Dr Will Wyeth

@willwyeth

Archaeologist & historian (mainly castles). Curator of History @ English Heritage. (Mostly) Recovered Long Covid. Views mine, he/him. Work stuff: header: Sanam Khatibi.

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Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· 1d

Wonder if the Western Civilization types have read much Heraclitus 🤔

Photograph of a page from Charles Kahn’s edition of fragments of pre-Socratic philosopher Heraclitus. The text reads “Asses prefer garbage to gold.”

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· 8d

Here it is! Please share with all your castle-studying pals, colleagues, students. We’re a friendly bunch! 🏰 🏰 🏰 @imc-leeds.bsky.social @castlestudies.bsky.social ℹ️ 👉 padlet.com/universityof...

Screengrab of a call for papers, for Leeds International Medieval Congress 2027 (5-8 July 2027).

Title: CASTLE COMMUNITIES: ONTOLOGIES, AFFORDANCES AND TEMPORALITIES IN HISTORY & HERITAGE

Text: What is a castle community, in history and in heritage? What new things can we say about them?

The medieval castle has traditionally been understood as the domain of the elite - yet below the surface lie communities: cross-cutting relations of people, animals, things and ideas; multiple and at times contradictory ontologies; performances, traditions, tendencies, affordances, always in processes of becoming. A castle community today can also be defined in heritage terms- a place characterized and understood through the lens of a castle in care or afforded minimal legal protection; a monument locally prized or ignored. How do communities today reckon with castles within existing ontologies, entrapments and temporalities?

This panel welcomes proposals which examine the castle community in a medieval sense, and modern communities in some way defined by castles, drawing upon (among others) medieval studies, architecture, archaeology, history, heritage and medievalism.

Details: Papers of between 15-20 minutes, by researchers at all career stages and scholarly backgrounds, discussing any aspects of castle studies research including but not limited to the following, are welcome:
• Theories of castles communities: contentions, trajectories, legacies;
• Doubting, troubling and critiquing castle communities;
• Representing and reflecting castle communities
• Individuals in the castle community: patterns, recoveries, commitments;
• Connected and dissociated castle communities in history and heritage;
• The castle community of the future.

Call to action: Please send proposals (a title and abstract of no more than 200 words; short biography of 50 words or less), or any questions, to William Wyeth, William.wyeth [at] English-heritage [dot] org.uk by Monday 7 September 2026.

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· 9d

Bit of a Romano-late medieval medley for #ADoorAbleThursday: the stone jambs of a 16th-century bastle built within the ancient remains of the Roman fort at Housesteads. What a place!

Photograph of the interior of the extant stone jambs of a doorway for the bastle at Housesteads. The stone threshold is very worn.

Photograph of the interior space of the bastle door’s landing, show it within the context of larger and more substantial Roman remains.

Photograph of the interior of the bastle. It comprises the ruined remains of a ground-floor one- or two-cell space, the walls rising to perhaps 2m at the best surviving portion. The floor is partly laid with large flagstones which may be relaid Roman stones. There is a small rectangular recess in the long wall on the right: this is probably an aumbry (closet) for the bastle.

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· 15d

I saw this derivative a few days ago

Screengrab of the sickos Memme but it’s a Scottish footy fan, a speech bubble with the words “Aye…ha ha ha…*Aye*!”

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· 16d

Three-in-one for #ADoorAbleThursday: the gate leaves (and wicket) of the outer set of gates in De Ireby’s, or the outer, Gatehouse at Carlisle Castle. The building is late C14, the gates poss C15.

Photograph of a tall medieval timber gate leaf with an inset wicket.

Photograph of the reciprocal gate leaf, without wicket. To the left of the gate check is a vertical portcullis slot.

Photograph of the outside elevation of the outer gatehouse at Carlisle Castle.

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· 18d

Have you tried 👉

Photograph of a ruined medieval abbey in Shropshire. On the left in the foreground is a hand pointing towards a feature on the low ruined wall in the middle distance.

Photograph of part of a ruined castle in Yorkshire. In the foreground is a finger pointing towards a feature on the low stone wall in the middle distance.

Photograph of a ruined wall in a castle in Northumberland. A hand in a blue glove in the foreground points towards a feature in the middle distance.

