The 17th century saw a lot of cultural concern around eclipses, and what they may mean and portend. Nicholas Culpeper’s Catastrophe Magnatum is one of the texts which delves into this theme, looking at year of 1652 where there was an eclipse named 'Black Monday'.

The solar eclipse of 11 August 1645 (recorded in the Julian calendar format) was referred to in famed English astrologer William Lilly's publication, The Starry Messenger.

Recognise any of these London views? The Capon Album is made up of 16 watercolours of views in Westminster by William Capon (~1757-1827). He added notes on the buildings to his art, including their history & (in many cases) impending demolition, & comments on the weather & time of day when painted

Called a double casket or cabinet, this 17th-century needlework casket is made of wood over which has been stretched a fairly course linen. The scenes and motifs have been worked in floss (untwisted) silks, the subject of which is the biblical story of Esther and King Ahasuerus.

The events section on our website is currently down, we're hoping to get it back up asap and you'll be able to check out our selection of autumn and winter events, beginning in September.

Have you heard of William Stukeley? William Stukeley (1687–1765) joined the Society of Antiquaries in 1717. The following year he was elected the Society’s first Secretary.

The Painted Chamber in the Palace at Westminster was regarded as one of the marvels of medieval Europe because of its magnificent decoration. Historians have debated whether this work was carried out between 1263 & 1272 under the patronage of Henry III, or later between 1292 & 1297 under Edward I.

This evocative view is of Breach Down, Derringstone, showing a large windmill looming over a group of barrows, one of which is being excavated. It was done by English architect and designer William Burges in 1842.

We have expert fire brigades to help us now, but how did London cope with fire in the past? Up to 1666, the quality of firefighting in London was poor. Despite fires being regular, there were no brigades & people didn’t give much thought to the dangers. This changed after the Great Fire of 1666.

We've now got our autumn events up on our website, featuring lectures covering a huge range of topics, open days and a conference on relics! Check out the lineup and see what takes your fancy! www.sal.org.uk/events/

These fragments of painted panelling (c.1515) were once part of a large frieze, depicting Saxon kings. An inscription on the panel of Athelstan makes it clear that the subject is the unification in AD 926/7 of the lesser kingdoms of Britain under Athelstan (reigning AD 925–40).

Did you know that the Rosetta Stone was once presented and held briefly at the Society? On 11 March 1802, it was displayed at the then premises of the Society at Somerset House during a meeting, ahead of its move to the British Museum.

The Barrow Diggers, by The Reverend James Douglas, is a humorous drawing of one of the earliest known depictions of barrow-digging. Barrow digging was a popular past time of local squires and parsons in the 18th and 19th centuries, where they excavated ancient burial mounds.

Scotland's First Warriors is now open at @ntlmuseumsscot.bsky.social until 16 May 2027! In their exhibition, you can explore the first signs of organised warfare, from the Neolithic to the Romans, through over 200 objects, including our Beith Shield, on loan for this exhibition!

John William Inchbold (1830–88) was an English painter born in Leeds, Yorkshire. Influenced by the Pre-Raphaelite style, this is Inchbold’s dramatic view of Stonehenge, which shows the landscape under a cloudy sky with the setting sun illuminating the stones.

How did the Georgians cool down? We get some clues in John Lewis's book 'The History and Antiquities of the Isle of Tenet in Kent' (1736).

Following the amber weather warning for extreme heat, will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday 24 June. This decision has been taken to ensure the safety of our staff and visitors. We will reopen as normal on Thursday 25 June.

It's the summer solstice and the longest day of the year! The prehistoric megalith Stonehenge was designed to align with the sun on the solstices. On the summer solstice, the sun rises behind the Heel Stone and its first rays shine into the centre of Stonehenge.

The Dept of Architecture & Urban Planning at Ghent University & Faculty of Architecture of @universitedeliege.bsky.social invite submissions for the conference on Architectural Salvage: Histories of Commerce and Guardianship, to be held in Ghent from 15–18 Sept 2027. architecturalsalvage.ugent.be/en

You may have seen on the news today about the sad death of the famous oak tree, Major Oak, in Sherwood Forest. According to local folklore, it was the shelter of Robin Hood and his Merry Men.

Classic Art London starts next week and as part of that you can join in events taking place at the Society! See below for details of the two events ⬇️

This beautiful painting of a druid circle near to Ettrick Bay, Bute, was done in 1870 by George Henry Nevinson. His sketchbooks contain landscapes, architecture & misc drawings, dating from 1844-71. This scene looks as though some fae beings might appear from behind one of the stones at any moment.

🚨Vacancy alert! 🚨 We're hiring for Director of Kelmscott Manor, a property which dates to around 1600 with its most famous occupants being William Morris and his family. Closing date for applications is Sunday 5 July 2026! www.sal.org.uk/about-us/vac...

Did you know William Blake was apprenticed to the Society’s engraver James Basire from 4 August 1772 for seven years? He was sent out to old buildings and monuments to make drawings; in particular Westminster Abbey.

It's International Archives Day! Our own archives include collections of historical manuscripts which date from the 10th century onwards. They contain Books of Hours, wardrobe and household accounts, chronicles, inventories, deeds, pedigrees, armorials, devotional books, treatise, and much more!

The Domesday Survey ordered by William the Conqueror did not include London or Winchester (Latin name, Winton). However, the royal properties in Winchester were recorded around 1110, and the whole city was surveyed for Bishop Henry of Blois in 1148.

It may be a dreary day outside, but it's always cosy in our Library. Did you know, our Library at Burlington House is the largest antiquarian library in the country, with an outstanding collection amassed over 300 years!

Our online display, 'A Magna Carta Miscellany', is now live! Our 2025 exhibition 'Magna Carta 1225' marked 800 years since King Henry III reissued what most historians consider to be the definitive version of the famous legal charter.

This painting of Pentre Ifan (the largest and best-preserved Neolithic dolmen in Wales) was done by Richard Tongue (1795–1873) in 1835. Pentre Ifan chambered tomb, in Pembrokeshire, dates from the Neolithic Period and is of the classic closed portal types.

It's a hot bank holiday in the UK, but is it as hot as it was standing around in the crater of Mount Vesuvius in 1775 before the great eruption of 1769?! This illustration comes from 'Campi Phlegræi: Observations on the Volcanos of the Two Sicilies', by Sir William Hamilton.