It is Halloween & time for ghost stories. But are ghosts real?? 👻 theconversation.com/the-17th-cen...

The 17th-century British scientists who investigated hauntings

The Royal Society was Britain’s principal scientific institution and some of its fellows were dabbling in the investigation of spirits.

theconversation.com

It is #Halloween & this is a tale of a convicted ‘witch’ but it is much more about what happened in 1564 when a vulnerable woman got caught up in a deadly family rivalry. www.louiserylandepton.co.uk/blog/the-fir...

The First English Witch?: Agnes Mylles and the Death of William Bayntun — Louise Ryland-Epton

In the spring of 1564, as Queen Elizabeth I's reign was still finding its footing, a tragedy unfolded in the Wiltshire countryside. A baby died and three women became implicated in his alleged ‘murder...

louiserylandepton.co.uk

My first article for @theconversationuk.bsky.social 😁 It is nearly Halloween 👻 after all 💀 theconversation.com/the-17th-cen...

The 17th-century British scientists who investigated hauntings

The Royal Society was Britain’s principal scientific institution and some of its fellows were dabbling in the investigation of spirits.

theconversation.com

Talking at the Bruton History Festival this afternoon on my favourite subject. 😁 www.brutonmuseum.org.uk/events-membe...

The Extraordinary World of John Aubrey — Bruton Museum

Saturday, 17th October 2026 3.00pm for 3.30pm Louise Ryland-Epton What do dragons, ghosts, witches, magic rings, murderous clouds, and giants have in common with the most advanced sci...

brutonmuseum.org.uk

It is an amazing text & in Aubrey’s 400th anniversary year I hope he will finally get the recognition he deserves. Book available from www.hobnobpress.co.uk/books/p/john... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The 1600s pioneer from Wiltshire who challenged earth's origins

A historian has transcribed and published in full, for the first time, a huge volume by pioneer John Aubrey.

bbc.co.uk

Aubrey’s Natural History has been out a fortnight and here is one reason why a complete text matters. His c19 editor cut a chapter on the Earls of Pembroke to leave a text about a literary household, but neglecting the laboratory that ran for almost a century… 😱 www.hobnobpress.co.uk/books/p/john...

John Aubrey’s Natural History, edited by Louise Ryland-Epton — Hobnob Press

John Aubrey (1626-1697) is best known as a biographer and antiquarian, but he was also a scientist. Begun in 1656 and shaped over four decades, Aubrey's Natural History  was the first systemat...

hobnobpress.co.uk

Dr Louise Ryland-Epton@lrylandepton.bsky.social · last mo.

Wilton House, the seat of the Herberts, Earls of Pembroke, was once home to an alchemical laboratory. www.louiserylandepton.co.uk/blog/the-her...

Wilton House, the seat of the Herberts, Earls of Pembroke, was once home to an alchemical laboratory. www.louiserylandepton.co.uk/blog/the-her...

The Herberts' Chymists — Louise Ryland-Epton

A countess, a brewer's son and two Transylvanians: the chymists and alchemists of Wilton House, Wiltshire.

louiserylandepton.co.uk

Begun 370 years ago & now out in full: John Aubrey’s Natural History. Geology, hydrology, meteorology, botany, agriculture, architecture, garden design, sport, folklore, medicine, zoology, demography, pastorals, biography, palaeontology & more is all here!! www.hobnobpress.co.uk/books/p/john...

John Aubrey’s Natural History, edited by Louise Ryland-Epton — Hobnob Press

John Aubrey (1626-1697) is best known as a biographer and antiquarian, but he was also a scientist. Begun in 1656 and shaped over four decades, Aubrey's Natural History  was the first systemat...

hobnobpress.co.uk

John Aubrey’s Natural History is out tomorrow!! Begun 370 years ago and never published before in full, it is remarkable (though I would say that as its editor). Just hoping that someone will a) turn up to the launch b) buy it. In the meantime a blog. 😁 www.louiserylandepton.co.uk/blog/john-au...

John Aubrey’s Natural History, Part 14: The Royal Society Copy — Louise Ryland-Epton

The Royal Society's copy of Aubrey's Natural History is the most complete version of the text in existence and for one more week it is out of the library and on show in Chippenham, open at his chapt...

louiserylandepton.co.uk

My view & it is lovely.

Happy official #paperback publication day to A History of England in 25 Poems! It's been a hectic morning here, with my son's first day at secondary school and more Bayeux Tapestry interviews... Lovely to escape briefly for a celebratory lunch with my favourite girl and raise a glass. Cheers!

Very happy to be on route to the British Crime Historian’s Symposium to promote 👇written by the amazing @angiesuttonvane.bsky.social

Dr Louise Ryland-Epton@lrylandepton.bsky.social · 2mo ago

The British Crime Historian’s Symposium is next week and I’m thrilled to be there on Thursday promoting and selling this fantastic book by my great friend 😁@angiesuttonvane.bsky.social www.hobnobpress.co.uk/books/p/murd...

Cannot believe it. My proof is here…

A two-headed serpent, the colour of the inner skin of an onion was once drawn from life by Wenceslas Hollar. The drawing is gone; only John Aubrey’s description survives in his Natural History. www.hobnobpress.co.uk/books/p/john... www.louiserylandepton.co.uk/blog/wencesl...

