Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds

@leedsims

The Institute for Medieval Studies at Leeds is a major centre for interdisciplinary medieval studies. Home of the International Medieval Congress and the International Medieval Bibliography.

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Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· 9d

Still time to apply to do an MA in Medieval Studies at Leeds. Go to courses.leeds.ac.uk/7820/medieva... for details of full- or part-time study. #medievalsky #doamasters #medievalstudies

Poster with five photographs of students: two of them are of students and staff looking at manuscripts and early printed books, one is a group photo of a trip to Whitby Abbey (2024), one photograph is of our current MA students answering questions after their IMC 2026 papers, one photo is of former IMS student Iason-Eleftherios Tzouriadis explaining armour and edged weapons at the Royal Armouries where he now works. Text says Reasons to do an MA in Medieval Studies at Leeds. 1. Come to the Leeds International Medieval Congress for free – and even give a paper! 2. Get to use our amazing manuscripts and archival documents 3. Go on trips! 4. Get taught by inspirational specialists in their field 5. Learn from our partners such as the Royal Armouries

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· 27d

Congratulations to our two new PhD graduands in Medieval Studies Dr Jodie Merritt and Dr Ian Shiels after their ceremony this week #leedsmedieval #medievalsky

A man and a woman in green graduation gowns with orange piping. They are wearing soft black hats with gold tassels. The photo is outside with trees and a concrete wall behind.

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· Jul 21

Our PGR and ECR research seminar the Long Middle Ages calls for online papers for 2026-27. Friendly supportive conveners @nrhopwood.bsky.social and @saalehaiqbal.bsky.social look forward to reading your abstracts by 17 August #medievalsky #lateantiquesky #earlymodernsky

Two women holding up their call for papers. Photo by Kivilcim Yavuz taken at our reception at the IMC two weeks ago

Call for papers. Send an abstract of no more than 250 words and a short bio to thelongmiddleages@gmail.com for a paper to last 30 minutes on any late antique, medieval or early modern topic. Papers will be online only. For PGRs and ECRs.

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· Jul 9

The end of a wonderful #IMC2026. Thank you to everyone who participated and congratulations to the fabulous IMC team who made it all possible #leedsmedieval #medievalsky @imc-leeds.bsky.social

Men in plate armour and mail on a very hot day. IMC red banners. People watching

Axel Müller and two men in medieval costume and plate armour leaning on a red IMC banner. Trees and a horse in background. Horse is in the shade. Red brick university buildings behind them

Four women at the conference reception desk all wearing their staff lanyards: clockwise top left to bottom right: Ellen Gallimore, Sharna Connolly, Alice Dargue, Rose Sawyer

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· Jul 5

Arriving at the IMC in Leeds? Not sure where to meet old and new friends? Come to the Institute for Medieval Studies reception tomorrow Monday at 1 pm in University House. Meet alumni, students, staff and get to know people #leedsmedieval #IMC2026

IMC banners hanging in Parkinson Court. Red background, white lettering, manuscript image of St Martin dividing his cloak

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· Jun 30

The folders are bring packed, the banners are up, the books are unloading as I write. It is nearly IMC time and there's a buzz on campus already #IMC2026 #leedsmedieval

Boxes and boxes of pale pink card folders. The IMC programme in pink propped up in first box

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· Jun 26

I was privileged on Wednesday evening to be at the launch of the Genghis Khan exhibition at the Royal Armouries museum. If you are in Leeds for #IMC2026 don't miss it. Things of great beauty never seen out of Mongolia before. Lots on women and culture. #medievalsky #genghiskhan #Mongolia

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· Jun 22

On Saturday we had a wonderful IMS trip to Rievaulx Abbey and Helmsley. MA and PhD students, staff members, and friends. Beautiful weather. #medieval #leedsmedieval

Group of 18 people posing for the camera in front of green trees. Taken just outside Helmsley Cadtle on 20 June

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· May 11

ahc.leeds.ac.uk/dir-record/s... #medievalsky #doamasters #scholarships

Do an MA in Medieval Studies. Cross a bridge into a new way of thinking. Come and study in Leeds!
Two scholarships available for low-income (home) applicants (deadline 8 June).

