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Paul Craddock

@pwcraddock.bsky.social
5.5K followers 34 following 65 posts

Medical Historian and Filmmaker. Author of Spare Parts. One half of commonfilms.co

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Paul Craddock @pwcraddock.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Coming back from self-imposed social media exile to show you what it looks like to make colour! Shots from a couple of short films we made about "artists' colourmen" and making paints, for the Fitzwilliam Museum at Cambridge. As ever, I think Cal did the subject matter (and us!) proud. 1/2
Colour recipe book pictured from above, with colour-making materials surrounding it. Swatches, jars, pigments.Ultramarine Blue pigmentMixing paint, creating colour. Abstract pattern of swirls in purple, orange and pinkNineteenth-century jars of pigment
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Paul Craddock @pwcraddock.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
As soon as the fairy explodes at the start, you know you're in for a good ride!
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Paul Craddock @pwcraddock.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
I think you really ought to pre-order this. It's a guaranteed gorgeous read. You'll also feel left out if you don't!
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Paul Craddock @pwcraddock.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Ooooo! An exciting day!
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Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
There's a lot of bad in the world right now. But @tealcartoons.bsky.social and I have a new kids' book coming out called DEAD ENDS that reminds us that failure isn't just inevitable but essential to success. There are a limited number of SIGNED copies from @mysteriousbookshop.com - shorturl.at/1A9CS
A photo of the cover of DEAD ENDS featuring a cartoon of a doctor zapping a patient in a coffin back to life. There are signed book plates and medical oddities all around the book.
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Paul Craddock @pwcraddock.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
In 2015, Roger Kneebone (left) and I (behind camera!) were privileged to film John McKenzie (right), who over a lifetime made thousands of tiny ophthalmic surgical instruments in his shed. You can see some of his collection in the foreground. John died shortly after we made this recording ... 1/3
Roger Kneebone (left), in discussion with John McKenzie (right), about his ophthalmic instrument collection (foreground).Some of John McKenzie's instruments up close, in 2015
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Paul Craddock @pwcraddock.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
One for academic historians at Oxford! Medical Humanities and HSMTE have invited me and Cal to give a talk about film production as a research methodology for historians. Should have mentioned this earlier, but it didn't occur to me to share on here!
torch.ox.ac.uk
Filmic Humanities and Film-Making-As-Research
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Alex Churchill @alexchurchill.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
Less than a week to go now. All preorders greatly appreciated! Numerous options via geni.us/RingOfFire Thanking James, @thehistoryguy.bsky.social @iaindale.bsky.social @charliehigson.bsky.social and James for their kind words 🙏🏼 @iainmacgregor1.bsky.social @headofzeus.bsky.social
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Paul Craddock @pwcraddock.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
Patricia Hammond (mezzo-soprano, historical music specialist, and my wife!) found and performed this 1890s piece of American sheet music with a contemporary resonance ... @patriciahammond.bsky.social
youtu.be
All On Account of the Tariff - 1890 song
YouTube video by patriciahammondsongs
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Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 03/05/2025
For #Caturday: a poignant photo by my friend Paul Koudounaris of a beloved pet's tombstone. "'He was only a cat,' but he was human enough to be a great comfort in hours of loneliness and pain." Check out Paul's book on pet cemeteries, FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH: bookshop.org/p/books/fait...
An old tombstone that reads: DEWEY 1898 - 1910. "He was only a cat" but he was human enough to be a great comfort in hours of loneliness and pain.
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Paul Craddock @pwcraddock.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
I tried to write about a girl with no known name, no description. Bloody hard to do! Nothing to go on but the fact that in 1787 she sold one of her teeth to the industrialist Matthew Boulton. He paid a dentist to prise it from her mouth and transplant it into his own daughter, Anne ... 1/4
Images from from The Costume of Great Britain by W.H Pyne
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Paul Craddock @pwcraddock.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
We're making a film about a man who started collecting other people's pocket diaries after discovering something dark in his own childhood diary – something he'd repressed. More about that later. For now, I wanted to share a few of my favourite tender, funny or laconic close-ups!
Diary entry from Friday 24th July, 1942, reading 'Air Raid in the Night'Diary entry from Sunday 26th (month unknown) reading 'Uncle Walter came. We picked our first tomato'Diary entry reading 'in case of accident please inform WIFE'Diary entry reading '1st wedding anniversary'
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Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
If you like stories about bad men doing bad but also sometimes v. funny things in the 1880s, I have new blogs! 👊🏻Denny Harrington, Irish, drunk, jumped on sailors 👊🏻Constantine Morris, Brummie, drunk, bad hitman 👊🏾Felix Scott, Barbadian, less drunk, bit a cop's ear off www.grapplingwithhistory.com
grapplingwithhistory.com
Grappling With History
By Sarah Elizabeth Cox | Rediscovering the wrestlers and boxers of late-Victorian London
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Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
Very proud of @oispooky.bsky.social, who is set to become a lot cooler than me soon with her own amazing projects on the horizon. She runs one of the best history blogs on the internet - all about the gritty world of Victorian bare-knuckle fighters. So vivid you can smell the sweat. Follow her!
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Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
Bloody gloves belonging to Abraham Lincoln. When the President was shot by John Wilkes Booth, some of the blood ran down his sleeve and pooled in the pocket which contained the gloves. Photo: Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.
A photo of Lincoln's gloves which have yellowed with age. Near the cuffs are visible blood stains.
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Metropolitan Police Museum and Crime Museum @mpsheritage.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
A donation recently on display in our new acquisitions case, this 1890s prescription log book of Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen was examined during his trial in 1910 for the murder of his wife Cora Crippen (aka Belle Elmore). #SomethingNew #Archive30
Photograph of a prescription log book, open to show two pages with handwritten text.