Wenceslas Hollar & the Two-Headed Serpent — Louise Ryland-Epton

Wenceslas Hollar made two pictures of an amphisbaena, a two-headed serpent. One was an allegory of civil strife. The other was drawn from life, under a piece of old timber in Mechlin. Only the imagina...

louiserylandepton.co.uk

The British Crime Historian’s Symposium is next week and I’m thrilled to be there on Thursday promoting and selling this fantastic book by my great friend 😁@angiesuttonvane.bsky.social www.hobnobpress.co.uk/books/p/murd...

Murder in the Archives: the Stories that Crime Files Tell, by Angie Sutton-Vane — Hobnob Press

Following the life-stories of the most elite and rare of police records the author has turned the tables on those murder files which have found their way into the public domain and currently sit in re...

hobnobpress.co.uk

It was such a delight to feature last week on radio talking about John Aubrey & this fabulous exhibition. I have now listened to myself and surprisingly I was not terrible.

Chippenham Museum@chippenhammuseum.bsky.social · 2mo ago

John Aubrey has been in the spotlight on BBC Radio Wiltshire! 📻 As we mark 400 years since his birth, John Aubrey’s remarkable life and quest for knowledge were explored throughout last week on Ben Prater’s Breakfast Show, with historian Louise Ryland-Epton. 📸 Ice House Design

The wonderful (even if I say so myself) @chippenhammuseum.bsky.social exhibition on John Aubrey is in the @thetls.bsky.social this week!!!! The exhibition runs to 19/09.

John Aubrey’s 400th anniversary is year & next month his Natural History will be published in full for the 1st time. It is not the quaint collection of random anecdotes suggested by a heavily edited 1847 version, but a piece of cutting edge c17 science. www.hobnobpress.co.uk/books/p/john...

John Aubrey’s Natural History, edited by Louise Ryland-Epton — Hobnob Press

This is the first complete publication of Memoires of Naturall Remarques in the County of Wilts , derived from the fair copy prepared for the Royal Society in 1691, which is currently on display in ...

hobnobpress.co.uk

John Aubrey’s 400th anniversary is year & next month his Natural History will be published in full for the 1st time. It is not the quaint collection of random anecdotes suggested by a heavily edited 1847 version, but a piece of cutting edge c17 science. www.hobnobpress.co.uk/books/p/john...

John Aubrey’s Natural History, edited by Louise Ryland-Epton — Hobnob Press

This is the first complete publication of Memoires of Naturall Remarques in the County of Wilts , derived from the fair copy prepared for the Royal Society in 1691, which is currently on display in ...

hobnobpress.co.uk

There are dragons & other mythical beasts in Wells cathedral atm. It reminds me of the enquiries made by John Aubrey in the c17…

Dr Louise Ryland-Epton@lrylandepton.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Are dragons real? In his Natural History John Aubrey tested one dragon story and watched another grow. An updated blog. 🐉 www.louiserylandepton.co.uk/blog/john-au...

Being a freelancer and taking a week off makes me feel guilty sometimes but it is easier when you have a view like this.

Are dragons real? In his Natural History John Aubrey tested one dragon story and watched another grow. An updated blog. 🐉 www.louiserylandepton.co.uk/blog/john-au...

John Aubrey’s Natural History, Part 3: Are Dragons Real? — Louise Ryland-Epton

Are dragons real? John Aubrey was curious about the supernatural yet sceptical of wyverns. In the Natural History, he tested one dragon story and watched another grow.

louiserylandepton.co.uk

Are dragons real? In his Natural History John Aubrey tested one dragon story and watched another grow. An updated blog. 🐉 www.louiserylandepton.co.uk/blog/john-au...

John Aubrey’s Natural History, Part 3: Are Dragons Real? — Louise Ryland-Epton

Are dragons real? John Aubrey was curious about the supernatural yet sceptical of wyverns. In the Natural History, he tested one dragon story and watched another grow.

louiserylandepton.co.uk

Looking for something to do over the summer? My co-curated exhibition on #JohnAubrey runs until 19 September @chippenhammuseum.bsky.social, Wilts. www.chippenham.gov.uk/exhibition-w...

One day, one day... all reasonably substantial offers of financial support considered.

I absolutely love the church of Minster, Boscastle in north Cornwall. A beautiful walk through woodland from Boscastle. Hidden, wild & an SSSI. I would love to do @vch-home.bsky.social research here, but the county project is sadly presently suspended. 😖

Blackberries out already! 🫢

The latest preview of work towards the first of what we call a 'Topographical' #BigRedBook for the county of Herefordshire. #Skystorians #LocalHistory #Ledbury

Dr Louise Ryland-Epton@lrylandepton.bsky.social · 4mo ago

In the early 18th century, a strange chain of events made a farmer's wife from Dymock in Glos the lord of the manor of Ledbury, Heref. From my current research for @vch-home.bsky.social Heref not yet completed but decided to write up anyway. www.louiserylandepton.co.uk/blog/anne-dr...

Long before England had World Cup fever, Wiltshire had stobball fever. Admittedly it was extremely localised & everything we know comes from John Aubrey… www.louiserylandepton.co.uk/blog/john-au...

John Aubrey’s Natural History, Part 12: Stobball — Louise Ryland-Epton

On the high limestone plateau above the village of Colerne in north Wiltshire, something remarkable used to happen.

louiserylandepton.co.uk