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· 19d

Further incidental find for the Killie 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 fans: photo of Kilmarnock FC from 1899.

Photograph of an archival photo of Kilmarnock FC in The National Archive.

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· 19d

Among the topics we discuss is the informal team, ‘Chester Castle football club’. Rather unusually, we’ve also been able to identify one of the footballers in this team photo, who went on to play for one of England’s best teams - then serve in WWI. Extraordinary story. Give it a listen!

Photograph of an item in The National Archive, COPY 1/543/73. It dates to 1910 and depicts Chester Castle Football Club.

Detail of the photo of the foot all club, showing 11 men in team kit and boots, surrounded by a larger group that includes two soldiers - Chester Castle was an army depot at this date, though not all the players were soldiers.

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· 20d

I’d have paused at “If”, tbh, Prof Garnett.

Screen grab from the article, of some which reads:

"If you look at what are incontrovertibly penises

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· 23d

I fear I’ve become obsessed with Berwick Castle: much mentioned as the scene of strutting medievals, little understood as a place of architecture and community. Now, a place between places, not much admired on its own terms. Just need to find the time and space to do it justice!

Photograph of a late 13th/14th century tower at Berwick Castle. It survives fragmentarily as a single storey, though probably rose to three.

Photograph of the long White Wall that descends from the castle from at Berwick down to the Tweed. It comprises a weathers but impressive section of medieval stone wall.

Photograph of a weathered but diagnostic column capital set within a more recent section of walling near the station at Berwick. It may tentatively be dated to the later 12th or early 13th centuries. Its provenance is not known.

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· 23d

Happy #ADoorAbleThursday to those who celebrate. Here’s a wafer-thin outline of a door in the stunning if overly verdant tower at Cockburnspath Castle (it’s pronounced ‘Koh-burns-path’ 🐓) near the coast of Berwickshire in SE-most Ecosse 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿.

Photograph of a weathered stone wall of reddish blocks. In the centre of the image is a semi-circular outline of a door lintel in yellow-white stone, the doorway itself is also infilled with red stone.

Photograph of a tall ruined medieval tower house, at Cockburnspath.

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· 25d

Sprouston dig day 1 let’s goooo

Photograph of a broad grassy slope with some trenches open and a white tent. The excavations at Sprouston!

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· 27d

Pic of a group of medievalists wandering down from William’s Hill, the earthwork predecessor of Middleham Castle (middle distance), from a few weeks ago. Greatly enjoyed this tour for the IMC this year, as previous years.

Photograph of a very broad valley, looking downslope towards the ruins of Middleham Castle. A group do people are visible in the middle distance walking away from the viewer.

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· 28d

V happy this is now out in the world. TLDR: there’s a new big bit of Chester Castle which still survives! Inner Gatehouse was thought entirely demolished, but a pier for the drawbridge remains, deep in the foundations of a later building. www.chester.ac.uk/about/news/a... New gatehouse recon ⬇️

Reconstruction of the Inner Ward at Chester Castle by me and Martin Moss of Dextra Visual. The large gatehouse on the left was demolished in the 19th century, but a pier of its drawbridge has recently been identified.

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· Jul 15

Me, for 2027, coming soon. @imc-leeds.bsky.social

Meme image of Bernie Sanders, with superimposed text which reads “I am once again running a castles panel.” I will organise a set of papers at next year’s Leeds IMC.

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· Jul 5

IMO this framing prices is misleading. The BM is not a charity in usual sense; reports to DCMS, AFAIK, & so has more privileged political cover. Maybe I’ve got this wrong? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Art Newspaper reporting BM made *£25m* in day 1 sales: www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/07/02/b...

Screen grab of an article about the sales of tickets by the British Museum for the upcoming Bayeux Tapestry exhibition.

Text reads: “Dr Cullinan told Today the exhibition was "really expensive exhibition for us to put on as a charity, and so we do need to recoup those funds".”

Full article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g49q5qyjxo

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· Jun 25

On which topic, happy #ADoorAbleThursday to all who celebrate!

Photograph of the short wall of Acton Burnell Castle, depicting perhaps 12 doorways.

