Join us online for a talk by Mark Womersley on the vernacular architecture of Ethiopia this Thurs 20 Mar at 7.30, looking at how post-medieval high-status vernacular houses evolved with traditional Ethiopian round church design. Free, open to all! Book via yvbsg.org.uk/events.html

The Old Wellington Inn and Sinclair’s Oyster Room in Manchester were once a house, built around the mid-16th century. This photograph was taken in 1971 when the building was underpinned and raised to fit the new street level. It was later moved as Shambles Square was developed.

Yesterday I went to Hesketh End Farmhouse, Chipping, Lancashire, dated 1591 & Listed Grade 1. Many long and short Latin inscriptions, referring English history from the Romans to the Saxons. Decorative interlacing window lintels and several big gaping gargoyles. VAG

More from Hesketh End, Forest of Bowland, Lancs. Another gargoyle. Window Lintel over small window with sacred monogram between two crosses. More Latin inscriptions on crosswing. VAG

Today is a VERY GOOD post day. Behold! The new Vernacular Architecture!! Intrigued to see that the date of the earliest dated full cruck frame has been pushed back to 1248. Well done to Nat Alcock & Robert Waterhouse for their study of Pilliven at Witheridge (Devon) 🪵🏚🧐

We are delighted to launch the new £5m #HeritageRevivalFund today, delivered in partnership with Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Historic England.  Grants are now available to help communities take ownership of, adapt and reuse neglected historic buildings. Find out more: ➡️ bit.ly/42eE3SS

Is this the oldest house in England? Saltford Manor House in Somerset is a Norman house dating from around 1150. In 2003, it won a ‘Country Life’ contest to find the ‘oldest continuously inhabited house in Britain’. Find out more: ➡️ bit.ly/OldestHouseEng…

Chetham's Library runs tours Monday-Saturday every week, and are packed with hundreds of years of history! Learn from our expert staff, and feel as though you have just walked into a Harry Potter book in the beautiful medieval atmosphere 📚 👉 Book here: tinyurl.com/4je4wvrn

Vernacular Buildings of Bradford - weekend recording conference on 9-11 May 2025, surveying buildings in the Low Moor, Wibsey and Shelf areas. Two bursaries of £150 available. We welcome beginners as well as those more experienced in recording buildings. yvbsg.org.uk/events.html.

These fantastical beasts from the reign of Elizabeth I have been revealed at The Ashes in Cumbria. 🤩 The Tudor hunting lodge's rare wall paintings have now received enhanced protection from us and Department for Culture, Media and Sport. 🙌 See more: ➡️ bit.ly/TudorWallPaint…

Plans are afoot to write my next book - The Buildings Archaeologist - over the summer. Just agreed with the landowner of this amazing 15th century cruck-framed house in Worcestershire that the building will be the focus of the final chapter. Due out in mid-2026 🙂

Thanks to Historic Houses Foundation we are able to do this incredible work 😊

Micklegate, York. No 83 a small brick house probably built in the 2nd quarter of the 18th century, alongside the church gateway. Nos 85-89 are late 15th-early 16th century, built to fund a chantry in Holy Trinity Church. Grim Art VAG #pencil #drawing

Have you seen this cottage on your travels? 💛 Built around 1750, Canary Cottage at Knarr Farm near Peterborough in Cambridgeshire is a rare surviving example of a mid-18th century fenland cottage.

Hi everyone. Happy to announce that the Proceedings of Hidden Charms 3 are now available via Academia.edu via this link: academia.edu/128791790/Hidd… Or you can order a hard copy from apotropaios.co.uk

Wed 16 Apr, Jenny Chesher on her parents’ seminal 1968 book The Cornishman’s House: An Introduction to Traditional Domestic Architecture in Cornwall. Jenny is Inspector of Historic Buildings & Areas at Historic England. 7.30pm, Parish Rooms, Somerton. bsky.app/profile/svbrg.…

We have £300 to give away! We offer bursaries of £150 each for our recording conference, Bradford area (Low Moor, Wibsey and Shelf) 9-11 May 2025. We welcome beginners wishing to learn how to record vernacular buildings and people with more experience. yvbsg.org.uk/events.html.

These little iron hooks in my room at the George Inn are known as "pintles". They are found in historic buildings fixed to the interior of window jambs to hold timber shutters. The latter provided privacy, security and (in unglazed properties) kept the weather out.

Drystone A Gathering of Terminology & Technique Nick Aitken Of interest to anyone studying old buildings or vernacular building techniques #drystonewall #drystonewalling Drystone Walling Perthshire #drystone #dswa #walling #stonewall #drystonewaller Derbyshire DSWA JCD Drystone Walling ewanallinson.com

To mark Easter, here is the Church of St Andrew in Ongar, Essex, thought to be the oldest standing wooden church in the world. ⛪ Tree-ring dating of the church's timbers suggests it was constructed around 1063.