Category Archives: History

Things That Matter Most: Breakfast Cups

Posted on November 26, 2018 by Francis Pryor

A few years ago we made a Time Team film in an 1870s railway navvy camp high in the Yorkshire Dales, on the Settle-Carlisle railway. Navvies, like archaeologists, were known for their boozy lifestyle and we fully expected to find … Continue reading →

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Autumn Reflections

Posted on November 19, 2018 by Francis Pryor

I’ll start this post with a view of turning birch leaves taken in the glade garden a couple of days ago. At the time I was feeling more than a little stressed: the deadline to produce the final edited version … Continue reading →

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Pasteurising the Past

Posted on October 16, 2016 by Francis Pryor

I recently visited a very popular historical site near London. It was a place I had always intended to go to, but for some reason it had never actually happened. I’m sure you know how it is. Anyhow, we’d both … Continue reading →

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Some Good Books, 1: Shire Library

Posted on January 11, 2016 by Francis Pryor

I was originally intending to write a book review blog post before Christmas, but a publisher’s deadline (December 31st) intervened; so my plans had to change. And then I thought about it further. What was it that irritated me about … Continue reading →

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Our North Wales Break, Part 1: Buildings (and sheep)

Posted on July 25, 2015 by Francis Pryor

Maisie and I have decided that we’re not great ones for long holidays. We prefer to take three or four day breaks instead, and this year we decided to visit north Wales. Maisie was keen to see the well-known garden … Continue reading →

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The First Road Atlas and a Real Life Detective Story

Posted on December 19, 2013 by Francis Pryor

I have to confess I have never been a very club-able person. If I’m asked to join any organisation I tend to shy away. And why? I guess it’s because I’ve found that organised groups tend to ask more than … Continue reading →

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HOORAY!!! At Long Last we are Going to have Prehistory on the National Curriculum!!!

Posted on November 30, 2013 by Francis Pryor

Now admittedly it isn’t until next year and it’s for primary not secondary school children (and one might legitimately suppose the subject might be better understood by slightly older children), but – and it is a whopping BUT – the … Continue reading →

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My Favourite Pictures (2): The Ribblehead Viaduct, North Yorkshire (1876)

Posted on August 22, 2013 by Francis Pryor

On a clear sunny day the Ribblehead Viaduct can look as stunning as anything in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.  I’d visited the place three times, first when doing a recce and then twice (start and finish) when we were … Continue reading →

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Gin Lane Gazette: Roads to Then and Now

Posted on August 8, 2013 by Francis Pryor

Here’s a slightly paraphrased extract from Britain BC (pages 67-9): “The old road from Peterborough to Northampton is very familiar to me. It twists its way along the Nene valley, swerving randomly from one side to another. Nowadays a soulless … Continue reading →

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The Fascination of Concrete…

Posted on June 15, 2013 by Francis Pryor

The physical remains of our past are generally beautiful to look at. I don’t know whether it’s a result of time, antiquity or our imagination. Ancient churches are one thing, but even standing stones look wonderful, as they defy the … Continue reading →

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