- Eric Birley
Eric Barff Birley (
January 12 ,1906 -October 20 ,1995 ), was a British historian and archaeologist, particularly associated with the excavation of the forts ofHadrian's Wall .Eric Birley was born at
Eccles ,Salford inLancashire . He studied atBrasenose College, Oxford , underMichael Holroyd andR. G. Collingwood , the latter an amateur archaeologist. In 1931 he became a lecturer at the University of Durham, where he ended his academic career as Professor of Romano-British History and Archaeology, and the master ofHatfield College . In 1934 he married Peggy Goodlet, a former student of his. Their two sons, Robin and Anthony, would both become eminent in their field, and would continue their father's work at Vindolanda.Becoming interested in the Wall, Birley succeeded in buying the house at Chesterholm that had belonged to
Anthony Hedley , one of the first to take an interest in theVindolanda site. DuringWorld War II , he worked in military intelligence, but as soon as the war was over, he resumed his researches into the history and archaeology of the Wall, becoming an expert on the Roman army. For his “practical experience of the ways in which modern armies work”, he was inspired in asking questions about organisation and methods of the Roman army. [Eric Birley: "Introduction". In: Eric Birley: "The Roman Army. Papes 1929–1986". Amsterdam 1988, p. vii.]His house was eventually converted into a museum and research centre, in which the spectacular finds from Vindolanda are displayed and interpreted.
Birley family
Eric was the great-grandson of
Hugh Hornby Birley , who led the troops at thePeterloo Massacre . [ [http://www.birley.org/jbirleyd/d15368.htm#P15368 Entry on Birley family genealogy] ]References
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