iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

For #LeedsIMC2027 @yorkisthistory.bsky.social are once again planning sessions on the long Fifteenth Century (1399-1525) - would you like to join us? Up to 5 bursaries of £300 each are available for scholars without institutional funding. Deadline for submissions 14 Sept: see image for more details.

Call for papers asking for proposals for 20 minute papers on new research on the period 1399-1525 for Leeds IMC 5-8 July 2027. Bursaries available as stated in main text. Please note the IMC's proposal criteria on their website. Please send a 150-200 word abstract and short biography to Dr Joanna Laynesmith at j.l.laynesmith@reading.ac.uk by 14 September 2026 stating whether uoi wish to apply for a bursary or just to propose a paper. More details about the Trust's work can be found at yorkisthistorytrust.org.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

9 am Tuesday at #IMC2026 - starting off @yorkisthistory.bsky.social's day on the 15th century. Come and join us.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Also at #IMC2026 next week - a whole day of fascinating 15th-century papers to look forward to with @yorkisthistory.bsky.social.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Just back from the brilliant 'Medieval Canterbury Weekend 2026'. I was talking about the 11th century but was so heartened by all the really exciting new research on the 15th century that was being shared.

15th century wall painting from Canterbury Cathedral showing St Eustace (with horse and hunting dogs) experiencing a vision of Christ crucified appearing between the antlers of a stag.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

Apparently there were half a million of us here - for love, for hope, for unity.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

It was lovely to chat all things Lady Margaret Beaufort with @historylauren.bsky.social and @charlesxhistory.bsky.social for Historic Royal Palaces' latest podcast - www.hrp.org.uk/listen-to-th... - out today.

Gilt bronze effigy of Lady Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond and Derby, recumbent with hands raised in prayer, in Westminster Abbey.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Nearly 566 years ago, this gentle field saw one of the most decisive military encounters of the Wars of the Roses - the (4th) Battle of Northampton. I was privileged to receive a guided tour from Graham Evans, chair of the Northamptonshire Battlefield Society last week, in suitably rainy weather.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

Nice piece by @racheldelman.bsky.social on women and falconry. Obviously Cecily duchess of York's choice of the falcon on her seal was in tribute to her husband (and his grandfather), so pretty traditional there, but I do love this particular image of her from the Wigmore Chronicle.

15th century drawing of a woman above a shield (not filled in) supported by falcons

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

The Christmas cards of the magi at Sant Apollinare Nuovo tend to omit the line of 22 virgin saints following the Magi to Christ - the closest are Pelagia and Euphemia, both victims of Diocletian's persecution (apparently there were five churches dedicated to Euphemia in Ravenna).

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Silk that's over a thousand years old! I first heard about these relics of St Julian in July (in a keynote lecture @imc-leeds.bsky.social) and was awestruck to come upon them at the National Museum of Ravenna last week. Byzantine work, 9th-10th century.

Three-yarn weft samite, dark purple background showing pale lions in roundels.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

I was fascinated to learn that the earliest surviving evidence of writing in Italy comes from a woman's tomb from the 8th century BC and it probably says 'the one who spins well'. (Found at Gabii, now at the Diocletian Baths in Rome).

Circular clay vessel with Greek letters on the base

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

The 2020 issue of The Ricardian was recently uploaded to @richardiiisociety.bsky.social's website free to access richardiii.net/research/the.... It includes papers from an @lincolnrecsoc.bsky.social conference, among them a case study of Cecily duchess of York's excercise of lordship in Lincolnshire

sketch of a noblewoman with loose hair - Cecily duchess of York - from Chicago University MS Codex 224

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

Needed to be near Holland Park this evening so arrived early and visited Lord Leighton's wonderful home.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

I'll be giving a talk on King Harold's so-called 'Danish wife' Edith, so I thought I'd better watch 'King and Conqueror'. If you've seen it, you'll understand why I might feel I need to post an image of, for example, a glorious colourful book owned by Judith of Flanders during her marriage to Tostig

Gold book cover, set with multiple coloured stones and decorated with 3D images of Christ in Majesty and the Crucifixion.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

If anyone is looking for The Coronation Documents of Richard III - there's a copy in the Oxfam online book shop at the moment. Meanwhile the Canadian branch of the Richard III Society are auctioning two copies of the NPG catalogue on their website.