Four photographs of medieval bridges.

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· May 11

Leeds Institute for Medieval studies delighted to offer two £7000 scholarships for home applicants on low-income. Part- or full-time. Go to ahc.leeds.ac.uk/dir-record/s... and courses.leeds.ac.uk/7820/medieva.... #medievalsky #scholarships #doamasters

Photographs of four medieval bridges made of stone, three with multiple arches and one a flat clapper bridge constructed from large slabs. Largest photo is Pont St Laurent in Mâcon, France. Three smaller ones on right from top are Tarr Steps, Somerset; Ponte Velha in Mirandela, Portugal; Otley Bridge in West Yorkshire. Highlighted text says: Do an MA in Medieval Studies. Smaller text below says: Cross a bridge into a new way of thinking. Come and study in Leeds! Two scholarships available for low-income (home) applicants (deadline 8 June).

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· Apr 27

Join us for our talk on medieval disability next week. 5 May 2pm. To attend online: forms.cloud.microsoft/e/zMBAKAxSpP. All welcome. Free. #medievalsky #histmed #disabilitystudies #disability

Poster that says Leeds Institute for Medieval Studies and Health Histories seminar. Mark C. Chambers (Durham): Between Record and Representation: Disability and Performance in Later Medieval Britain Tuesday 5 May 2-3.30 pm (in person in Baines 1.16 and hybrid). Register at https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/zMBAKAxSpP. Image is from a manuscript of a Benedictine monk in a black habit touching the eye of a kneeling man. Image credit: courtesy of the British Library, Yates Thompson 26, folio 84v

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· Apr 23

Joint seminar 5 May 2 pm with Health Histories Research Group. Mark Chambers on disability and performance in late medieval Britain. Parkinson 2.25 and hybrid. To register for online attendance: forms.cloud.microsoft/e/zMBAKAxSpP #medievalsky #disabilitystudies #healthhistories #medievaldisability

A Benedictine monk in a black habit treats the eye of a kneeling man. Medieval manuscript in bright colours. Courtesy of the British Library: MS Yates Thompson 26, fol. 84v

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· Mar 18

Leeds IMS and @leedsclassics.bsky.social welcome Shaun Tougher for a public lecture: Sex and the City: the Eunuchs of Constantinople. Thursday 26 March at 5.30 pm. Hybrid. All welcome. To attend online register at forms.office.com/e/CcFcJyAnTZ #medievalsky #constantinople #byzantium #eastrome

modern mosaic from Westminster Cathedral London showing the city of Constantinople. Hagia Sofia in middle and harbour in foreground. Lot sof blue and gold @Shaun Tougher

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· Feb 27

Was really pleased to listen to these two great papers (L-R Saaleha Iqbal, Louise Simongiovanni and co-organizer Natalie Hopwood)

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· Feb 23

If you are interested in queenship, gender studies, or the history of death and grief, please join us on 4 March for an online only talk at 4 pm GMT. Please register at forms.office.com/e/pF2WeLQX3d #medievalsky #earlymodern #historyofemotions #historyofdeath #queenship #kingship

Poster for a talk that includes the following text: University of Leeds Institute for Medieval Studies and the Centre for the History of Ibero-America (CHIA) present: Núria Silleras-Fernández (University of Colorado, Boulder): ‘When the Political is Personal: Gendering Mourning in the Royal Courts of Castile and Portugal’
Wednesday 4 March, 4 pm GMT (online only via zoom). Please register at https://forms.office.com/e/pF2WeLQX3d

The image background is of an elaborate monastic cloister - specifically the one at Batalha in Portugal dating to the 15th century (author Raph)

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· Feb 12

Highlights from @etreharne.bsky.social's visit to Leeds this week: a wonderful talk about mortuary rolls and a palaeography workshop for students and alumni, focusing on some of the Ripon Cathedral fragments cared for by @lulgalleries.bsky.social #medieval #manuscripts #fragmentology #palaeography

Woman in darkened room speaks at lectern. Brightly lit screen image of a Paris manuscript behind

Group of people look at single folio on a table. Manuscript fragment on screen behind

Four people seated at a round dinner table (L-R Melanie Brunner, Kıvılcım Yavuz, Elaine Treharne and Axel Műller)

