The Egyptian House in Penzance, Cornwall, was built between 1834 and 1837 to house the mineral collection of dealer John Lavin. The choice of the Egyptian style for a mineral shop may seem odd, but the building was inspired by the now-lost Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly, London.

#OnThisDay 1199 King John was crowned at Westminster. It was Ascension, a moveable feast. This means - uniquely - that all John's regnal years, by which his documents are dated, are different lengths. And so, even 800 years later, he continues to irritate.

Wow! St Mary's, Staindrop did not disappoint! The monuments are super tricky to photograph though!

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Shard, and a Chap relieving himself, all in one shot. Can anyone raise me? 😁🤓

According to the vicar at St Botolph’s, Slapton, the village’s population has remained more or less fixed at 90 since the early medieval period - meaning the church has never needed to be rearranged, helping to preserve one of the most diverse sets of wall paintings we’ve seen

#onthisday (possibly) 28th May 1354 was born Owain Glyn Dwr at Sycharth. He led a 15-year-long revolt to end English rule in Wales. A man of charisma, an educated lawyer, he was the last native-born Welshman to claim the title Prince of Wales. The Great Seal of Owain Glyn Dwr

🇫🇷🇬🇧À l’occasion du 30e anniversaire de l’ouverture du tunnel sous la Manche, partons à la découverte de ses premiers projets, concurrencés par d’autres voies de communication, jusqu’à la fin du XIXe siècle. ==> gallica.bnf.fr/blog/22052024/…

The Kempley paintings were indeed extraordinary. I really liked the chequer patterns, seen under the chancel arch, and in the window splays. #WindowsOnWednesday Beverley Stanford

Views of Borrowdale on the descent from King's How andrewswalks.co.uk/kings-how-5.ht…

I am so delighted to share this news today, and am very excited to be joining such a brilliant team in this very special place. Wells Cathedral wellscathedral.org.uk/archives/72151…

The Conservative Party has announced a plan to shut down university courses based partly on "future earnings potential”. 1 in 8 students could see their course closed, with funding diverted to apprenticeships. We’re concerned about the implications for arts education. (1/6)

View of the wall walk and inside of the curtain walls of Richmond Castle, Yorkshire 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #wallsonwednesday #castle

After a visit to my publisher yesterday I had a walk round Market Harborough, Leicestershire where, in 1614, local man Robert Smyth, built this timber-framed schoolhouse. With space for market stalls below, it was used as a school until 1892.

30 May 1381. The English Peasants’ Revolt began. It grew out of a gradual build up of socio-economic tensions, but the final trigger was the attempt to collect unpaid poll taxes in Brentwood. The revolt then spread across the south-east region.

Bestial hinge at Compton, Berkshire

Reading again the wonderful moment when #Chaucer's Wife of Bath wonders why elves & fairies have disappeared from England. Because of all the prayers & blessings cast about by holy men, she supposes. She imagines them accumulated in the air 'As thikke as motes in the sonne-beem'.

#OnThisDay 30th May 1445 Margaret of Anjou, wife of King Henry VI, was crowned Queen in Westminster Abbey. This image in stained glass at Mucklestone Church, by Charles Eamer Kempe, ca. 1890-1905. She is shown holding daisies (or marguerites) and her dress has a daisy pattern

UK Border Force chaos due to IT failure (again). The eGates have failed at the Eurostar terminal at Paris Gare du Nord. Delays of 3+ hours each way. The final 2 trains of the day have been cancelled. Eurostar: passengers should postpone travel if they can. independent.co.uk/travel/news-an…

A rare chance to see an unmodernised late 15thC shop building, containing two shops and rooms above, which are accessible only from the right hand shop, suggesting that this was occupied by the owner. Originally on Middle Street in Horsham, the building was dismantled in 1968 and