Construction History Society
@constructionhist.bsky.social
Construction history worldwide. Materials, technologies, systems and people relating to construction in the past. Journal, members' magazine, conferences etc
To get a follow-back tell us your construction interests.
https://www.constructionhistory.co.uk
To get a follow-back tell us your construction interests.
https://www.constructionhistory.co.uk
Pinned
The Construction Historian is delighted that so many of our mutuals on here are architects / architectural historians....
BUT...
Construction history is NOT the same as architectural history. Appearance isn't everything!
We are interested in how structures (incl buildings) were built, by whom & why.
BUT...
Construction history is NOT the same as architectural history. Appearance isn't everything!
We are interested in how structures (incl buildings) were built, by whom & why.
Reposted by Construction History Society
@sevensixfive.bsky.social they are practically begging you to apply 😆
September 21, 2026 at 7:50 PM
@sevensixfive.bsky.social they are practically begging you to apply 😆
Reposted by Construction History Society
15-17 George Street under construction. Lightbody is at the foot of the ramp. The Whiteinch Primary School in the background survived the building of the tunnel.
September 15, 2026 at 6:44 PM
15-17 George Street under construction. Lightbody is at the foot of the ramp. The Whiteinch Primary School in the background survived the building of the tunnel.
Reposted by Construction History Society
Rear facade of tenements under construction at 15-17 George St (later Medwyn St) in 1902. The figure on the ramp is William Lightbbody of builders Messrs P W & A Lightbody. 24 room-and-kitchen flats (16 with internal WC, 8 shared) built by a workforce of 10 men in 9 months.
#Glasgow
#Glasgow
September 15, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Rear facade of tenements under construction at 15-17 George St (later Medwyn St) in 1902. The figure on the ramp is William Lightbbody of builders Messrs P W & A Lightbody. 24 room-and-kitchen flats (16 with internal WC, 8 shared) built by a workforce of 10 men in 9 months.
#Glasgow
#Glasgow
Reposted by Construction History Society
Lath and Plaster:
Lath (from old German Lætt) meaning strips, or pieces, typically of wood.
While in English speaking countries it's typically ran parallel, it can vary greatly greatly.
Over time it transitioned to modern plaster board that we are familiar with today
Lath (from old German Lætt) meaning strips, or pieces, typically of wood.
While in English speaking countries it's typically ran parallel, it can vary greatly greatly.
Over time it transitioned to modern plaster board that we are familiar with today
September 21, 2026 at 8:58 AM
Lath and Plaster:
Lath (from old German Lætt) meaning strips, or pieces, typically of wood.
While in English speaking countries it's typically ran parallel, it can vary greatly greatly.
Over time it transitioned to modern plaster board that we are familiar with today
Lath (from old German Lætt) meaning strips, or pieces, typically of wood.
While in English speaking countries it's typically ran parallel, it can vary greatly greatly.
Over time it transitioned to modern plaster board that we are familiar with today
Reposted by Construction History Society
The trompe l'oeil of Gavi.
September 14, 2026 at 9:18 PM
The trompe l'oeil of Gavi.
Reposted by Construction History Society
Pottering along the coastal footpath at #StMonan’s #Fife first time I’ve noticed the surviving Leven and East Fife Railway infrastructure, opened early 1860s closed to passengers in 1965 and goods in 1966 #RailwayHeritage
September 15, 2026 at 7:25 AM
Pottering along the coastal footpath at #StMonan’s #Fife first time I’ve noticed the surviving Leven and East Fife Railway infrastructure, opened early 1860s closed to passengers in 1965 and goods in 1966 #RailwayHeritage
Reposted by Construction History Society
Any wood conservators want to live and teach in Vienna?
The Institute for Conservation and Restoration at the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna is looking for one.
A friend who works there forwarded this.
The Institute for Conservation and Restoration at the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna is looking for one.
A friend who works there forwarded this.
www.akbild.ac.at
September 15, 2026 at 10:02 AM
Any wood conservators want to live and teach in Vienna?