Elaine and Kıvılcım look at a range of manuscript fragments on a table

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· Feb 5

All welcome to our next research seminar. Elaine Treharne (Stanford) on handwriting, women scribes, digital tools and manuscripts. 10 February 5.30 pm GMT, Laidlaw Library (hybrid). To register: forms.office.com/e/iP5qRb5GSk #medieval #manuscripts #palaeography #digitalhumanities

Leeds Institute for Medieval Studies Research Seminar poster that says

Elaine Treharne (Stanford): Small Details, Big Data: Male and Female Scribal Communities in a Thirteenth-century Mortuary Roll

Key words: Professional scribes in the Middle Ages. Women scribes and women’s literacy. Handwriting. Layout, punctuation, abbreviation, style, and decoration. Digital tools for ‘everyday writing’. Communities of literacy.

Tuesday 10 February, 5.30 pm, Laidlaw Library, University of Leeds, Level 1 Seminar Room (hybrid)
To attend both online and in-person please register at https://forms.office.com/e/iP5qRb5GSk

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· Feb 4

Today I had a wonderful time being interviewed by Ruth Alexander, presenter of BBC World Service radio programme The Food Chain. We talked about recipes using @lulgalleries.bsky.social's amazing collection of cookery books and household manuscripts. #foodhistory #recipes #cookery

Two women standing at the other side of a table on which there are books and manuscripts laid on pale grey library book cushions

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· Feb 2

Delighted to announce this semester's public seminars and lectures. To come to the first one by Elaine Treharne register forms.office.com/e/iP5qRb5GSk (hybrid) All welcome

Leeds Institute for Medieval Studies Research Seminars, Semester 2
Tuesday 10 February, 5.30 pm, Laidlaw Library (hybrid seminar)
Elaine Treharne (Stanford): Small Details, Big Data: Male and Female Scribal Communities in a Thirteenth-Century Mortuary Roll
Wednesday 4 March, 4 pm (online only)
Nuria Silleras-Fernandez (University of Colorado, Boulder) (jointly run with the Leeds Centre for the History of Ibero-America): When the Political is Personal: Gendering Mourning in the Royal Courts of Castile and Portugal
Thursday 26 March, 5.30 pm Parkinson 1.08 (hybrid lecture): Shaun Tougher (Cardiff University), annual IMS/Classics lecture: Sex and the City: The Eunuchs of Constantinople
Tuesday 5 May, 2 pm: Mark Chambers (Durham University) (joint seminar with the Health Histories research group): title and location tbc (hybrid)

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· Dec 3

If you are into sagas and poetry our next seminar is for you. Sign up to attend online: forms.office.com/e/ngg1zukWH3 More details at ahc.leeds.ac.uk/medieval/eve... #medievalsky #poetry #sagas #orkney #shetland #icelandic #northernisles #vikings @judithjesch.bsky.social @ragnasislands.bsky.social

Poster for a talk called Twisted Ribbons of Song: The Saga of the Earls of Orkney and poetry from or inspired by northern Scotland. Date: Tuesday 9 December, 5.30 pm, Baines Wing G36 (and online) Speakers Judith Jesch and Charlotte Eichler. Text: The medieval Icelandic Saga of the Earls of Orkney contains 82 stanzas composed from the tenth to the twelfth century by residents of and visitors to Orkney and Shetland. At this event, Judith Jesch, Professor of Viking Studies at Nottingham, will introduce the saga and its poetry and read selected examples in both Old Norse and her English versions. Award-winning Leeds-based poet Charlotte Eichler will read some of her published and unpublished poems inspired by the Saga and by visits to Orkney and Shetland as part of Judith’s Ragna’s Islands project. Photos of book cover of Judith's translation of the saga (which includes four Lewis chessmen) and picture of Charlotte on Fair Isle writing amidst stones and grass

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· Nov 25

This Thursday. In person or hybrid. To sign up for online attendance click forms.office.com/e/L834SBHzKX. #medievalsky #medievalwarfare #museums #materialculture

