Mythical Britain
@mythicalbritain.bsky.social
Michael Smith. Author, printmaker, translator & illustrator of medieval romances. Whimsy, art. Published by Wilton Square Books. PhD research University of York. Follows the Blackburn Rovers. All photos mine unless on shared posts www.mythicalbritain.co.uk
Where all power is washed away and smoothed by time’s poured waters. The much weathered early 14th century effigy brought from Drogheda to replace that of Richard de Clare (aka Strongbow) at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin after a roof collapse in the 1560s shattered the original. #TombTuesday
THREAD/ORIGINAL ART GIVEAWAY This hare linoprint is by my mum, Jo. I'll be sending an original of this to one randomly chosen person who reposts this link to my recently updated website & pops a reply below. www.tom-cox.com The offer is open worldwide. I also have some more art to give away...
Who needs a city scene when you can find a psittacine stone in such a pretty scene on the edge of England?
Dean Wilson@deanwilson.bsky.social · 3d agoBeach Finds #Easington
Standing still in the turmoil of the world. This simple and much damaged font at St Mary’s, Pilleth was no doubt witness to the battle near here (the battle of Bryn Glas) in June 1402 between Owain Glyndwr and Sir Edmund Mortimer, whose force was destroyed in a dramatic Welsh victory. #FontsOnFriday
Quiet in one small English corner, fading with the years. This Romanesque doorway and accompanying window at St Michael’s, Stanton Harcourt speak of the early origins of this super church. The plain simplicity and random positioning of the openings make a pleasing composition. #AdoorableThursday
And more ancient wood to haunt the modern mind in search of inspiration!
Merchant Adventurers’ Hall@merchantshallyork.org · last wk.Is it getting too much? Is touching grass not enough? Go further... Touch the oak posts. Touch the pine floorboards. Touch the plastered walls. Don't touch the staff though, not without consent.
One of the most haunting places in Britain. To walk amongst these ancient yews is to hear the ages’ whispers as they dust the channels of your ears like moths in all their fluttering.
The English Oak Project@thekentacorn.bsky.social · last wk.Ancient yew tree forest - Kingley Vale, Sussex Difficult to age yew trees, but multiple trees are estimated at 1,000 years old
Ancient ways within the isle at Escomb, County Durham. Built from sandstone and dating to the seventh century, this Anglo-Saxon church is one of the most complete of such structures still standing in England. Built within a circular walled enclosure, the whole place has a feel of great antiquity.
Grey skies all grumbling. You could cut the atmosphere with a knife… One of the fabulous Stones of Stenness, Orkney, seemingly communing with the sprits of the sky! #StandingStoneSunday
There are times when art nouveau doesn’t seem quite nouveau! These wonderful forms on a tomb chest at Jerpoint Cistercian Abbey, Ireland wouldn’t look out of place on a Parisian Metro station!. #Medieval
Linocut prints in their final form can never really convey the work which lies behind them. The whole process from conception, to drawing, to cutting and then printing takes weeks. Here’s some of today’s work in the studio - almost the end of a journey but still more finessing to do.!#medieval
Shades of Egypt in rural Ireland; the simple yet fascinating 10th century doorway at St. Cronan's Church, Tuamgraney, County Clare. The oldest church in continuous use in Ireland, it is thought even Brian Boru passed through its doors. Astonishing atmosphere! #AdoorableThursday #Medieval #Ireland
Castles in the landscape
Durotriges Dig@durotrigesdig.bsky.social · 2w agoFor those who fear the climb to Dinas Brân #SirDdinbych / #Denbighshire here's some pics of the Iron Age hillfort and shattered walls of the 13th century castle #RampartyGoodness 🛩📷 © @drtobydriver.bsky.social Feb 2013 @rcahmwales.bsky.social AP_2013_0996 👞📷 us Aug 2023 #HillfortsWednesday
A knight to remember! A delightful sculpture of a knight high up on a wall in Pula, Croatia from a few years back. It’s always the way with buildings in towns, look up and you’ll be rewarded. #Medieval
Tremors, Stone Age style! They say there’s nothing new under the sun. But under the ground…
Simon Kay Bee@simonkellowbingham.bsky.social · 2w agoIn the shadows of the stones…
Alliterative poetry alive and well in the US!
Paul Deane@rhunedhel.bsky.social · 2w agoSo I had a good time at the NYC Poetry Festival (despite our reading and the first day being canceled due to bad weather.) Met a lot of interesting people, sold some books! (That's me on the far right with my wife, Lance Schaubert on the left) #NYCPoetryFestival #poetrysky #BlueSkyPoets
Start the week in super style with the stunning Sandbach crosses! These beautifully-crafted sandstone edifices are rich in old English aesthetic detail and leave the viewer in wonder as to how the world once looked in an emptier, more rural, Cheshire long, long ago. #Medieval #AngloSaxon
Hollow walls and ancient homes haunt the lonely landscape. Here, the impressive remains of Leamaneh castle, County Clare, combine a late 15th century tower house with a 17th century grand manor to create an impressive home which eventually fell into ruin in the late 18th century. #Ireland #TheBurren
Some more second hand folklore books added to our charity book store on the website today. These are all from the donated library of Neil Philip, sold to support The Folklore Library and Archive. Shop at the link below
The Folklore Library & Archive@folklorelibrary.bsky.social · 3w agoWe've added a few more books to our second hand folklore bookshop this afternoon, including a couple of rare and unusual items. Mostly folk tale works today www.thefolklorepodcast.com/store/c17/Se... All sales support our charitable work
What eyes once peeped upon the gaze of others looking through? Delightful old doorway at Clare Priory in the county of Suffolk with some rather lovely features suggesting an intimacy of behaviour now lost to time. #AdoorableThursday #Suffolk #Medieval
How journeys start. All my inspiration for matters medieval began as a boy when perusing the Britains catalogues of the late 1960s/early 1970s. The artwork, the copy and the vibrancy of this page lit a flame which was never to die out. Yes, I still have the knights too, just waiting to do battle!
It’s Wednesday so that means werewolves in the canon of alliterative works! Humphrey de Bohun’s inspired 1350 commission of an English version of the Old French Guillaume de Palerne is here offered in a full translation. With linocut illustrations! What’s not to like!?! #WerewolfWednesday #Medieval
BREAKING NEWS! Scientific analysis of fossil found on English beach proves Mr Punch was originally enjoyed by holiday-going British Dinosaurs. EXCLUSIVE
Dean Wilson@deanwilson.bsky.social · 3w agoBeach Finds #Withernsea
What is thought to be the effigy of Conor na Siudane Ua Briain, King of Thomond, at Corconroe Abbey, Ireland. The king, also known as Conor The Broad Eyed, died at the battle of Siudan in 1268; as a benefactor of the abbey, he is commemorated there in this effigy. #TombTuesday #Ireland #TheBurren
Talk to the stone! The local branch of the Stones of Stenness Appreciation Society captured communing with the ancestors on Orkney a couple of years back. #StandingStoneSunday #Sheep
The privatised postal service is truly wonderful. You pay for a tracked and signed for 24 hour delivery on Thursday morning and it’s due for delivery on… Sunday, by 7.30. Cue platitudinous, insincere and meaningless after-the-fact marketing responses. @royalmailhelplinel.bsky.social
