Prof Ben Pohl
@benpohl.bsky.social
Professor of Medieval History, University of Bristol 📚 w/ Oxford Univ Press, Cambridge Univ Press, Boydell & Brewer, Schnell & Steiner, ARC Humanities Press; now writing ‘The Medieval Library: Using and Abusing Books in the Middle Ages’ for Reaktion Books
Pinned
Prof Ben Pohl
@benpohl.bsky.social
· Dec 11
Very happy to have signed the contract for my next book with @reaktionbooks.bsky.social! ✍️
A good time to (re)introduce @bristoluni.bsky.social's CMS, bringing together scholars & students since 1994 with regular events, the longest-running annual PGR conference, & the Bristol Studies in Medieval Cultures book series. Follow us @bristolcms.bsky.social & medievalstudies.blogs.bristol.ac.uk
Term card of the @bristolcms.bsky.social seminar series 2026/27 just dropped, incl. the first in our brand-new series of distinguished CMS Global Lectures. Spread the word and join us and our stellar line-up of speakers in person or online. Every medievalist welcome! #medievalsky #skystorians
September 23, 2026 at 9:16 AM
A good time to (re)introduce @bristoluni.bsky.social's CMS, bringing together scholars & students since 1994 with regular events, the longest-running annual PGR conference, & the Bristol Studies in Medieval Cultures book series. Follow us @bristolcms.bsky.social & medievalstudies.blogs.bristol.ac.uk
Reposted by Prof Ben Pohl
Research Seminar- 19 Oct, 4pm
Speaker: Brendan Smith, Professor of Medieval History, Department of History, Uni of Bristol.
Title: 'Pale Reflections: English Enclaves in the Plantagenet Empire'.
Open to all! Please join using the QR code or email us for the link ([email protected]).
Speaker: Brendan Smith, Professor of Medieval History, Department of History, Uni of Bristol.
Title: 'Pale Reflections: English Enclaves in the Plantagenet Empire'.
Open to all! Please join using the QR code or email us for the link ([email protected]).
September 22, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Research Seminar- 19 Oct, 4pm
Speaker: Brendan Smith, Professor of Medieval History, Department of History, Uni of Bristol.
Title: 'Pale Reflections: English Enclaves in the Plantagenet Empire'.
Open to all! Please join using the QR code or email us for the link ([email protected]).
Speaker: Brendan Smith, Professor of Medieval History, Department of History, Uni of Bristol.
Title: 'Pale Reflections: English Enclaves in the Plantagenet Empire'.
Open to all! Please join using the QR code or email us for the link ([email protected]).
Term card of the @bristolcms.bsky.social seminar series 2026/27 just dropped, incl. the first in our brand-new series of distinguished CMS Global Lectures. Spread the word and join us and our stellar line-up of speakers in person or online. Every medievalist welcome! #medievalsky #skystorians
September 23, 2026 at 7:59 AM
Term card of the @bristolcms.bsky.social seminar series 2026/27 just dropped, incl. the first in our brand-new series of distinguished CMS Global Lectures. Spread the word and join us and our stellar line-up of speakers in person or online. Every medievalist welcome! #medievalsky #skystorians
Reposted by Prof Ben Pohl
“Hart im Hirn, weich in der Birne
Ohne Halt, einfältig und klein
Auf der Suche nach einem Führer
Es ist hart, allein beschränkt zu sein.”
—Herbert Grönemeyer, Die Härte, 1993.
Vielleicht der beste Kommentar zu den Landtagswahlen in Meck-Pomm und Sachsen-Anhalt 2026.
Ohne Halt, einfältig und klein
Auf der Suche nach einem Führer
Es ist hart, allein beschränkt zu sein.”
—Herbert Grönemeyer, Die Härte, 1993.
Vielleicht der beste Kommentar zu den Landtagswahlen in Meck-Pomm und Sachsen-Anhalt 2026.
September 21, 2026 at 6:37 AM
“Hart im Hirn, weich in der Birne
Ohne Halt, einfältig und klein
Auf der Suche nach einem Führer
Es ist hart, allein beschränkt zu sein.”
—Herbert Grönemeyer, Die Härte, 1993.
Vielleicht der beste Kommentar zu den Landtagswahlen in Meck-Pomm und Sachsen-Anhalt 2026.
Ohne Halt, einfältig und klein
Auf der Suche nach einem Führer
Es ist hart, allein beschränkt zu sein.”
—Herbert Grönemeyer, Die Härte, 1993.
Vielleicht der beste Kommentar zu den Landtagswahlen in Meck-Pomm und Sachsen-Anhalt 2026.
“Hart im Hirn, weich in der Birne
Ohne Halt, einfältig und klein
Auf der Suche nach einem Führer
Es ist hart, allein beschränkt zu sein.”
—Herbert Grönemeyer, Die Härte, 1993.
Vielleicht der beste Kommentar zu den Landtagswahlen in Meck-Pomm und Sachsen-Anhalt 2026.