Poster for a talk. Title: Thursday 27 November 2025 5.30 pm: Going Deeper with the Royal Armouries, Parkinson 1.08 (in-person and online). Text says: Museum staff will showcase some of the museum’s medieval ties: from early Islamic arms and armour, through Victorian medievalism in fakes and architecture and the oldest surviving European fight book I.33, to swords as talismans and sources of information. Speakers: Natasha Bennett, curator of the Asian & African collections; Stuart Ivinson, the librarian and specialist in historical martial arts both as a practitioner and as a teacher and researcher; Iason-Eleftherios Tzouriadis, curator of European Edged Weapons (and former Leeds student); Mark Bennett, the Royal Armouries' research manager who works on fortifications. Image is a detail of piece of metal armour showing an edge, two rivets, marks of usage, and a tiny symbol that looks like a rose

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· Nov 9

Interested in learning more about the oldest museum in the UK and its research? Sign up to attend our next seminar online or come along on 27 November at 5.30 pm GMT: forms.office.com/e/L834SBHzKX. More info at link in bio (scroll down to events) #medievalsky #royalarmouries

A detail of a piece of metal armour (a cuisse) in the Gothic style, about 1490, showing a beveled edge, two rivets, and the general silvery patina of something very old. From Austria (III.2562) © Royal Armouries.

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· Oct 31

Happy Halloween from Leeds IMS - and from the friendly bats on this cloister window from Lisbon cathdral #medievalsky #gothicarchitecture #sedelisboa #bat #Halloween

Close up of a stone bat sculpture. Both wings outstretched and a big grin on its face. Dark in colour

Stone walls and tiled Portuguese houses photographed from below. In centre there is a large gothic arched window with two lights. The bat sculptures are on the capital on the column dividing the two lights. There's no glass as it opens onto the cathdral cloister. Probably dates from the renovations of the early 20th century, although the cloister is originally 14th century. Bright blue sky above and to right

Close up of same window with a bat in the centre capital.

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· Oct 28

Today! 5.30. Sign up forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...

Proto-reconstruction of public audience space in Caliph Harun al-Rashid's palace at Raqqa (797-808 CE) using Blender: © Patricia Valle Abd and Rhiannon Garth Jones. The photograph shows a person walking across a highly polished floor in which the ceiling lights are reflected. The walls have patterned panels. The room is quite dark.

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· Sep 30

We are delighted to announce our research seminars for this semester in Leeds. All will be hybrid. Keep an eye out for links to register for zoom nearer the time or come in person. All welcome! #medievalsky #medievalresearch

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· Sep 10

The Gros Horloge in Rouen in 1927 from an antique photo album bought in Yorkshire last week. Unknown traveller with keen interest in medieval churches, some later destroyed in WW2. Anyone out there with interests in early 20th century tourism? #medievalsky #medievalarchitecture

Black and white old photograph of a clock in an arch way, timbered houses, a cobbled street, and pedestrians in 1920a clothing.

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· Aug 6

Come and do an MA or PhD in Medieval Studies at the University of Leeds. To see what we are like: www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1Do... ahc.leeds.ac.uk/medieval #medievalsky #medievalstudies

Members of the Leeds Institute for Medieval Studies visiting Whitby Abbey in June 2025. Group of people looking at a gothic ruin. Beautiful view of hills and blue sky behind. Green grass in foreground.

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· Jul 23

Congratulations to all three of our PhD graduands yesterday: @deaconjh.bsky.social, Samuel Bradley and @florencehrscott.bsky.social standing with Karen Watts, Alan Murray, Charley Roe, Jonathan Jarrett and Melanie Brunner #leedsmedieval #medievalsky

Group of eight people three of whom are dressed in formal green and gold academic gowns and black hats with gold tassles

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· Jul 16

Members of the Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society running a stall @imc-leeds.bsky.social. Close partners of Leeds IMS but also has prehistoric, industrial and family history sections. Rich manuscript holdings in @lulgalleries.bsky.social. To join the society: www.yas.org.uk

Four people behind a stall full of books

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds@leedsims· Jul 10

Sarah Charles' stall at the @imc-leeds.bsky.social medieval fair was an added bonus today. It was wonderful to see all the materials for making manuscripts. I had never seen oak galls before #IMC2025 #manuscripts