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· Jun 23

The new interp boards are in at Chester Castle! If you’re about & looking for a ❄️ cool ❄️ spot to peruse some fine wall paintings, check the website for openings to visit, for free. You can meet one of 20 or so people from its history, like Robert here. www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places...

Photograph of an interpretation panel fixed to an iron gate at Chester Castle’s inner ward. It depicts several boxes with text; a colourful image of the castle reconstructed in the early 14th century; a photo of a fragment of medieval wall painting in the castle’s Agricola Tower; and a small animation-style depiction of Robert of Rhuddlan and some words we have put into his mouth, about his life and the castle. There is also a QR code linking to the new, free Bloomberg Connects audio guide.

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· Jun 18

Two-for-one #ADoorAbleThursday: relatively modern doors replicating medieval fabric and ironwork at Battle Abbey and St Mary & St Alkelda, Middleham.

Photograph of a stone wall with lancet-headed doorway with hollow moulding. The door proper comprises narrow boards set diagonally. Stone steps front the doorway, flanked by grass lawn

Photograph of a door and doorway of a church. The door comprises narrow vertical boards and two sets of ornate scrollwork straps, and a ring-pull in a circular plate. A branch of ivy is covering part of the upper part of the door.

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· Jun 11

A bit tangential, but did a geology tour a few weeks ago at White Sands near Dunbar which is IMO more accessible than Siccar Point; theres also good fossils at nearby Skateraw, spotted last weekend. Lots of Crinoid stems too.

Photograph of a fossil on the beach of Skateraw in East Lothian. I don’t know fossils so I don’t know what kind it might be.

Photograph of a tour fossil, seemingly squashed before it was petrified.

Photograph of crinoid stems in a large boulder.

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· Jun 10

Met a rude beach a few days ago.

Photograph of a rocky beach shore. In the centre of the image is a large dried tree Stump with projecting branches, the ensemble resembling a human hand in the form of a fist with projecting middle finger. 🖕

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· Jun 4

As I was leaving the cathedral, I spotted this door, which a nice guide told me let to the triforium. It was struck but the great width of the boards, but then spotted some ?staining which might be wood grain, or perhaps an applied decorative scheme. I’m on the case to find out more!

Photograph of a timber door in a plain square doorframe with broad chamfer.

Detail of part of the door’s very varnished surface, showing dark parallel lines, some of which appear to be wood grain, but some of which might be decorative scheme?

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· Jun 4

Happy #ADoorAbleThursday to all who celebrate! Glasgow Cathedral has a set of doors which received wisdom says are medieval. I’m a little sceptical, but AFAIK there is no typology of medieval Scottish joinery/carpentry, so English analogies are all we have. Two-leaf door to upper chapter house.

Photograph of the external face of two-lead door to upper chapter house at Glasgow Cathedral. The door jambs and arch are comfortably 13th century. The doors proper comprise square-headed leaves of 4 (left) and 3 (right) vertical boards, with 4 square-plan sets of round nailheads, which appear clenched on the inner face. The top fill of the arch is filled with plainer-finisher vertical boards of similar width, meeting an external projective square-edged ledge.

Photograph of the inside face of the same doors. There are no internal board faces, but rather four ledges which show evidence of clenched bolts from the outside face. There is much evidence of repair. The straps are all likely secondary, and the opposing pintles are not on the same plane, suggesting on set (probably on the left) are later insertions - there is evidence on the top right pintle of an earlier pintle which has been cut back.

Detail of the bottom of the vertical boards join, showing the boards are joined with a modified tongue and groove, the modification being that the outer groove is offset, being manifested on the external face as a kind of roll moulding.

Photograph of a door inside the upper chapter house, not the set discussed in the skeet. This one may also be pre-modern, but it wasn’t possible to get a closer look.

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· May 28

Two v old towers both alike in dignity for #ADoorAbleThursday. First is the gorgeous sculptural surrounds of the entrance to 11th-c Brechin round tower; and the plainer entrance, but with intriguing timber door (patterned studs could be late med?), of Abernethy round tower, also 11th-century.

Photograph of the sculpturally rich surrounds of the narrow round-headed raised entrance to the round tower at Brechin. At the top of the surrounds is Christ crucified, and at waist height either side are probably BVM and John the Baptist.

