Dr Julie Holder

Assistant Curator of Modern & Contemporary History, National Museums Scotland (own opinions, she/her) #Museums #Disability #Hypermobility #Pugs

[Dr Julie Holder @Julieh80]

Delighted to share that my article 'Collecting the nation in the museum of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 1832–91' is now available, Journal of the History of Collections @OUPAcademic on the history of collecting @socantscot & @NtlMuseumsScot https://t.co/50HUoCALS7

[Orkney Library @OrkneyLibrary]

Today (12th January) marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Dame Agatha Christie; mystery writer, playwright, plotting genius, creator of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple AND THE BESTSELLING NOVELIST OF ALL TIME.

If you've never read her, the time is now. #ReadChristie2026

[Orkney Library @OrkneyLibrary]

It's that time of year again! 🎄 Imagine the look on your loved ones faces when they unwrap their very own Orkney Library Tote Bag on #Christmas morning!

Sturdy canvas bags with the Orkney Library logo in Red, Green, Blue, Purple or Pink. £10 each.

[Cian McCarthy @arealmofwonder]

Rest in peace, Patricia Routledge 🙏🏻

In memory of her, I encourage everyone to read these words of hers from February last year.

Whether young or old, you're bound to get something out of it.

*****

"I’ll be turning 95 this coming Monday. In my younger years, I was often filled with worry — worry that I wasn’t quite good enough, that no one would cast me again, that I wouldn’t live up to my mother’s hopes. But these days begin in peace, and end in gratitude.

My life didn’t quite take shape until my forties. I had worked steadily — on provincial stages, in radio plays, in West End productions — but I often felt adrift, as though I was searching for a home within myself that I hadn’t quite found.

At 50, I accepted a television role that many would later associate me with — Hyacinth Bucket, of Keeping Up Appearances. I thought it would be a small part in a little series. I never imagined that it would take me into people’s living rooms and hearts around the world. And truthfully, that role taught me to accept my own quirks. It healed something in me.

At 60, I began learning Italian — not for work, but so I could sing opera in its native language. I also learned how to live alone without feeling lonely. I read poetry aloud each evening, not to perfect my diction, but to quiet my soul.

At 70, I returned to the Shakespearean stage — something I once believed I had aged out of. But this time, I had nothing to prove. I stood on those boards with stillness, and audiences felt that. I was no longer performing. I was simply being.

At 80, I took up watercolour painting. I painted flowers from my garden, old hats from my youth, and faces I remembered from the London Underground. Each painting was a quiet memory made visible.

Now, at 95, I write letters by hand. I’m learning to bake rye bread. I still breathe deeply every morning. I still adore laughter — though I no longer try to make anyone laugh. I love the quiet more than ever.

I’m writing this to tell you something simple:

Growing older is not the closing act. It can be the most exquisite chapter — if you let yourself bloom again.

Let these years ahead be your TREASURE YEARS.

You don’t need to be famous. You don’t need to be flawless.

You only need to show up — fully — for the life that is still yours.

With love and gentleness,

Patricia Routledge

*****

Once more, rest in peace. 🤍

[Dr Elizabeth Norton @ENortonHistory]

The Horn of Ulf, on display in York Minster. An absolute treasure, it’s 1000 years old and was gifted to the Minster by a Norse lord named Ulf in around 1030 as a deed of transfer of lands that he had given to the church. It’s an elaborately carved elephant tusk, with that alone making it incredibly exotic and valuable in the 11thC.

#hornofulf #hornofulph #yorkminster #anglosaxon #anglosaxons #viking #vikings

[Lucy Worsley @Lucy_Worsley]

On a recent trip to Winchester, on Jane Austen business of course, I saw the Actual Mr Darcy Suit worn by Colin Firth in the 1995 version of P&P. To ladies my age, THIS IS EVERYTHING

[Orkney Library @OrkneyLibrary]

If you go down to Stromness Library today, you can see Stephanie's superbly spooktacular window painting of Meg and Mog, from the brilliant books by Helen Nicoll and Jan Pieńkowski. 🧙‍♀️🐈‍⬛️🦉🧹🌙

#LoveLibraries #Halloween

[Alison Fisk @AlisonFisk]

At almost 2,000 years old, this child’s wooden toy sword is a remarkable survival from Roman times!

