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This is a detailed timetable for Pitt-Rivers' activities as Inspector of Ancient Monuments. It is hoped that additional information will be added to this as it becomes clear. Please write if you know of any activities that are not recorded below to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.:
Year |
Date |
Activity and Location |
Source |
1883 |
January 1 |
Takes up duties as Inspector of Ancient Monuments |
Thompson, 1977: 64, 73, 125; Chapman 1981 Chapter 7 |
1883 |
May 3 - ? |
Pitt-Rivers goes to Marlborough, and Bath, visits Silbury Hill, then on to Kingston Lisle, Uffington / White Horse in Oxfordshire [Berkshire] |
National Archives workbook 39/14 page 14-22 |
1883 |
June 7 |
Pitt-Rivers carries out visit as Inspector of Ancient Monuments to Oxfordshire / Warwickshire |
National Archives workbook 39/14 page 22 |
1883 |
June 30 |
Pitt-Rivers visits Danes Camp in Northampton, travelling to Northampton by train from London, also visits Duston |
National Archives workbook 39/14 page 37 |
1883 |
July 1 |
Pitt-Rivers appears to have been excavating at Hunsbury Camp, near Northampton with H. Pressland |
Volume 1 CUL volumes, page 263 |
1883 |
July 12 |
Pitt-Rivers visits Stantonbury Camp near Bath |
National Archives workbook 39/14 page 43 |
1883 |
July 13 |
Pitt-Rivers visits Stoney Littleton near Bath |
National Archives workbook 39/14 page 51 |
1883 |
July 14 |
Pitt-Rivers visits Uley (Buck Holt Tump) |
National Archives workbook 39/14 page 56 |
1883 |
August 29 |
Pitt-Rivers takes train from London to Bakewell, visits Hob Hursts House and Arbourlow |
National Archives workbook 39/14 page 61-63 |
1883 |
August 30 |
Pitt-Rivers stays in Bakewell, visits Rowsley |
National Archives workbook 39/14 page 71 |
1883 |
August 31 |
Pitt-Rivers visits Rowsley, Nine Ladies stays at Bakewell |
National Archives workbook 39/14 page 71 |
1883 |
September 1 |
Pitt-Rivers visits Arbourlow, night at Bakewell |
National Archives workbook 39/14 page 71 |
1883 |
September 2 |
Pitt-Rivers travels from Bakewell to Penrith, stays at Penrith |
National Archives workbook 39/14 page 71 |
1883 |
September 3 |
Pitt-Rivers visits Lowther Castle, Brougham Castle etc night at Penrith |
National Archives workbook 39/14 page 71 |
1883 |
September 4 |
Pitt-Rivers visits Long Megg site, night at Penrith |
National Archives workbook 39/14 page 71 |
1883 |
September 5 |
Pitt-Rivers travels Penrith to Keswick, stays at Keswick |
National Archives workbook 39/14 page 99 |
1883 |
September 6 |
Pitt-Rivers travels Penrith to Edinburgh and stays overnight at Edinburgh |
National Archives workbook 39/14 page 99 |
1883 |
September 7 |
Pitt-Rivers travels to ?Kirkleton, stays night at Edinburgh |
National Archives workbook 39/14 page 99 |
1883 |
September 8 |
Pitt-Rivers stays in Edinburgh |
National Archives workbook 39/14 page 99 |
1883 |
September 9 |
Pitt-Rivers travels from Edinburgh to London Acquired objects from dealers in Edinburgh during this stay dated 11 August |
National Archives workbook 39/14 page 99; CUL volume 1 |
1883 |
Before November 16 |
Reported that Pitt-Rivers 'for last few days' had been examining site in Penselwood [Pen Pits] |
Morning Post 16 November 1883 p. 5 |
1884 |
May 31 |
Pitt-Rivers visits Castle Dykes Northampton |
National Archives workbook 39/14 page 114 |
1884 |
June 3 |