Ohne Halt, einfältig und klein
Auf der Suche nach einem Führer
Es ist hart, allein beschränkt zu sein.”
—Herbert Grönemeyer, Die Härte, 1993.
Vielleicht der beste Kommentar zu den Landtagswahlen in Meck-Pomm und Sachsen-Anhalt 2026.
September 21, 2026 at 6:37 AM
“Hart im Hirn, weich in der Birne
Ohne Halt, einfältig und klein
Auf der Suche nach einem Führer
Es ist hart, allein beschränkt zu sein.”
—Herbert Grönemeyer, Die Härte, 1993.
Vielleicht der beste Kommentar zu den Landtagswahlen in Meck-Pomm und Sachsen-Anhalt 2026.
Ohne Halt, einfältig und klein
Auf der Suche nach einem Führer
Es ist hart, allein beschränkt zu sein.”
—Herbert Grönemeyer, Die Härte, 1993.
Vielleicht der beste Kommentar zu den Landtagswahlen in Meck-Pomm und Sachsen-Anhalt 2026.
I truly cannot handle this country’s inexplicable inability to assign train platforms more than a couple of minutes prior to departure.
September 18, 2026 at 11:25 AM
I truly cannot handle this country’s inexplicable inability to assign train platforms more than a couple of minutes prior to departure.
Had a blast last night talking about the Bayeux Tapestry in the befitting setting of Canterbury Cathedral Lodge. Easy to forget what a magnificent place this is! Thanks to @ecroberts.bsky.social for inviting me, and to @memsunikent.bsky.social & @britishacademy.bsky.social for sponsoring the talk!
September 18, 2026 at 9:06 AM
Had a blast last night talking about the Bayeux Tapestry in the befitting setting of Canterbury Cathedral Lodge. Easy to forget what a magnificent place this is! Thanks to @ecroberts.bsky.social for inviting me, and to @memsunikent.bsky.social & @britishacademy.bsky.social for sponsoring the talk!
🚨 Happening tonight at Winterbourne Medieval Barn in Gloucestershire! 🚨 Last few tickets up for grabs—join us in person or online!
The great Bayeux Tapestry roadshow continues! Book your tickets now to join us at Winterbourne Medieval Barn on 15 September in person www.ticketsource.com/winterbourne... or on Zoom www.ticketsource.com/winterbourne.... Further tour dates for 2026 and 2027 TBC, so stay tuned!
September 15, 2026 at 5:42 AM
🚨 Happening tonight at Winterbourne Medieval Barn in Gloucestershire! 🚨 Last few tickets up for grabs—join us in person or online!
Make a band edible:
Meatallica
Meatallica
Make a band edible:
The Eat Me Boys
The Eat Me Boys
Make a band edible
My Organic Romance
My Organic Romance
September 11, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Make a band edible:
Meatallica
Meatallica
Thanks a million to @tamarajatkin.bsky.social and @drdavidrundle.bsky.social for a most enjoyable two days of exploring medieval manuscripts fragments on Guernsey! It was a real privilege to be part of this!
September 11, 2026 at 5:29 PM
Thanks a million to @tamarajatkin.bsky.social and @drdavidrundle.bsky.social for a most enjoyable two days of exploring medieval manuscripts fragments on Guernsey! It was a real privilege to be part of this!
Reposted by Prof Ben Pohl
And we are off! Wonderful first session at today’s fragment study day with @drdavidrundle.bsky.social @benpohl.bsky.social @fragmentarium.bsky.social and others! Here’s Archive Assistant Callum Tostevin-Hall in action setting the Guernsey fragments in context.
September 10, 2026 at 1:01 PM
And we are off! Wonderful first session at today’s fragment study day with @drdavidrundle.bsky.social @benpohl.bsky.social @fragmentarium.bsky.social and others! Here’s Archive Assistant Callum Tostevin-Hall in action setting the Guernsey fragments in context.
This may well be the best write-up of where we are in terms of up-to-date scholarship on the Bayeux Tapestry. Great work, English Heritage!
The Bayeux Tapestry and St Augustine’s Abbey
St Augustine’s Abbey in Canterbury has long been celebrated for its contribution to English Christianity. But could it also have been the birthplace of one of history’s most famous artefacts – the Bay...
www.english-heritage.org.uk
September 10, 2026 at 12:53 PM
This may well be the best write-up of where we are in terms of up-to-date scholarship on the Bayeux Tapestry. Great work, English Heritage!
Reposted by Prof Ben Pohl
Snap! My new article on the risks taken by medieval monastic scribes will come out in the same issue. I had great fun researching and writing it, and I hope people will enjoy reading it!
September 9, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Snap! My new article on the risks taken by medieval monastic scribes will come out in the same issue. I had great fun researching and writing it, and I hope people will enjoy reading it!
Snap! My new article on the risks taken by medieval monastic scribes will come out in the same issue. I had great fun researching and writing it, and I hope people will enjoy reading it!