The Institute for Conservation and Restoration at the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna is looking for one.
A friend who works there forwarded this.
The Institute for Conservation and Restoration at the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna is looking for one.
A friend who works there forwarded this.
Reposted by Construction History Society
Huddersfield was the second town in the country to build council housing. My new post explores its early civic and housing history when it was described 'as advanced a town as any in the kingdom’:
municipaldreams.wordpress.com/2026/09/08/h...
municipaldreams.wordpress.com/2026/09/08/h...
September 12, 2026 at 8:11 AM
Huddersfield was the second town in the country to build council housing. My new post explores its early civic and housing history when it was described 'as advanced a town as any in the kingdom’:
municipaldreams.wordpress.com/2026/09/08/h...
municipaldreams.wordpress.com/2026/09/08/h...
Reposted by Construction History Society
One of my favourite archaeological projects in a career spanning over a quarter of a century was the opportunity to survey this 15th century latrine at the London Guildhall 😁🫣💩
Come & find out about my career in ruins at my London gig, 18 November:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-buildi...
Come & find out about my career in ruins at my London gig, 18 November:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-buildi...
September 11, 2026 at 12:17 PM
One of my favourite archaeological projects in a career spanning over a quarter of a century was the opportunity to survey this 15th century latrine at the London Guildhall 😁🫣💩
Come & find out about my career in ruins at my London gig, 18 November:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-buildi...
Come & find out about my career in ruins at my London gig, 18 November:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-buildi...
Reposted by Construction History Society
I literally debunked this for them in April. Skip forward to September and the short term memory of the BBC is in full view...
September 11, 2026 at 12:37 PM
I literally debunked this for them in April. Skip forward to September and the short term memory of the BBC is in full view...
Reposted by Construction History Society
16thc artisans for the win! ❤️
The roof construction of the Dutch Prime Minister's office —"het Torentje"—turns out to be in its original #EarlyModern state.
The wood's growth rings reveal it was made of oak from a tree cut down in southern Sweden around 1546 🤯
tinyurl.com/3frhvav3
#HistSTM #Craft 🗃️
The roof construction of the Dutch Prime Minister's office —"het Torentje"—turns out to be in its original #EarlyModern state.
The wood's growth rings reveal it was made of oak from a tree cut down in southern Sweden around 1546 🤯
tinyurl.com/3frhvav3
#HistSTM #Craft 🗃️
September 10, 2026 at 12:02 PM
16thc artisans for the win! ❤️
The roof construction of the Dutch Prime Minister's office —"het Torentje"—turns out to be in its original #EarlyModern state.
The wood's growth rings reveal it was made of oak from a tree cut down in southern Sweden around 1546 🤯
tinyurl.com/3frhvav3
#HistSTM #Craft 🗃️
The roof construction of the Dutch Prime Minister's office —"het Torentje"—turns out to be in its original #EarlyModern state.
The wood's growth rings reveal it was made of oak from a tree cut down in southern Sweden around 1546 🤯
tinyurl.com/3frhvav3
#HistSTM #Craft 🗃️
Reposted by Construction History Society
These 1920s Chicago house designs are fantastic.
They're quite simple and could be made today in timber, earth, straw, wood block or masonry
#Chicago
They're quite simple and could be made today in timber, earth, straw, wood block or masonry
#Chicago
September 7, 2026 at 10:43 AM
These 1920s Chicago house designs are fantastic.
They're quite simple and could be made today in timber, earth, straw, wood block or masonry
#Chicago
They're quite simple and could be made today in timber, earth, straw, wood block or masonry
#Chicago
Reposted by Construction History Society
Subways:
Excavating was far more common than tunnelling for subway and metro networks. The 'tunnels' can be surprisingly close to the surface, often making this a far more practical, faster and cheaper option.
Excavating was far more common than tunnelling for subway and metro networks. The 'tunnels' can be surprisingly close to the surface, often making this a far more practical, faster and cheaper option.