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Paul Craddock @pwcraddock.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
In his novel Stoner, John Williams's eponymous character has a full-time, tenured position as an assistant professor at a the University of Missouri. And he's considered a failure. Today, that kind of stability would be an impossibility for many academics – a dream job. How things have changed!
John Williams, author of Stoner
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Paul Craddock @pwcraddock.bsky.social · 19/04/2025
In Summer 1931, there was a new sideshow in Blackpool, Lancashire. ‘Brides and bridegrooms straight from the altar starve for 30 days’. The deal: newlywed couples were challenged to stay in glass 'coffins' without food for a month. If they made it, they'd win £250 (about £18,000 today) 1/2
A newly wed woman in a glass 'coffin', starving for 30 days for £250 in the 1930s1930s, Starving Bride sideshow, Blackpool's Golden Mile
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Paul Craddock @pwcraddock.bsky.social · 26/01/2025
This is Tony Webb and his wonderful wife Cecily. Tony is 90 and the only remaining master carver of stone AND wood left in the United Kingdom (to his knowledge) 1/4
Master stone and wood carver Tony Webb, at his workbench in a infinity cove studioMaster stone and wood carver Tony Webb and his wife Cecily seated amongst woodchips in an infinity cove studioClose-up of Tony Webb, master stone and wood carver, with his chisel and mallet
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Paul Craddock @pwcraddock.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
Extra special post by an extra wonderful historian and friend. Read through to the end and listen to her on Best Medicine. You won't regret it!
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Emilie K. M. Murphy @emiliekmmurphy.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
Did you complete your History PhD in the UK or Ireland? Did you publish your first academic monograph this year in 2024? Please consider submitting it for consideration for the RHS First Book Prize! Nominations open on Mon 1 December and close Fri 31 January 2025. 🗃️ royalhistsoc.org/royal-histor...
royalhistsoc.org
Royal Historical Society First Book and Early Career Article Prizes for 2025: new terms and timeline | RHS
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Paul Craddock @pwcraddock.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
20th August 1978, the 'Transplant Olympics'. First ever competitive sporting event for transplant recipients. There is now a 'World Transplant Games' every year, alternating Summer and Winter. Next year: Dresden, Germany – 7th-24th August! 1/3
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Paul Craddock @pwcraddock.bsky.social · 23/11/2023
Looking for working-class people who quit their PhDs. If this is you, could we please have a chat? It's for Common Knowledge Substack. Thanks so much! (As for me, I'm conflicted. Glad I have mine now, but had to make huge sacrifices and not sure I could have done it at a different life stage.)
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Peculiar Book Club @peculiarbookclub.bsky.social · 15/11/2023
Coming Feb. 2024: A virtual chat w/ @pwcraddock.bsky.social & @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social! This is our 1st AUTHORS HOSTING AUTHORS event & we're SO excited! It's a VIP show so make sure you're signed up: VIP info: annual www.eventbrite.com/e/annual-mem... & monthly www.patreon.com/PeculiarBook...
Graphic promoting Peculiar Book Club event on February 22, 2024 with Lindsey Fitzharris and Paul Craddock to discuss his book, Spare Parts
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Peculiar Book Club @peculiarbookclub.bsky.social · 15/11/2023
We want to make the Peculiar Book Club as welcoming as possible so if you have any questions about joining, taking part in our Live Author Chats, or joining the paid VIP levels, reply/leave a comment & let us know! We'll put together an FAQ with answers because, honestly, we want YOU as a member! 💙📚
A squid with lots of question marks and a top hat (for a Question and Answer post)
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Paul Craddock @pwcraddock.bsky.social · 10/11/2023
The word 'scientist' was coined in 1834 ... as a joke! Read the story on my first ever substack column! open.substack.com/pub/paulcrad...
Portraits of Somerville (left) and Whewell (right)
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Paul Craddock @pwcraddock.bsky.social · 10/11/2023
The word 'scientist' was coined in 1834 ... as a joke! Read the story on my first ever substack column! open.substack.com/pub/paulcrad...
Portraits of Somerville (left) and Whewell (right)
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Paul Craddock @pwcraddock.bsky.social · 10/11/2023
Came out as working class a few years ago. Since been the 'lived experience' voice a few times (which I found means you're not allowed real expertise or analysis!) So, started a Substack, Common Knowledge, embracing working-class heritage while writing about history! paulcraddock.substack.com/about
Common Knowledge Square Logo
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Paul Craddock @pwcraddock.bsky.social · 20/10/2023
Hello BlueSky friends! Here's the 'messenger hare' carving at Beverley Minster in Yorkshire (dated about 1330). It supposedly inspired Lewis Carroll's White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland
Beverley Minster 'messenger hare' carving, about 1330Carroll's White Rabbit illustration
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Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 18/10/2023
THIS SATURDAY: @tealcartoons.bsky.social and I will be doing a virtual event for the first ever #CuriousLive with @IFLScience! We'll be talking about our kids' book, PLAGUE-BUSTERS, and history's deadliest diseases. Register here: webapp.spotme.com/login/events...
A promo poster for the event featuring photos of Lindsey and Adrian
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Paul Craddock @pwcraddock.bsky.social · 19/10/2023
1970s museum model of a computer (complete with '70s technicians!). In the Science Museum's National Collections Centre in Swindon – had the privilege of filming there a few weeks ago and the lovely team showed off some treasures. Not open to public yet (but will be in a year or two!)
From a 1970s model of a computer. Man in polkadot tie and red tank top looking like he's explaining something technical to some lowlier technicians.1970s model of a computer, with snazzily dressed male technician1970s scale model of a computer – female technician with snazzy outfit1970s scale model of a computer
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Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 18/10/2023
A funeral procession of elderly women with cats in their arms, following the coffin of a dead cat. Coloured stipple engraving by J. Pettit after E.G. Byron, 1789. Image: Wellcome Collection
An illustration of a funeral procession of elderly ladies following the casket of a cat.
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Paul Craddock @pwcraddock.bsky.social · 18/10/2023
When I first read Alexander Pope's poem Celia, I was doing my PhD and accepted what my supervisor told me – that it neatly expressed a vacuous 18th-century British culture obsessed with appearance. When I read it now, a bit older, I see something else: Alexander Pope had a teensy problem with women.
Celia Retiring – print depicting Celia removing her wig, false teeth, glass eyeAlexander Pope's poem, Celia:

Celia, we know, is sixty-five,
Yet Celia's face is seventeen;
Thus winter in her breast must live,
While summer in her face is seen.

How cruel Celia's fate, who hence
Our heart's devotion cannot try;
Too pretty for our reverence,
Too ancient for our gallantry!
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Paul Craddock @pwcraddock.bsky.social · 16/10/2023
Not a deep and meaningful history of medicine post, this, but I thought BlueSky friends might appreciate this: I'm making a film for the Science Museum in London about the (now defunct) Type Archive. They were based in an old animal hospital and had the cutest logo.
Type Archive's logo, showing an elephant with a curled snout
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Paul Craddock @pwcraddock.bsky.social · 11/10/2023
Marie Anne Leroudier (1838-1908): extraordinary embroiderer whose needle techniques became essential to vascular surgery (used in bypasses, trauma surgery, transplants etc). She taught surgeon/misogynist/eugenicist Alexis Carrel. He got a Nobel prize, while she remained unacknowledged!
Marie Anne Leroudier, mother of vascular surgery (in my view!)Example of work by Marie Anne Leroudier (from Museé des Tissus)
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Paul Craddock @pwcraddock.bsky.social · 10/10/2023
Cato Street Conspiracy – closest Britain came to a French-style revolution. The conspirators were executed. But when the Times erroneously hinted surgeon Thomas Wakley was the masked executioner, it led to his attempted murder. He lost everything. Unable to regain his career, he founded The Lancet
Géricault's ‘Le supplice, 1820-1824. Cato Street Conspirators At the GallowsOnly known photograph of Thomas Wakley, founder of the Lancet
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Paul Craddock @pwcraddock.bsky.social · 08/10/2023
Fascinating, isn't it, how technicians are depicted in science history. Here are some technicians operating Otto von Guericke's air pump. They aren't people at all, but cherubs! I read it's an artistic convention, but why? Is it to dehumanise poor, low-status assistants? h/t Steven Shapin
Technicians depicted as cherubs, operating Otto von Guericke's first air pump (Würzburg, 1657)
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Paul Craddock @pwcraddock.bsky.social · 07/10/2023
Hello friends! It's my first post! In 1819, journalist William Cobbett exhumed American Founding Father Thomas Paine, and escorted his bones from New York home to Botley (UK). The grand, Romantic gesture was meant to inspire a peaceful British Revolution. But instead cartoonists made fun of him.
Isaac Cruikshank's 'The political champion turned resurrection man'. Shows William Cobbett flying over the Atlantic on a dragon, grasping Thomas Paine's skeleton
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