iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Matt Bristow @eric180uk.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Me in my garden as a few light flurries of rain pass through Hertfordshire

Matt Bristow @eric180uk.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

Fickle things kids. No. 3 has a Christmas list stuffed with gadgets and digital stuff, but still gets the most joy from this plywood castle and siege engines my dad made for him.

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Matt Bristow @eric180uk.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

In a nice end to the year, I can draw your attention to this short (ish) report on the earthwork survey of Cockroad Wood Castle in Somerset which I led this year. A fascinating, if slightly enigmatic site. historicengland.org.uk/research/res... . One for @castlestudies.bsky.social

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Matt Bristow @eric180uk.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

Assume all other archaeology and local history types have a tree like this @vch-home.bsky.social.

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Matt Bristow @eric180uk.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

A couple of pics from our visit to the Devil’s Arrows this week. #standingstonesunday

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Matt Bristow @eric180uk.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

Now, I’m not saying Historic England should bring out a line of Action Figures but I’m certainly not saying they shouldn’t 😂😂😂

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Matt Bristow @eric180uk.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

So it’s World Book Day today and for once we were organised enough to put in some effort. Corey was desperate to go as Roz the Wild Robot from the @peterbrownstudio.com novel which he loved us reading to him. A couple of balloons and a bunch of papier mache later…. #worldbookday

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Matt Bristow @eric180uk.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Can’t believe @chrisgpackham.bsky.social does a #foxoftheday and I’ve never sent in the photo of this handsome fella peeking in through my patio doors. That wrong has now been righted.

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Matt Bristow @eric180uk.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

These are two of the ones me and Marcus are currently working on. 1778 and 1785

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Matt Bristow @eric180uk.bsky.social · 27/12/2024

The Roman walls emerging out of the murk. The thing this photo doesn’t show is that it’s about ten degrees warmer than it looks.

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Matt Bristow @eric180uk.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

I’ve never seen this before. Always been a fan of the Cube and of course the Steelman statue.

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Matt Bristow @eric180uk.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

Pretty special moon halo tonight.

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Matt Bristow @eric180uk.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

If it’s not a @vchlondon.bsky.social Christmas, is it even Christmas? Thanks so much @justincolson.bsky.social for this work of Crimbo art!

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Matt Bristow @eric180uk.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

As good a footballer as no.2 son is, I think he’s going to be an even better cricketer. He makes it looking annoyingly simple. ilFortunately his mum isn’t on here so doesn’t know what goes on in her living room when she’s out!

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Matt Bristow @eric180uk.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

It’s Motte and Bailey castle Tuesday! Is that a thing, maybe it should be. Really good site recce in the sunshine today and now really looking forward to the full earthwork survey in the new year.

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Matt Bristow @eric180uk.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

In today’s, “life comes at you fast” news - no.3 braved the elements in a football tournament shortly after (whilst moving a wardrobe) I found his favourite dummy. Where’s that 6 years gone!

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Matt Bristow @eric180uk.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

A snowy start in Hertfordshire this morning. It’s got a lot less snowy the further west I’ve gone. No photos needed to show how less idyllic Chieveley Services looks.

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Matt Bristow @eric180uk.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Five years since this report was published, my last big bit of work before COVID: historicengland.org.uk/research/res.... It feels like a lifetime ago. He’s not on here yet, but the gorgeous reconstruction paintings are by Allan Adams. Give him a follow on Instagram www.instagram.com/p/Bzm_eqOHJ8...

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Matt Bristow @eric180uk.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

Back at my desk after 3 great days trekking through the Staffordshire Moorlands tracing the lines of four early tramways. You might have to take my word for it but 3 of them (1786, 1804, 1847) are visible in this photo and all four, here historicengland.org.uk/images-books...

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Matt Bristow @eric180uk.bsky.social · 22/11/2023

After a day in the field yesterday, today it is back to hachuring and a return to the zen-like trance of click, click, clicking the little beggers into place.

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