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Tim Jerrome @timjerrome.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Could not support this initiative more - the archives of Warner and her partner Valentine Ackland are immensely valuable for the study of queer rural histories. Not to be missed is the story of how Warner ended up in Dorset because of a visitation from her great-aunt's ghost!

dorsetarchivestrust.org

Sylvia Townsend Warner Fundraising Appeal | Dorset Archives Trust

Dorset Archives Trust isleading a fundraising appeal to bring the Archive of writer and LGBTQ+ pioneerSylvia Townsend Warner(1893-1978) into the public domain through the creation of a full catalogue....

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Tim Jerrome @timjerrome.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

As far as I know, farm archives have never really been used to track queer histories before. Given they mostly record the financial ongoings on a given farm, you can understand why. However, my year of research at The MERL has proved their potential. Find out more in this blog:

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Tim Jerrome @timjerrome.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Amazing blog post from @themerl.bsky.social on Enid Barraud, who identified as homosexual in the 1930s and whose agricultural skills became a core part of her identity. Enid was - to put it in academic terms - a total legend.

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Tim Jerrome @timjerrome.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

The British Newspaper Archive is such a brilliant resource for finding queer histories, even if the word recognition software sometimes leads you down the wrong path...

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Reposted by Tim Jerrome

The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) @themerl.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

Are you a PhD student & interested in using museum collections in your teaching or research? We're running a *free* doctoral training programme for students at any institution to learn about working with collections. Find out more: collections.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/

Two students look at objects in the reading room at The Museum of English Rural Life.

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Tim Jerrome @timjerrome.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

Genuine pleasure to be an absolute unit once more! Curious to hear listeners’ opinions on the speculatory nature of this research, and how that might clash with archival neutrality.

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Tim Jerrome @timjerrome.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

Thank you to the eternally wonderful Joe and Ollie for guiding me through my first time on a podcast - if intense ramblings about finding queer snippets in rural archives is your thing, give it a listen! @themerl.bsky.social

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Tim Jerrome @timjerrome.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

Earlier this year, I visited Tate Britain to explore the archive of the artists Cedric Morris and Arthur Lett-Haines, a same-sex couple who lived in rural Suffolk from the 1930s onwards. In Lett's diaries I found this entry which describes two friends of theirs, Oswald and Jack, as "boyfriends".

A page from Arthur Lett-Haines's diary, dated 29th March 1930. It states "To Oswald Balfour's for tea". In the bottom corner it also reads "Oswald, Jack Webb, Boyfriend".

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Tim Jerrome @timjerrome.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

I'm giving a talk on queer histories of rural England in July! If you're in the Berwick area and want to find out more about how I'm using archives to explore this under-researched topic, please do sign up and/or share with anyone else who may be interested www.maltingsberwick.co.uk/whats-on/ced...

maltingsberwick.co.uk

Cedric, Lett and queer histories of the English countryside with Tim Jerrome. – The Maltings

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Tim Jerrome @timjerrome.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

Can highly recommend this as something to listen to whilst sat in a reading room, going through countless ledgers on mine administration, seeing the word "boring" on every page

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Tim Jerrome @timjerrome.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

I wouldn't normally post about this sort of thing, but just had to say that the romance scene in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 between Henry and Hans is one of the sweetest things I have ever seen in a video game. Beautifully acted as well. Will no doubt stay with me for a long time.

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Tim Jerrome @timjerrome.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

My first time being threatened by the author of a 19th century farm diary... I hope Aylesbury Gaol has good Wifi! (Found at @themerl.bsky.social under archive reference FR BER 40/1/1)

Poem written by the author of this farm diary, warning people against reading it. It is dated January 1st 1868, and reads:
Touch not this book for fear of shame,
For here you see the owner's name,
And if he catch you by the tail,
You may be sure of Aylesbury Goal

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Tim Jerrome @timjerrome.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

If you have any interest in queer histories of the English countryside, be sure to check out the first publication of my PhD - an article for the amazing folks over at The MERL:

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Tim Jerrome @timjerrome.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

The first published finding of my PhD, and it has nothing whatsoever to do with queer history

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Tim Jerrome @timjerrome.bsky.social · 22/12/2024

I'm starting to think that 19th century farm diarists didn't have queer research in mind when they were writing... why is it always "a heron flew over the corn field today" and never "the new farmhand has the dreamiest eyes" Haven't found a single name with hearts around it either!

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Museums Association @museumsassociation.org · 05/12/2024

The new Esmée Fairbairn Communities and Collections Fund is now open for applications 🥳 We're supporting projects using museum collections to improve inclusion and equitable working with community partners, and the new name better represents our dual focus on collections and inclusion.

Students standing with outdated tech at the Centre for Computing History. The graphic reads: Esmée Fairbairn Communities and Collections Fund. Apply now

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Tim Jerrome @timjerrome.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

Things that farmer George Cannell wrote about in his 1882 diary: Carting muck Carting mould Carting manure Things that farmer George Cannell did not write about in his 1882 diary: Anything gay

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Tim Jerrome @timjerrome.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

Anyone have advice on how to stay sane while ploughing through page after page of squirrelly 19th century handwriting?

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History Workshop @historyworkshop.org.uk · 03/12/2024

Looking for radical histories on Bluesky? We've made a Starter Pack of people & organisations who stretch our idea of what history is, who it is made by & what it is for. Please share and let us know if you'd like to be added. 🗃️ & ✊🗃️ go.bsky.app/Bb57VmV

go.bsky.app

Radical Histories

Join the conversation

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Reposted by Tim Jerrome

Buckinghamshire Archives @bucksarchives.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Over the past year we've had a great team of researchers investigating our Victorian records for traces of Buckinghamshire's LGBTQ+ past, and now we're looking to create some art to bring their stories to life! Interested in volunteering? Apply at the link below. forms.gle/YgsRqKarCLMe...

A poster for the 'Lost Victorian Voices' project from Buckinghamshire Archives.

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Tim Jerrome @timjerrome.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

@themerl.bsky.social Any plans for a Christmas blog this year? I keep finding straw goats around my flat and I hold you accountable

A goat ornament for a Christmas tree, crafted from straw

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