September 6, 2026 at 8:13 AM
Subways:
Excavating was far more common than tunnelling for subway and metro networks. The 'tunnels' can be surprisingly close to the surface, often making this a far more practical, faster and cheaper option.
Excavating was far more common than tunnelling for subway and metro networks. The 'tunnels' can be surprisingly close to the surface, often making this a far more practical, faster and cheaper option.
Reposted by Construction History Society
A modern megalithic monument for #StandingStoneSunday
An (unammed) circle of 15 locally sourced honey-coloured pillars of Hamstone at the northern limit of Ham Hill hillfort #Somerset
A Millenium Project to commemorate the centuries of stonemasons who toiled in the quarries here
📷 Aug 2026
An (unammed) circle of 15 locally sourced honey-coloured pillars of Hamstone at the northern limit of Ham Hill hillfort #Somerset
A Millenium Project to commemorate the centuries of stonemasons who toiled in the quarries here
📷 Aug 2026
September 6, 2026 at 8:01 AM
A modern megalithic monument for #StandingStoneSunday
An (unammed) circle of 15 locally sourced honey-coloured pillars of Hamstone at the northern limit of Ham Hill hillfort #Somerset
A Millenium Project to commemorate the centuries of stonemasons who toiled in the quarries here
📷 Aug 2026
An (unammed) circle of 15 locally sourced honey-coloured pillars of Hamstone at the northern limit of Ham Hill hillfort #Somerset
A Millenium Project to commemorate the centuries of stonemasons who toiled in the quarries here
📷 Aug 2026
Reposted by Construction History Society
Want to catch up with all #MiningLandscapes #EcoMuseum news and activities in one place? Our regular news review the Coal Vaults is ready for reading for July and August nip to www.mining-landscapes.org/news
September 5, 2026 at 8:07 AM
Want to catch up with all #MiningLandscapes #EcoMuseum news and activities in one place? Our regular news review the Coal Vaults is ready for reading for July and August nip to www.mining-landscapes.org/news
Reposted by Construction History Society
Someone must know what this typeface is called (used by the Ministry of Works on buildings now in the care of English Heritage)
I reckon English Heritage are missing a trick: they could be producing mugs with stuff like this on (seen at Carlisle Castle iirc)
September 2, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Someone must know what this typeface is called (used by the Ministry of Works on buildings now in the care of English Heritage)
Twelfth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, 25-27 September 2026
The conference theme is Building Practice: regulation, corruption, & adaptation, but there are other general sessions too. Booking link in ALT.
The proceedings have now gone to be printed. Here is the lovely cover:
The conference theme is Building Practice: regulation, corruption, & adaptation, but there are other general sessions too. Booking link in ALT.
The proceedings have now gone to be printed. Here is the lovely cover:
September 2, 2026 at 8:04 AM
Twelfth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society, 25-27 September 2026
The conference theme is Building Practice: regulation, corruption, & adaptation, but there are other general sessions too. Booking link in ALT.
The proceedings have now gone to be printed. Here is the lovely cover:
The conference theme is Building Practice: regulation, corruption, & adaptation, but there are other general sessions too. Booking link in ALT.
The proceedings have now gone to be printed. Here is the lovely cover:
Reposted by Construction History Society
Stone turned columns were quite common from the 19c onwards.
Much of this was done at the quarry, with the finish being at , or near the construction site, so as to avoid wasted effort.
Much of this was done at the quarry, with the finish being at , or near the construction site, so as to avoid wasted effort.
August 31, 2026 at 8:33 AM
Stone turned columns were quite common from the 19c onwards.
Much of this was done at the quarry, with the finish being at , or near the construction site, so as to avoid wasted effort.
Much of this was done at the quarry, with the finish being at , or near the construction site, so as to avoid wasted effort.
