🎉 🥳 🏅 🎵 📜 🗃️ Chris Hoban and I are absolutely delighted that our collaboration has received an Honorary Mention as 'Cultural Knowledge Exchange Project of the Year' in the inaugural National Centre for Academic and Cultural Exchange (NCACE) Future Icons awards. 1/

Instead of death by a thousand cuts, focused initially on Humanities but radiating out through Social Sciences to STEM and Medicine, we need a systematic conversation and assessment of what is at risk. From closed university museums and galleries to Jodrell Bank, what's at stake if we don't? 2/2

British Academy President: UK higher education crisis risks irreversible damage

As course closures, shrinking provision and widening regional inequalities threaten the future of UK higher education and research, President of the British Academy, Susan J Smith calls for an immedia...

thebritishacademy.ac.uk

And not just Exeter. At least 2 History Leicester FBAs have had to leave the University to stay in the profession due to risk of redundancy, and they won't be the only ones. The much broader issue affects thousands of excellent academics across a spectrum of disciplines (including STEM ones). 1/2

New British Academy fellows at risk in Exeter jobs cull

Being at the ‘top of your game’ no guarantee of job security, warns decorated historian now facing the chop

timeshighereducation.com

Welcome to my new followers! Before I was put at risk of redundancy last month I was working on a chapter on 16th-18th-century finger rings. 💍 My sample is around 10,000 rings mentioned in 30,000 English wills from 1540-1790. 1/

Congratulations to our shortlisted authors for the 2026 EHS Book Prize! Christopher J. Bonura, Mark Earngey, Robert A.H. Evans & Emily Vine (@emilymayvine.bsky.social) have written four fantastic new offerings to the field of #churchhistory 👏

Professor Whittle is one of four colleagues in the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Faculty at the University of Exeter elected to Fellowship of the British Academy this year. 🗃️ ALL FOUR of these outstanding scholars were placed at risk of redundancy last month. Here's their statement:

🥳 Enormous congratulations to my outstanding colleague & friend Prof. Jane Whittle, on her election to the Fellowship of the British Academy. Jane is a world renowned scholar of the history of work & gender in preindustrial Europe. She currently leads The Material Culture of Wills project. 🗃️

we have some fun 4 July news over at The National Archives! a new copy of the US Declaration of Independence, with an amazing story behind it (privateers! printers! prisoners!) - but also, a find that shows the power and importance of our volunteering and cataloguing projects.

‘Vanishingly rare’ copy of US Declaration of Independence found by volunteer in UK archives

One of 11 surviving copies of ‘Exeter printing’ and only one known outside US was taken from American privateer ship

theguardian.com

📢 In Case You Missed It 📢 📜 There's a new 'Will of the Month' post up on our blog! ⛪ Read all about a Tudor clergyman from Cumberland who had a tumultuous life, but regained considerable material wealth at his death 🪙🪙🪙 #history #SkyStorians #EarlyModern sites.exeter.ac.uk/materialcult...

New article has just been published OA @womenshistoryrev.bsky.social ! Lots of archival work in here tracing the the women who ran “Indian houses” in #17thc London. Including one woman who may have helped plot the Glorious Revolution!! #earlymodern www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Something deeply troubling & shocking is happening at Exeter University*, where a mass cull of staff is planned, even though it's in surplus. No good justifications given. @jamesgdyke.info provides the details: www.technosphere.earth/the-bonfire-... *Disclosure: I have a Visiting Fellowship here. +🧵

The bonfire of the humanities

150 academic posts at the University of Exeter are to be cut, most in the humanities but also in social sciences, engineering and environmental sciences

technosphere.earth

📢NEW WILL OF THE MONTH📢 The will of a curate mixed up in the case of Elizabeth Barton, the ‘Holy Maid of Kent’. #EarlyModern 🗃️ @leverhulme.ac.uk sites.exeter.ac.uk/materialcult...

📢 There's a new 'Will of the Month' post over at @materialwills.bsky.social 📢 📜 It explores the will of a Tudor clergyman who lost all his goods in the Henrician Reformation, but regained his material wealth before death👇 #history #EarlyModern #skystorians @leverhulme.ac.uk @cemsexeter.bsky.social

The Material Culture of Wills Project@materialwills.bsky.social · last mo.

📢 NEW WILL OF THE MONTH POST 📢 June's post explores the will of a Tudor clergyman who forfeited much of his property in the turmoil of the Henrician Reformation📜 His fortunes improved: his will reveals material comfort & ownership of many fine & decorative items sites.exeter.ac.uk/materialcult...

You can also find out about one of the things I am most proud of in my career as a historian: my collaboration with musician Chris Hoban sites.exeter.ac.uk/materialcult...

If you would like to know more about the project, our website is packed with information: sites.exeter.ac.uk/materialcult...

I'm back: I may be made redundant in September, but right now I am still part of a world leading @leverhulme.ac.uk research project, working with a whip smart group of people using cutting edge AI technology to produce a dataset of of unprecedented scale. I will be focusing on research when I can.