Two books - one of the Coronation documents of Richard III. The other called Richard III with a picture of a boar.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

A glorious October day in my favourite city.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

And before that Toby Capwell and Dominic Smee shared stories of the making of the documentary on the likely impact of Richard III's scoliosis on his use of armour and ability to fight on horseback.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

Caroline Wilkinson gave a fascinating talk on digital immortality (faces here include John Whetamstede and St Nicholas)

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

Call for Papers on The Long Fifteenth Century at Leeds IMC, 6-9 July 2026 Sponsored by the Yorkist History Trust £300 bursaries for scholars without institutional funding (at any stage of their career). Application deadline 18 September 2025. For more details, email j.l.laynesmith@reading.ac.uk

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

Back in my favourite city for a few days.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Just watched a green woodpecker coaxing her offspring down out of the trees and into our overgrown garden, feeding them and encouraging them to feed themselves - here they've moved out of the long grass, but I think this is an advert for no mow summer.

One adult and two juvenile green woodpeckers in dry grass.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

Thank you @imc-leeds.bsky.social! From the legal context of the Cecily Chaumpaigne/Chaucer case to the Tower's Medieval Palace exhibition, via early medieval relics, tablet weaver geometers, the remarkable Joan Countess of Hereford and the organisation of the Domesday survey, it's been fabulous.

Demonstration of 15th century armour by re-enactors.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

We were so absorbed in the final @yorkisthistory.bsky.social session for @imc-leeds.bsky.social today that we forgot to get a photo - eye-opening and intriguing papers on some document creation in London and Yorkshire (with @richardasquith.bsky.social and @dralrs.bsky.social)

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

The @yorkisthistory.bsky.social's final session on Tuesday for @imc-leeds.bsky.social (other than the wine reception) is on "Readers and Scribes in Commemoration and Civic Government" #IMC2025.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

The @yorkisthistory.bsky.social 's first afternoon session for @imc-leeds.bsky.social on Tuesday will be "Devotion and Identity in Royal Foundations and the Parish" #IMC2025.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

In a slight change to @yorkisthistory.bsky.social's originally advertised second session for @imc-leeds.bsky.social on Tuesday, the theme will be "Beyond the Battlefields: Wounds, War Widows and the Costs of Defeat" #IMC2025.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

The @yorkisthistory.bsky.social sessions for @imc-leeds.bsky.social on Tuesday start with "Stories of the Death of Princes: royal blood, rumour and commemoration" #IMC2025.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

These are my only other pictures, but you can find out more at barconvent.co.uk/the-arma-chr...

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Some of the vivid images from the stunning Arma Christi roll of c 1475 only very recently discovered in a box at York's Bar Convent.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

There are copies of recent issues of The Ricardian available for sale at richardiii.net/product-cate... Topics range from the Execution of the Earl of Desmond or the life of Edward IV's daughter Bridget, to Richard duke of Gloucester and the Countess of Oxford, or his secretary John Kendale.

Copies of the 2022, 2023 and 2024 issues of The Ricardian journal.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

This evening's Cafe Theologique - Bishop Mary Gregory interviewing Claire Gilbert about her novel, 'I, Julian' - was so rich and thought provoking. I especially liked the invitation to keep contradictory ideas in your mind, don't jettison what doesn't fit, because then your mind will grow.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

I've just signed the open letter from our consituency at zerohour.uk asking Keir Starmer to ensure the CAN Bill is debated when it comes back to Parliament in July. 🌿 Things CAN get better if the government follows the science—and not the climate deniers. @zero-hour.bsky.social 🐝

Rocky coastline, with turqoise sea and golden beach.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

🌍 I've just been to the insprirational launch of @zero-hour.bsky.social's REAL CHANGE campaign: 🌿 Things CAN get better if the government follows the science—and not the climate deniers ✍️ Help call for an emergency debate on the #CANBill at zerohour.uk

Solar panels on a field of large daisies

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

That's great. We tried offering her a paddling pool in the first year but she refused to use it and kept trying to get through the windows. The ducklings were amazingly confident.

