need to revisit it - it’s great stuff

And with that, you win today’s prize! I wouldn’t want to know how he sprinkled it. 😂

Currently doing some work on feelings of bodily discomfort while travelling. One common affliction was a sore bum caused by long journeys on horseback. One 18thc vicar noted that his backside was so sore that he dipped it into the river for relief. What must passers-by have thought?!

Jolted and Jumbled: Riding in a Sedan Chair in the 18th Century If there is one form of transport that perhaps typifies the 18th century more than any other, it is a sedan chair.  Recently I have been doing some work on stage coaches, and the experien…

"A barrage on the senses."

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How lovely! Thank you very much 😊

That’s really kind, thanks so much Marc 😊

Ah, that’s so kind, thank you so much Heather… You’ve made my day! 😊😊

Historian exchanges academic journals for TikTok in new BBC Radio 4 series - News | University of Exeter Do you fancy yourself as an influencer? One of our modern medical history academics features in a new BBC Radio 4 documentary exploring the promise and potential pitfalls of chasing influencer status ...

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Thanks so much Louvain - I really do appreciate it

Jolted and Jumbled: Riding in a Sedan Chair in the 18th Century

If there is one form of transport that perhaps typifies the 18th century more than any other, it is a sedan chair. Recently I have been doing some work on stage coaches, and the experience of what it was actually like to travel in…

a man is kneeling on the floor in a gym ALT: a man is kneeling on the floor in a gym

Just found a reference to a Swiss duchess making a 390-mile journey from her home to Paris…in a sedan chair!! Think of the poor guys carrying it! Blog post to follow next week.

Just passed a very nice afternoon in the literary company of, amongst others. Jeremy Bentham, Alexander Pope, Jonathan Swift, Hester Lynch Piozzi and Jane Austen. Research for a new article which is coming along nicely.

In records of folklore from Shropshire, “a person whose teeth are far apart is born to travel”.

Currently spending a happy few hours trawling through Victorian folklore collections, looking for evidence of customs and superstitions surrounding travel. Finding some great ones!

Today starts with an espresso, trip to physio for knackered back and knee, then, (🤞🏻🤞🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻) a bit of writing for the potential new book.

My copy of @benltjackson.bsky.social’s ‘Material Masculinities’ arrived yesterday and already half way through it. Excellent stuff & really enjoying it & learning a lot.

Currently doing a bit of research on Welsh Mariners wills. That of Morgan Morgans of Swansea (d.1710) sounds a bit piratey! His only goods consisted of an old bed, 4 muskets and two pistols, his clothes, and a small barrel…cue a spirited shanty about a dead man’s rum!

vm.tiktok.com/ZNddX4BpM/

A new post about the deadly art of cutting your nails in the 18th century!

Calling all Exeter academics... have you noticed the videos we've been collaborating on with @dralun.bsky.social on TikTok & Instagram? Would you like to work on similar videos to showcase your research to reach a wider audience? If so, drop us an email at socialmedia@exeter.ac.uk lnkd.in/eRyDEiu8

😂 that is true

Perhaps I’m getting old, but every movie trailer I seem to see these days has some combination of a character looking rapidly from side to side, an evil person saying something threatening in a deep voice, some acrobatic fighting, and someone running into battle shouting “aaaaaaah”

My wife and son went out about an hour ago, so I thought I would get some work done. But young master Barney spotted his chance, and this could take a while. And to add a little bit of extra excitement, he has just done a fart of contentment on my leg!

A new post about some fantastic marginalia found in a 1773 medical book that I bought a few years ago. vm.tiktok.com/ZNd1naKPn/

Oh…shit! That means 14 months of Velociraptor still to go 😱

He certainly has…he loves the attention too. 😊

We’ve only had him a week. He’s a little beauty…but *very* high maintenance! Our first dog, so a bit of a shock to the system…and the house 😂