Reposted by Construction History Society
🧵I find this lithograph dating back to c.1824 fascinating as it is an area of York that many of us will have visited so many times. It illustrates workmen excavating the ruins of Saint Mary’s Abbey in the foreground. King’s Manor stands in the right middle-ground, with the
August 30, 2026 at 11:22 AM
🧵I find this lithograph dating back to c.1824 fascinating as it is an area of York that many of us will have visited so many times. It illustrates workmen excavating the ruins of Saint Mary’s Abbey in the foreground. King’s Manor stands in the right middle-ground, with the
Reposted by Construction History Society
Early, tall steel framed buildings with stone cladding tend to have something in common.
They rarely start the cladding from the base and work upwards for a good reason.
Any guesses?
They rarely start the cladding from the base and work upwards for a good reason.
Any guesses?
August 30, 2026 at 6:43 AM
Early, tall steel framed buildings with stone cladding tend to have something in common.
They rarely start the cladding from the base and work upwards for a good reason.
Any guesses?
They rarely start the cladding from the base and work upwards for a good reason.
Any guesses?
Reposted by Construction History Society
A rare example of pargetting in North America
New York, 1920s
New York, 1920s
August 24, 2026 at 9:53 AM
A rare example of pargetting in North America
New York, 1920s
New York, 1920s
Reposted by Construction History Society
Nice find during a building survey on the North Yorkshire Moors: an intact piggery swill chute (for pouring liquid feed into the stye). The trough has been removed but a cobbled floor surface remains. The humble and the everyday is still significant in buildings archaeology.
August 19, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Nice find during a building survey on the North Yorkshire Moors: an intact piggery swill chute (for pouring liquid feed into the stye). The trough has been removed but a cobbled floor surface remains. The humble and the everyday is still significant in buildings archaeology.
Reposted by Construction History Society
Obligatory York pint and crownpost photo. Bonus points for The Wonderstuff soundtrack.
August 19, 2026 at 7:44 PM
Obligatory York pint and crownpost photo. Bonus points for The Wonderstuff soundtrack.
Reposted by Construction History Society
🚨New on Substack: my post on the origins and design of the London County Council's Brandon Estate in Southwark whose 'slim white towers added a new and dramatic feature to the South London skyline' ...
municipaldreams.substack.com/p/the-brando...
municipaldreams.substack.com/p/the-brando...
The Brandon Estate, Southwark I: ‘New and dramatic’
The Brandon Estate in Southwark is ‘one of the most novel’ of the London County Council’s housing schemes.
municipaldreams.substack.com
August 20, 2026 at 8:03 AM
🚨New on Substack: my post on the origins and design of the London County Council's Brandon Estate in Southwark whose 'slim white towers added a new and dramatic feature to the South London skyline' ...
municipaldreams.substack.com/p/the-brando...
municipaldreams.substack.com/p/the-brando...
In which the Construction Historian learns a new word.
'multivallate' apparently means more than one set of ramparts.
Vallate from Latin 'vallum' meaning wall or rampart. 'Wall' comes from 'vallum' too.
'multivallate' apparently means more than one set of ramparts.
Vallate from Latin 'vallum' meaning wall or rampart. 'Wall' comes from 'vallum' too.
The awe-inspiring, 16 hectare multivallate hillfort of Traprain Law (Dunpendyrlaw / Dumpender Law) #EastLothian
This mighty site dominated the political landscape of early #Scotland from the Late Iron Age well into the post Roman period
📷 August 2014
Happy #HillfortsWednesday !
This mighty site dominated the political landscape of early #Scotland from the Late Iron Age well into the post Roman period
📷 August 2014
Happy #HillfortsWednesday !
August 19, 2026 at 2:59 PM
In which the Construction Historian learns a new word.
'multivallate' apparently means more than one set of ramparts.
Vallate from Latin 'vallum' meaning wall or rampart. 'Wall' comes from 'vallum' too.
'multivallate' apparently means more than one set of ramparts.
Vallate from Latin 'vallum' meaning wall or rampart. 'Wall' comes from 'vallum' too.