Ducklings on the edge of a canal starting to jump in.

Female mallard with ducklings on the water.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

For the third year in a row a mallard has made her nest in the inner courtyard of our church/school building and I have had the privilege of escorting her family through the building and down to the Kennet.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

There's a pop up exhibition on Tudor Rebellions in the free Treasures of the British Library display & it includes this lovely letter from 1496 signed "Your friend Richard of England" (apologies for photo quality: too busy excitedly explaining it to my sister to pay proper attention to photography)

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

In a recent blogpost, @richardiiisociety.bsky.social research officer, Marie Barnfield, cleared up some mythology about William Catesby and James Tyrell: riiiresearch.blogspot.com/2025/04/iden... (Image of Catesby from his memorial brass at Ashby St Ledgers, Northants)

Brass rubbing of 15th century figure in heraldic tabard.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

The view from Allan Bank, Grasmere, home to the Wordsworths and Canon Rawnsley. One of those delightful @nationaltrust.org.uk sites where you are invited to feel at home, we could paint watercolours in the beautiful kitchen, while drinking our tea.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

Seeing a road sign for Cartmel Priory, we needed to investigate. What a gem - founded by William Marshal, it contains the tomb of the first Lord Harrington. His descendants included members of Richard duke of Gloucester's affinity: their conflict with the Stanleys was perhaps a factor in his fate.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

Just back from a week in the Lakes were we could see Kendal Castle from our window. It was home to Sir William Parr, best known as grandfather to Queen Katherine, but he was also significant in Yorkist England: controller of Edward IV's household and member of Richard duke of Gloucester's council.

Ruined medieval grey stone castle with woodland beyond

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

A busy day for fifteenth century studies with this database going live and the launch (at Barley Hall) of the Yorkist History Trust's Festschrift for Peter and Carolyn Hammond: Loyalty Binds Me. (Yes, it so happens that's my article the book falls open at so nicely).

Open book on a book stand between two candles and small piles of books either side on a wooden table in front of a red and grey (vertical) striped background - the great hall at Barley Hall.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

At York Art Gallery today: I love the way this celebrates York's daffodils and white rose in an art work inspired by the care taken over initial letters in medieval manuscripts.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

It has arrived! I am so happy to have been part of this publication, launched in #YorkistHistoryTrust's Ruby Anniversary year and celebrating the Trust's former secretary and chair, the wonderful Carolyn and Peter Hammond. Huge thanks to @richardasquith.bsky.social and Christian Steer for editing.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

On 11 March 1525 bonfires were lit in the streets throughout the city of London to celebrate the news of Emperor Charles V's victory at Pavia. Among the casualties was Richard de la Pole - this year's Ricardian Journal includes fascinating research on his death and memorialisation.

Print from woodcut of a besieged city on a river with 16th century armies fighting: the Battle of Pavia.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

12 years. I remember open days as always being freezing cold, but certainly not this year!

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

Today's climate and biodiversity conversation followed a lovely lunch with the Mothers' Union and guests at beautiful Shinfield St Mary's. My thank you gift included wonderfully fragrant daffodils from their church allotment: a perfect source of eco-conscious flower arrangements all summer.

16th century red brick church tower against a blue sky.

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J L Laynesmith @jllaynesmith.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Excellent day at @richardiiisociety.bsky.social's online conference - 1,150 sixth formers and a brilliant line up of scholars unravelling sources. Thank you @historylauren.bsky.social, @menysnoweballes.bsky.social, @mattlewishistory.bsky.social, @seanc1509.bsky.social & @davidgrummitt.bsky.social

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