Medieval market town revealed in County Kilkenny
A large mill complex was discovered in the south-east corner, on the banks of the River Nore.
Medieval
St Bartholomew the Great
Packed tightly between Smithfield meat market and the Barbican’s brutalist towers, St Bartholomew the Great (or Great St Bart’s, as it is often called) is London’s oldest surviving parish church, and also one of its most atmospheric. Founded by Henry…
St Bartholomew the Great: tracing the history of London’s oldest surviving parish church
Making people laugh in the 12th century proved to be lucrative work for Rahere (d. 1143), who is variously described as a jester, minstrel, and courtier to Henry I (c.1068-1135; r. 1100-1135). But that was in his early life: Rahere later became a devout cleric who, falling ill on a pilgrimage to Rome, vowed to establish a hospital in London if he survived. The result was St Bartholomew, founded in 1123 as a joint foundation of hospital and priory. A commemorative volume has just been published to mark the 900th anniversary of the church, as Chris Catling reports.
Canterbury Cathedral, Trinity Chapel: the archaeology of the mosaic pavement and setting of the shrine of St Thomas Becket
Review by Nathalie Cohen This monograph, the result of a project started by David Neal and Warwick Rodwell in 2015 to examine the historic floors in the eastern arm of Canterbury Cathedral, is a stunning achievement. Over nearly 400 pages,…
Medieval coin hoard found near Dumfries, and other archaeology stories from around the UK
A round-up of some of the latest news; includes the discovery of one of Scotland's largest medieval coin hoards.
Visitors invited to enjoy tales by lantern light at Tamworth Castle
Visitors can craft their own lanterns in a 30-minute workshop, before taking their creations on a tour of the castle whilst accompanied by a storyteller.
History of Sheffield Castle foundations revealed by archaeologists
Archaeologist and Digging for Britain presenter Dr Cat Jarman with Dr Daniel Young from Wessex Archaeology examining the Sheffield Castle core samples at the Wessex Archaeology labs. Image: Wessex Archaeology.
The man in the parcel: explaining a puzzling burial rite
The discovery of a burial in pride of place in Gårdby Church, Sweden, marked the beginning of an archaeological detective story. What could explain the unusual treatment of the man’s body? Caroline Arcini investigates.
New analysis shines light on medieval shipwrecks in Sweden
Both wrecks had been crafted outside of Sweden in the mid-14th century.
MHM 132 January Competition: win a copy of The Last Viking!
Put your military history knowledge to the test with Our competition and crossword
Possible section of original Thames River wall unearthed beneath Palace of Westminster
The remains, which lie along the original course of the Thames riverside, are likely to be at least 700 years old.
‘For battle it was none’: the murder of Evesham, 1265
It was a battle that changed the course of English history – at which the royalist forces of King Henry III won a famous victory over the rebellious barons led by Simon de Montfort. But the events of 4 August 1265 are ripe for reappraisal, says Stephen Roberts.
How the Black Death altered our genetic makeup
Although people with this variant would have been better able to survive a Y. pestis infection, it overlaps with alleles that are associated with an increased risk of developing an autoimmune disease,.
Finds tray – medieval disc brooch
This copper-alloy disc brooch, measuring approximately 27mm in diameter, was found last year by a metal-detectorist in the parish of Thirkleby High and Low with Osgodby, just north of York. It is decorated with a red enamel bird, which is…
Illuminating Islamic glass in Scotland
The three fragments of an Islamic glass vessel were found in the late 1990s at Caerlaverock Castle, near Dumfries.
Short-lived chapel illuminated in Westminster Abbey
While the chapel’s exact location remains unknown, it was probably situated on the south side of the 13th-century Lady Chapel, perhaps near St Mary’s garden.
Hitting the right note: medieval bone flute found in Kent
The instrument is remarkably well-preserved, and was found in association with medieval pottery dating to between the 12th and 15th centuries.
New discoveries at medieval village of Trójca
Recent excavations in southeastern Poland have uncovered a wealth of late medieval finds including arrowheads, pottery, and silver denarii
Major progress made in restoring Notre-Dame de Paris for reopening in 2024
Reconstruction of the collapsed stone vault in the north transept of the cathedral has now been completed.