Pitt-Rivers inspecting Wayland's Smithy, Uffington and White Horse Hill, Oxfordshire (then Berkshire) |
National Archives workbook 39/12 page 6 |
1884 |
June 8 |
Pitt-Rivers inspecting Pentre Ifan, a megalithic site, between Fishguard and Cardigan in Pembrokeshire |
According to this website |
1884 |
June ? |
Pitt-Rivers carries out inspection visit of Midlands, Wales |
Thompson, 1977:66, 125 |
1884 |
July 19 |
Pitt-Rivers visiting Bakewell, Derbyshire |
National Archives workbook 39/12 page 64 |
1884 |
August 2 |
Visiting Brechin, Scotland |
National Archives workbook 39/12 page 37 |
1884 |
August 25-26 |
Pitt-Rivers visiting St Vigeans Church, Arbroath |
National Archives workbook 39/12 page 31 |
1884 |
August 30 |
Pitt-Rivers visiting Huntley, Aberdeenshire |
National Archives workbook 39/12 page 53 |
1884 |
2-30 August / September |
Pitt-Rivers carries out inspection visit of East coast of Scotland. Visiting dealers in Edinburgh 8.9.1884 |
Thompson, 1977:66, 125, CUL volume 1. National Archives workbook 39/12 |
1884 |
September 25 |
Pitt-Rivers has letter published on Pen Pits, signed himself Inspector of Ancient Monuments |
The Times 25 September 1884 |
1884 |
September no days |
Pitt-Rivers carries out inspection visit of East coast of Scotland |
CUL Volume 2 page 99 |
1884 |
No month no days |
Pitt-Rivers tours Oxfordshire archaeological sites as part of Inspector job |
Chapman, 1981: 496 |
1885 |
April no days |
Pitt-Rivers carries out inspection of Kit Coty House, Kent [exact date unknown] |
British Architect 23:16 17 April 1885 |
1885 |
July 25 and on |
Pitt-Rivers carries out inspector's tour of Cumberland, Westmoreland, Orkneys and west coast Scotland. 31 July in Edinburgh visiting dealers |
National Archives workbook 39/ 16 page 12 |
1885 |
July 28 |
Inspector's tour of Cumberland, Pitt-Rivers at Burn Moor Eskdale |
National Archives workbook 39/ 6 page 31 |
1885 |
July 29 |
Inspector's tour of Cumberland, Pitt-Rivers at Shap |
National Archives workbook 39/ 6 page 31 |
1885 |
August ?4 - ?5 September |
Scotland, Inspector's tour, on Isle of Lewis Pitt-Rivers inspecting stone circle near 'Gary-na-line' Inn and sheiling near 'Bavin gail' |
National Archives workbook 39/16 page 117, 120; Thompson, 1977: 126; CUL Volume 2 page 147 and on. National Archives workbook 39/6 page 37 confirms he was near Oban on 4.8.1885, 39/6 page 4 confirms he was at Culloden on 5.9.1885, page 1 dated August, page 46 dated 13.8.1885 on Isle of Lewis |
1885 |
by September 12 |
Pitt-Rivers at British Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Aberdeen, reads paper on ancient remains and goverment plans to preserve them |
The Times 12 September 1885 |
1886 |
July |
Pitt-Rivers writes to Hampshire Field Club requesting list of ancient monuments |
Antiquarian News, Antiquary 14 (July 1886) p. 35 |
1886 |
October ?25-28 |
Pitt-Rivers carries out Inspectors visit of Scotland |
Thompson, 1977: 67-8. See National Archives workbook 39/7 page 7, 8 for Whithorn on 25.10.1886, page 11 in Kirkcubrightshire on 26.10.1886, page 14 Kirkmadrine and page 20 Stoney Kirk both 27.10.1886, page 23 Laggangarn 28.10.1886 |
1886 |
October 25 |
Pitt-Rivers visits Whithorn |
National Archives workbook 39/7 page 8 |
1886 |
October 26 |
Pitt-Rivers visits Kirkcubrightshire |
National Archives workbook 39/7 page 11 |
1886 |
October 27 |
Pitt-Rivers visits Kirkmadrine |