September 9, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Snap! My new article on the risks taken by medieval monastic scribes will come out in the same issue. I had great fun researching and writing it, and I hope people will enjoy reading it!
Reposted by Prof Ben Pohl
November 3, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Nice piece on the Bayeux Tapestry in @economist.com featuring sound bites by @lvhicks.bsky.social and yours truly! #medievalsky #skystorians
The many mysteries and lessons of the Bayeux tapestry
The many mysteries and lessons of the Bayeux tapestry
A new show at the British Museum will focus the world’s attention on a medieval marvel
bit.ly
September 7, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Nice piece on the Bayeux Tapestry in @economist.com featuring sound bites by @lvhicks.bsky.social and yours truly! #medievalsky #skystorians
Zwei Wörter: gesichert rechtsextrem. Wer das wählt, hat keine Entschuldigung.
September 6, 2026 at 9:23 PM
Zwei Wörter: gesichert rechtsextrem. Wer das wählt, hat keine Entschuldigung.
Reposted by Prof Ben Pohl
Thank you @gilltav.bsky.social for reminding us all of the Police response in 2021 👇 when some 40 environmental activists of Insulate Britain blocked the Port of Dover: 39 arrests.
Compare that to yesterday when 200-400 fascist paramilitaries intimidated Dover town and blocked the Port: 0 arrests.
Compare that to yesterday when 200-400 fascist paramilitaries intimidated Dover town and blocked the Port: 0 arrests.
Port of Dover: Arrests made as Insulate Britain blocks port
Queues form at Europe's busiest ferry terminal as Insulate Britain shift their protest from the M25.
www.bbc.com
September 6, 2026 at 8:36 AM
Thank you @gilltav.bsky.social for reminding us all of the Police response in 2021 👇 when some 40 environmental activists of Insulate Britain blocked the Port of Dover: 39 arrests.
Compare that to yesterday when 200-400 fascist paramilitaries intimidated Dover town and blocked the Port: 0 arrests.
Compare that to yesterday when 200-400 fascist paramilitaries intimidated Dover town and blocked the Port: 0 arrests.
Shameful.
What the fuck do they mean 'spontaneous protest'? 1000 people spontaneously taking a walk around Dover with Balaclavas?
Look at the social media of every Far-Right organiser in the UK... This was so clearly planned.
This tells every Far-Right thug in the country that they have utter impunity.
Look at the social media of every Far-Right organiser in the UK... This was so clearly planned.
This tells every Far-Right thug in the country that they have utter impunity.
September 6, 2026 at 9:22 AM
Shameful.
The state of this country and its media.
September 5, 2026 at 12:02 PM
The state of this country and its media.
Reposted by Prof Ben Pohl
Going to see the Bayeux Tapestry? Be sure to look out for the image that may well have been inspired by the 6thC Augustine Gospels (CCCC MS 286)
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...
The 11thC embroidery was probably made at Canterbury where the MS was then at St Augustine’s Abbey
#bayeuxtapestry
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...
The 11thC embroidery was probably made at Canterbury where the MS was then at St Augustine’s Abbey
#bayeuxtapestry
September 4, 2026 at 12:34 PM
Going to see the Bayeux Tapestry? Be sure to look out for the image that may well have been inspired by the 6thC Augustine Gospels (CCCC MS 286)
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...
The 11thC embroidery was probably made at Canterbury where the MS was then at St Augustine’s Abbey
#bayeuxtapestry
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...
The 11thC embroidery was probably made at Canterbury where the MS was then at St Augustine’s Abbey
#bayeuxtapestry
Turns out the easiest way to teach English speakers the correct pronunciation of my surname—not 'pole' (/pəʊl/), nor 'pool' (/puːl/), but [poːl]—is to tell them the 'oh' sounds like a Geordie saying the word 'phone' ([foːn]).
September 4, 2026 at 11:52 AM
Turns out the easiest way to teach English speakers the correct pronunciation of my surname—not 'pole' (/pəʊl/), nor 'pool' (/puːl/), but [poːl]—is to tell them the 'oh' sounds like a Geordie saying the word 'phone' ([foːn]).
Sorry, gotta vent: yesterday a major national broadcaster asked me to go live on prime-time TV for their news coverage of a historic exhibition opening. I agreed. They went silent. Then they told me it had been cancelled. When I tuned in that evening, some pseudo-historian was offering his 2 cents.
September 3, 2026 at 8:05 AM
Sorry, gotta vent: yesterday a major national broadcaster asked me to go live on prime-time TV for their news coverage of a historic exhibition opening. I agreed. They went silent. Then they told me it had been cancelled. When I tuned in that evening, some pseudo-historian was offering his 2 cents.
In the interest of my sanity and blood pressure, I shall stay well clear of BBC Radio 4 today…
September 3, 2026 at 7:53 AM
In the interest of my sanity and blood pressure, I shall stay well clear of BBC Radio 4 today…