We need the support and vocal objections of all those who value what we do beyond the academy. If you’ve enjoyed reading our books, seeing us on telly, or listening to us on podcasts, please feel free to lodge your objections on social media, tagging #UniExeter

Guess what? I’m at risk of redundancy. My job - and those of my colleagues in my department and across our wider faculty of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences - is one of those currently targeted for cuts. I received a personal letter today. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

University of Exeter in talks to cut about 150 members of staff

The university says it is consulting with colleagues over "limited and specific potential changes".

bbc.co.uk

If you asked me, off the top of my head, to name a non-Oxbridge university in England synonymous with excellence in the Humanities - I would probably think of Exeter first. This feels like a very deliberate, targeted and ideological Bonfire of the Humanities

Margot Finn@eicathomefinn.bsky.social · last mo.

'About 150 academic roles are set to go at the south-west institution, which said it was targeting areas that are “no longer sustainable” or have seen changes in student demand.' History and English are name-checked. 1/3

'About 150 academic roles are set to go at the south-west institution, which said it was targeting areas that are “no longer sustainable” or have seen changes in student demand.' History and English are name-checked. 1/3

University of Exeter cuts an ‘existential threat to humanities’

Russell Group institution cites changing student demand as it puts 500 staff at risk of redundancy, with 150 jobs set to go

timeshighereducation.com

A statement from Exeter UCU branch @ucu.org.uk - please share far and wide.

Over the coming week, we feature the 8 monographs and 8 articles shortlisted for the Society's 2026 First Book and Early Career Article prizes. Today: 'Birth, Death, and Domestic Religion in Early Modern London', by Emily Vine (Cambridge University Press) bit.ly/3SsnvWo 1/2 #Skystorians

'my swanne marke with vj nyckes'. 🦢🦢🦢🦢🦢🦢🦢 Alice Skipwithe's 16th-century will shows how she claimed ownership of these birds - with 6 notches carved into their beaks. Another bequest of swans is discussed in @emilymayvine.bsky.social's post here: #EarlyModern 🗃️

The Material Culture of Wills Project@materialwills.bsky.social · 5mo ago

📢 NEW Will of the Month Post! 📢 This is for everyone who followed our 'Eyrie of Swans' discussion last week, and with particular thanks to @hnewsome-chandler.bsky.social , @lostplayhouse.bsky.social and @tracelarkhall.bsky.social who helped us identify it! 🦢 1/3🧵 sites.exeter.ac.uk/materialcult...

IT'S PUBLICATION DAYYYYYYYYYY!!!!! Download 'The King's Dinner: family, nation, and identity on the British table, 1760-1820' here FOR FREE and read all about George III's eating habits over breakfast! uclpress.co.uk/book/the-kin... #skystorians #openaccess #18thC #foodhistory 🗃️

The King’s Dinner

The King’s Dinner is about what it meant to be British at the end of the eighteenth century. Drawing on the vast kitchen ledgers of two royal households made newly available to research through digiti...

uclpress.co.uk

Very much looking forward to Jamie Gemmell (KCL), talking about John Satia and the 1731 City of London ban on Black apprenticeship @long18thsem.bsky.social @ihr.bsky.social All welcome in person or online, but please register. www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

John Satia and the 1731 ban on Black apprenticeship

British History in the Long 18th Century Seminar

history.ac.uk

Just one week until my book is officially launched!! Sign up below to hear from me and brilliant scholars Prof. Lyndal Roper and Dr Felix Jäger (slight change in schedule). In person and online on 9th June, 6-8pm including drinks reception.

Holly Fletcher@drhollyfletcher.bsky.social · 3mo ago

I'm having a book launch on 9th June 6-8pm for my book 'Body Size in Early Modern Germany' 🎉 I will be discussing the book alongside Profs. Lyndal Roper and @stefanhanss.bsky.social. It would be great to see you there (in person and online)!! Register here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ias-book-l...

📜 New 'Will of the Month' blog over at @materialwills.bsky.social 👇 Read all about Mary Skelton's 'undutifull' son - cut off with only a shilling 🪙 @uoearchhist.bsky.social @uniofexeterhass.bsky.social @cemsexeter.bsky.social #history #skystorians #EarlyModern

The Material Culture of Wills Project@materialwills.bsky.social · 2mo ago

📢 In Case You Missed It! 📢 📜 Our latest 'Will of the Month' post is live on our blog: sites.exeter.ac.uk/materialcult... It explores the will of an C18th widow of Greenwich who bequeathed land, property, and bonds in the East India Company, but left only 1 shilling to her 'undutifull son' 🪙

This is a brilliant and really friendly regular pub night - I've met so many great people over the years (and discovered so many great historic pubs). Do message Anna if you're interested in dropping in, now or in the future 👇

Anna Cusack@annacusack.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Reminder. There's an early modern pub night for PhDs & ECRs (& others interested at any stage of their careers) held in London every month. To be added to the mailing list, send me a DM. It's an informal welcoming event. We meet at different historic pubs across central London. #earlymodern

Mary Skelton was a Greenwich widow whose will was proved in 1725. In this post @emilymayvine.bsky.social shows how she used her will to reward one son and punish the other. sites.exeter.ac.uk/materialcult... #Cleverblogs

📢MAY WILL OF THE MONTH📢 And it's a 'I leave him one shilling and no more' vengence will! sites.exeter.ac.uk/materialcult... #EarlyModern 🗃️ #MaterialCulture