Super extremely happy to say that Hurled Towards the Future: Lesbian Photography and Queer Imagination in 1980s London is out on 9 June. You can pre-order it now via @yalebooks !
I’ll be having a launch on 4 June at @thephotographersgallery - there’ll be drinks, books, and a chat with @a_m_y_t_o_b_i_n . Details on their website. More events TBC later in the year!
Publication day!!! Very surreal that a year ago we were deep in the process of writing this thing, and as of today it’s available in bookstores (May 7 for Canada/US). It’s big and very beautiful, it looks great with its orange companion, and I can confirm that multiple copies make for an excellent laptop stand.
Planning events in London & York soon - details to follow!
Around Easter I found this really unusual and ornate gilded bead (+ a cut quarter of a hammered coin, a rose farthing, and a small lead token!)
It has a tiny hole at the top so I’m assuming it would have dangled off of a garment, or been part of a piece of jewellery? I’m also assuming that it’s Tudor, though I would welcome any thoughts. Beads/embellishments are v difficult to research, but I’m hoping I can figure out more because it’s absolutely beautiful and I love it!
An exciting token, found earlier in the spring! Which is pewter rather than the usual lead. It has a broad arrow on one side and a lion passant on the other, both of which are associated with the English government. The broad arrow was introduced in 1586 to indicate goods bought with the King’s money and also stamped onto government property, like nails used for naval shipbuilding. So while I can’t find any examples of similar tokens, I’m kind of imagining that this might have been paid out by a government office in exchange for goods/services. If anyone has seen one similar please let me know, as it’s currently a bit of a mystery!
From last autumn, my first complete thimble. It’s being recorded and our finds liaison officer thinks it’s probably dated to the 1700s.
It was made in one piece, which is known as a Lofting thimble. This is after a Dutch guy, John Lofting, who brought the technology to make thimbles like this to England in the 1690s, setting up a factory in Islington.
My favourite thing I’ve learned is that ‘thimble’ derives from an old English word meaning ‘thumb stall’. Obviously thimbles mediate between the finger and a needle by stopping it from reaching your skin, but that word ‘stall’ has made me think of this as a kind of temporal force field, which is fun!
From late last year, my first jaw harp. Hard to date, but I’d imagine somewhere in the middle of the 1500-1800 range.
These are small, portable instruments which were often used by sailors. You can see the stub of a metal tongue in the middle, which has otherwise broken off - the harp is played by holding the frame in your mouth and changing its shape while plucking the tongue, which creates a weird drone-y sound kind of like a didgeridoo. Would recommend watching videos, it’s very cool!
I asked the river for a commonwealth coin and ten minutes later this half groat washed in! A funny kind of magic which usually doesn’t work.
This was minted between 1649-60, during the ‘protectorship’ of Oliver (and then Richard) Cromwell. Rather than royal imagery it shows the shields of England and Ireland (cross and harp) intertwined. The other side has England’s shield surrounded by laurel leaves and a palm branch, signifying victory over the monarchy and peace. These are probably my favourite coins to find?! Bonus pic of Cromwell’s death mask because of course.
The last day of Rome 😭
The part of the foreshore which had eroded to the level of Roman Londinium is being filled in. I never managed to tick off most of my Roman bucket list but it’s where I had all my beginners luck, and I’m so grateful to have found what will maybe be the last Roman die to wash out! It’s too tall and not entirely straight, ie perfect. Plus a Bartmann face for good measure!
A half penny issued in Grantham, Lincolnshire, in 1667.
The legend reads “A Halfpenny to be Exchanged / By the Overseers of the Poor”. It would have been given to someone in need to help them pay for food etc in the local area, kind of like 17th c dole money.
According to records sent by @seanclarkmudlark , the suggestion to issue these tokens was made on December 20 1667 by Thomas Short, Grantham’s Alderman (second to the mayor), who had seen them used in other towns. Found, as usual, on the verge of going home!
