Calum Cockburn

Ignorance comes at a cost. Everpure's 'stuck in the Dark Ages' stereotyping (on left) shows how little they know about the early provision of data (on the right). Why does ushering in technologies mean mocking those upon whose knowledge we build? Clearly, these companies need trained humanists!

Coming soon to @britishlibrary.bsky.social - Conquest: The Making of Norman England 1 Oct 2027 - 27 Feb 2028 events.bl.uk/exhibitions/...

We have released a few more tickets for our upcoming conference on the Cotton Genesis, taking place this Friday 19 June. We'll be celebrating new research on the manuscript which has been supported by multispectral imaging of the entire volume and its fragments. events.bl.uk/events/multi...

The Cotton Genesis (Cotton MS Otho B VI, 5th century) was left barely legible after the Ashburnham House Fire in 1731. Multispectral imaging on the MS has now uncovered texts and images unseen for hundreds of years. Join us at our upcoming conference to learn more. events.bl.uk/events/multi...

We’re delighted to welcome @blmedieval.bsky.social to Bluesky 👋 Follow for fascinating insights into medieval manuscripts, music, and history from the British Library’s collections.

The British Library’s Medieval MSS team now have a presence on Bluesky @blmedieval.bsky.social Follow for updates as we restore more of our digitised content online!

An interim version of the Explore Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue is now available through the BL website: searcharchives.bl.uk It contains all the catalogue data from the eve of the 2023 cyberattack, and features embedded links to all currently available digitised content within the records.

British Library Chief Executive steps down after less than a year: www.bl.uk/about/press/...

British Library Board statement: www.bl.uk/about/press/...

Publication day! My book on the Knights Hospitaller, 'Warrior Monks: Politics and Power in Medieval Britain' is now out. Available in all good and evil bookshops: www.amazon.co.uk/Warrior-Monk...

A strolling eagle looking at the stars. LFC Ch XXV 12. #medievalsky

Author copies! My book on the Knights Hospitaller and their part in medieval Britain's wars, politics, and intrigue will be out on 25 September. #medievalsky

In June 1513, Henry VIII launched an invasion of France, attempting to reclaim lost English lands. Today's blogpost by @rorymaclellan.bsky.social looks at three documents which shine a light on the preparations for this campaign and the supply of armour for Henry's troops. t.co/rYaeYw6Jbq

A post on my latest cataloguing project: the Campbell Charters, which include a collection of grants from Scotland's kings and a roll for calculating dice probabilities. #medievalsky blogs.bl.uk/digitisedman...

For our latest exhibition 'Unfolding Time: The Medieval Pocket Calendar', we borrowed two concertina-fold almanacs from @britishlibrary.bsky.social. To learn more about these remarkable objects, check out this blog by @ccockburn.bsky.social. blogs.bl.uk/digitisedman... pic.x.com/jAoEC1Ct87

My latest post for @BLMedieval looks through the folds of a fascinating collection of concertina-fold almanacs, currently on loan to @lampallib.bsky.social's latest exhibition, Unfolding Time: The Medieval Pocket Almanac. blogs.bl.uk/digitisedman...

More thoughts on Eleanor Rykener in the BL's #MedievalWomen exhibition. Her inclusion is majorly important, not just because of *her* importance as a beacon of trans visibility in the historical record, but also the current anti-trans environment in the UK & elsewhere

It's the final week of our #MedievalWomen exhibition and we've been working on restoring our Medieval and Renaissance Women digitisation project online. The first manuscripts are now available! blogs.bl.uk/digitisedman...

So pleased to reveal a project I've been working on the last few months: an animation inspired by our Medieval Women exhibition, telling the story of five of its key figures. The full animation can be seen in today's post on the Medieval MSS blog! blogs.bl.uk/digitisedman...

The ivory cross of Sibylla, Countess of Flanders, currently on display in our Medieval Women exhibition. She was left as regent while her husband was on Crusade; decided to join him on his next trip and then left him to join a convent outside Jerusalem. blogs.bl.uk/digitisedman...

On this day in 1290, Eleanor of Castile, Queen of England died. Her body was taken from Lincoln to Westminster to be buried and 12 stone crosses were later commissioned to mark the route and later became known as the Eleanor Crosses. blogs.bl.uk/digitisedman...

An order for the enclosure of an anchoress in her anchorhold, from a 15th-century Pontifical (Lansdowne MS 451, f. 76v) blogs.bl.uk/digitisedman...

There are many good reasons to visit our #MedievalWomen exhibition, and the BL shop’s themed Christmas jumper is definitely one of them 🎅🎅 blogs.bl.uk/digitisedmanus…

Having fun exploring magical manuscripts today, with some fantastic charms, including ‘how to make a loaf of bread dance in an oven or on a table’ (involves putting quicksilver/mercury in the dough) and ‘how to make stars seem like they’re lying on the ground’.

In case you haven't heard – Medieval Women: In Their Own Words is open! *cue medieval fanfare* Step into the Middle Ages and explore the lives of women both well-known and long-forgotten, and their stories of creativity, courage, and resilience: bit.ly/BLMedievalWo... P.S. Members go free!

A copy of Cicero’s treatise on Old Age, written by Ippolita Maria Sforza in 1458, when she was only 14 years old (Add MS 21984) blogs.bl.uk/digitisedman...

Found this edition of Vita Sackville-West’s biography of Joan of Arc, with these gorgeous woodcuts and a reproduction of her signature on the cover. #MedievalWomen

Starting again on here! A few behind the scenes shots from our Medieval Women exhibition.