Marks of devotion: exploring historic graffiti in St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall
The distinctive red sandstone edifice of St Magnus Cathedral is an unmistakeable landmark in Orkney’s largest town – as well as a fascinating repository of Kirkwall’s history. A recent graffiti survey there has recorded hundreds of markings and inscriptions dating from the medieval period to the present day. What can they tell us about the hopes, fears, and experiences of generations of visitors to the sacred site? Carly Hilts toured the cathedral with custodian Fran Flett Hollinrake to find out more.
Medieval bone flute found in Kent
The musical instrument was crafted from a sheep or goat tibia shaft.
The Watlington Hoard: coinage, kings, and the Viking Great Army in Oxfordshire, AD 875-880
Review by Murray Andrews This exciting new book is the definitive publication of the Watlington Hoard, a remarkable find of precious metal coins, ingots, and jewellery hidden in Oxfordshire in the late 870s AD and rediscovered in October 2015. Richly…
From the Princes in the Tower to Northumbria’s Golden Age
Beneath the foundations of the staircase, the workmen found a wooden chest containing human bones and pieces of velvet. Charles II arranged for the remains to be reinterred in Westminster Abbey, but the bones were re-examined in 1933.
Conservation work begins at Durham Castle’s Norman Chapel
The first phase of the project will include repairing the water damage to the Chapel's sandstone walls.
The fight for Sweden: the battle of Brunkeberg, 10 October 1471
As part of Sweden’s long struggle for independence, its army of peasant militia won a crucial battle against a Danish invasion force camped outside Stockholm. William E Welsh describes the action.
Equestrian armour at the Wallace Collection
This magnificent equestrian armour from the 16th century is unique in that it has survived completely preserved to this day. The armour was acquired by the Wallace Collection in 1867 from the collection of the French sculptor Count Émilien de…
Memorial to significant Anglo-Scots battle unveiled
Fought at Sutton Bank in North Yorkshire, near Harrogate, on 14 October 1322, Byland saw Scottish forces led by King Robert the Bruce inflict on the English a defeat as serious as that of Bannockburn eight years previously.
UK news in brief: discovering SS Mesaba, St Saviour’s Priory, and a Roman ford
A round-up of some of the latest archaeology news from around the UK.
Glass fragments highlight Islamic connections in late medieval Scotland
Discovered at Caerlaverock Castle, the glass fragments are believed to have been part of a vessel made in modern-day Syria, Iraq, or Egypt during the late medieval period.
Review – The Lost King
to highight Langley’s contribution, the film underplays or completely omits the work of the many female academics who played a key role in the project. Jo Appleby does appear in some scenes, but others like Turi King, Deirdre O’Sullivan, and Lin Foxhall are absent.
In search of lost islands in Cardigan Bay
New research seems to suggest that two ‘lost’ islands depicted on a medieval map of the Welsh coastline did once exist.
Research reveals Tattershall Castle was an architectural trendsetter
A series of new investigations, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council in partnership with the University of Nottingham and the National Trust, has completely rewritten the castle’s history.
New analysis shines light on medieval anti-Semitism in Norwich
The remains of at least 17 individuals found in a medieval well in central Norwich most likely represent a group of Ashkenazi Jews who fell victim to anti-Semitic violence in the 12th or early 13th century, a new study suggests.…
Community excavation project digs up local history in Bishop Auckland
The project ends in December, but the team are still looking for more places to excavate. For more information, see www.thebishopbigdig.com.
The Lost King: imagining Richard III at the Wallace Collection
A finely crafted suit of armour can be as much a work of art as it is a carefully honed piece of military technology. Carly Hilts visited the Wallace Collection to explore a new temporary exhibition that showcases its internationally important holdings of arms and armour, tying into a new film about the search for Richard III’s grave.
Finds tray – medieval staff terminal
This is the terminal of a medieval staff, which was recently discovered by a metal-detectorist near St Mary in the Marsh, Kent. Many similar objects have been identified over the centuries across England – including several examples recorded by the Portable Antiquities Scheme.