Found in the living quarters of the cavalry barracks at Vindolanda fort in 2017. Dated c. 120 AD. Chesterholm Museum 📷 by me

#Archaeology

[Abbotsford @AbbotsfordScott]

Scott’s passion for Jacobite history was shaped by childhood stories and his ancestor ‘Beardie’.
See a selection of relics he collected in our new display at Abbotsford, on now until 16 Nov. 📖

#Abbotsford #History #VisitScotland #ScottishBorders #Edinburgh

[Dr Sophie Hay @pompei79]

Since it’s the 1st of March and I happened to be passing: a fresco of Mars who lends his name to the month. From the House of Punished Love VII.2.23, Pompeii
Currently on display in @MANNapoli

[Dr Zack White @ZwhiteHistory]

Enroute to Leeds for the @societyarmy Land Forces of the Crown conference where I’ll be honoured to deliver my first ever keynote speech.

Had to pause before boarding to admire the beautiful architecture of King’s Cross Station

[Society for Army Historical Research @societyarmy]

And #sahr2025 kicks off with an opportunity for our early career scholars to network and socialise!

[Medieval Manuscripts @BLMedieval]

On display in our #MedievalWomen exhibition is a volume made by the Jewish printer Estellina Conat in c. 1476, the earliest known printed book by a named woman.

Today's blogpost explores her work and other Jewish women printers of the 15th century.

https://t.co/NNVpaZuO1N

[Alison Fisk @AlisonFisk]

Gorgeous Roman glass cups decorated with colourful enamel-painted animals from the Roman arena. AD 200s.

Found in richly-furnished ‘princely’ graves in Denmark, where they are known as ‘circus beakers’. National Museum of Denmark 📷 by me

#FindsFriday
#Archaeology

[The Signet Library @signetlibrary]

This apse appears in a set of late 1890s glass plates newly donated to the Signet Library. We're stumped as to the church, but it may be Lothians/Borders, somewhere between Innerleithan and Penicuik. Does anyone recognise it, please?

[Orkney Library @OrkneyLibrary]

Today is #RandomActsofKindnessDay so we're giving people free access to books, information, free internet access and WiFi, a free warm space and a whole load of other stuff. FOR FREE.

Just like every other day. ❤️

Libraries are amazing. #LoveLibraries

[Dr Liz Robson @lizmrobson]

Join us online on Tues 18 Feb 13:00-14:00 to hear the latest from @StirHeritage PhD student @alinanbotezatu talking about her fascinating research on #heritage objects in a maritime collection in collaboration with @HistEnvScot: https://t.co/KGfPFokeil

[Dr Sophie Hay @pompei79]

Glorious news from Londinium!

“Beginnings of Roman London discovered in office basement” https://t.co/XkK5dY5Zlf

Great piece by @BBCMorelle and team.

[Sir John Soane's Museum 🏛️🖼️ @SoaneMuseum]

Introducing Soane and Modernism:
Make It New (12 February - 18 May 2025)

Our first exhibition of 2025 investigates Sir John Soane as a forerunner of architectural modernism and places his work in dialogue with celebrated modernists and those who share affinities with his work.

[Alison Fisk @AlisonFisk]

Artists have always loved to sketch!

Sketch of a sparrow from Egypt, c. 1479–1458 BC.

Some 3,500 years ago in Egypt, artists used flakes of limestone as sketch pads rather than paper.

MMA excavations 1922-23, Deir el-Bahri. 📷 The Met https://t.co/0LXnqhKClE

#FindsFriday
#Archaeology