Photograph of the round tower at Brechin with full height visible.

Photograph of the raised entrance to the round tower at Abernethy. The surrounds of the door are much less ornate, but perhaps subject to worse weathering than Brechin. The door proper comprised 4 vertical boards of uncertain joining. The whole face of the door bears evidence of nails set in lozenge pattern. There is also a key plate (lozenge), four later bolts for an internally mounted rim lock, and further holes of uncertain function and antiquity.

Photograph of the round tower at Abernethy show its full height.

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· May 21

#ADoorAbleThursday from Tolquhon Castle (1580s), main door with wicket. It’s doing well for poss being original door, though areas show clenched bolts passing through both skins. Inside face shows (AFAIK) v unusual joinery: back boards rest in dovetail recesses cut into front board. Skilled work.

Photograph of the entrance doorway and door at Tolquhon Castle in Aberdeenshire. The door comprises a broad c120cm-wide round-headed artefact, with a simple square-headed door cut into it on the left side. There whole surface is covered in bolt heads laid diamond-pattern. There is a diamond-shaped peeps hole in the wicket, and several keyholes. The doorframe comprises a single very large roll moulding.

Photograph of a section of the wicket door, showing the two board skins being held together by a large nail with rounded concave head driven through the front board and then the back, it’s point then being hammered back into the matrix of the back board (clenched).

Photograph of the inside face of the entire door. It is carried on the left hand jamb by three broad pintles (the lower a remaking). It has three straps with plains curl terminals, the lower two with a further medial hinge to operate the whilst door. There is a stock lock added on the wicket door which appears to be a more recent addition.

Photograph of the threshold of the door on the outside face, focussing on the area of where the main door meets its wicket. There are three cut hollows for vertical bolts to rest in, suggesting the wicket has been a consistent feature of this opening, perhaps remade several times.

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· May 14

Happy #ADoorAbleThursday to all who celebrate. This MS from the Bodleian of c.1000 CE is (I think) one of the earliest depictions of the humble pintle, which does all the heavy lifting (literally) for lovely doors. digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/objects/56af...

Screen grab of Bodleian MS Junius 11, f.9. The description reads: God creates Eve; ladder leads up to heaven; angel opens gate with double-warded key; elaborate hinges.

Detail of the same MS illustration, focussing on the door to heaven. Superimposed red arrows show the locations of pintles and attached straps.

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· May 10

Reviewing some pics from what’s been a v bus few months w work and I spotted this smiley face from Coldingham Priory. Really interesting place for history of Northumbria and Anglo-Scottish border but also with a jolly face atop a C12 capital.

Photograph of a 12th-century column capital within a large mass of reassembled dressed stonework from Coldingham Priory in Berwickshire. On top of the capital is a rather weathered dressed stone with a smiley face on it. In the background to the left is the modern church of Coldingham, inhabiting part of the 12th century buildings of the wider, lost monastery.

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· Apr 20

Was also blown away by the landscape of Liddesdale. These views from the cemetery and lost church site by Liddel Castle, the de Soules earthwork base. I have it on good authority the landscape was largely treeless since the 2nd millennium BCE, throwing cold water on what makes a medieval ‘forest’!

Photograph of a broad hilly grassy landscape. In the foreground are 18th, 19th and early 20th century gravestones.

Photograph of the same landscape looking a different way: over a lichen-covered stone dyke in the foreground. Is a sloping marshy hill, with a few scattered trees. In the background looms a hump-backed hill.

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· Apr 20

Back from 4 days of castle-bothering in Scotland’s west march (and a bit of the middle tbh). It was fab to spend time talking phasing, function and landscape, and to see old acquaintances. As an organiser, it was v tiring, but altogether great visits. Also got the chance to rustle up some new plans!

Dr Will Wyeth@willwyeth· Apr 9

Bit late for this but happy #ADoorAbleThursday! A fine doorway below Rosamund’s Tower at Pickering Castle. Not a conventional doorway, this; it was sealed by a drawbridge operated in the tower, a chain or rope passing through a small hole above the portal. And: bones projecting angular latrine.