National Archives workbook 39/7 page 14 |
1886 |
October 27 |
Pitt-Rivers visits Stoney Kirk |
National Archives workbook 39/7 page 20 |
1886 |
October 28 |
Pitt-Rivers visits Laggangarn |
National Archives workbook 39/7 page 23 |
1886 |
December ? |
Pitt-Rivers carries out Inspector's visit of North Wales |
Thompson, 1977: 67-8 |
1887 |
August ?27-31 |
Pitt-Rivers visiting Derbyshire and South Yorkshire as Inspector of Ancient Monuments |
Thompson, 1977: 126. National Archives Workbook 39/7 page 27 in W. Sheffield 29.8.1887; page 32 he was at Bradfield near Sheffield on 31.8.1887, and in Sheffield on 30.8.1887, page 52 |
1887 |
August 29 |
Pitt-Rivers visiting Karlwarll [?] near Sheffield and also Hope in Derbyshire |
National Archives workbook 39/9 pages 12, 21 |
1887 |
September ?1 |
Pitt-Rivers visiting South Yorkshire |
National Archives Workbook 39/7 makes it clear that he was in Sheffield on 1.9.1887 looking at Bateman collection in Sheffield Museum |
1887 |
September 17 |
Pitt-Rivers visiting Dorchester Maiden Castle and ampitheatre in Dorchester |
National Archives workbook 39/9 pages 64, 66. |
1887 |
October ?9-15 |
Pitt-Rivers in Scotland |
Thompson, 1977: 126. See National Archives workbook 39/5 page 4 etc and 39/8 page 3 and on. |
1887 |
October |
Pitt-Rivers in Cumberland and Westmoreland, tour as part of duties of Inspector of Ancient Monuments. |
Quarterly Notes on Archaeological Progress and Development Reliquary 1 October 1887 p. 242 |
1887 |
November 4 |
Pitt-Rivers sends off Ancient Monument Report |
National Archives workbook 39/8 page 34 |
1887 |
December 29 |
Pitt-Rivers copies information held by Rev Jenkins, Penmachno as part of duties as Inspector of Ancient Monuments |
National Archives workbook 39/5 page 21 |
1888 |
September 25 and on |
Pitt-Rivers tours south west England as Inspector of Ancient Monuments |
Route given National Archives workbook 39/10 page 7, date given page 8 [goes straight on to tour in October in Wales] |
1888 |
October 3-9 |
Pitt-Rivers in Carmarthen, Wales as Inspector of Ancient Monuments, later he travels home via Bath and Devizes [on 9.10.1888] |
National Archives Workbook 39/4 pages 24, 31 confirms dates. Bath visit confirmed 39/4 page 46, Devizes pages 48, 53 |
1889 |
April 1-5 |
Pitt-Rivers visits Devizes, Bradford on Avon etc as Inspector of Ancient Monuments |
National Archives workbook 39/10 page 10, page 11 and on give dates |
1889 |
May 28 |
Pitt-Rivers attends meeting of Anthropological Institute and exhibits skeletal finds from excavations at Hunsbury Camp, Northampton and Llantwit, Cardiff |
Peter Rivière |
1889 |
27-31 July |
Pitt-Rivers carries out Inspector's tour of Scotland, in Edinburgh 28-31 July, left for Perth on 31.7.1889 |
Thompson, 1977: 68, 126. National Archives workbook 39/3 confirms dates page 19 someone is at Dyce on 16.8.89, workbook 39/8 page 46 confirms someone was in Perth on 29.8.1889. National Archives 39/13 page 9 says left Euston London on July 27, arrives Edinburgh 28th where he stayed until 31st |
1889 |
August 1 |
Pitt-Rivers returns to London leaving Gray and Tomkin to do tour [Mrs Rivers ill, Pitt-Rivers informed by telegram] |
National Archives workbook 39/13 page 10 |
1889 |
August 29 |
Pitt-Rivers returns to Scotland to resume Inspectors tour |
National Archives workbook 39/13 page 28 |
1889 |
September 2-3 |
Pitt-Rivers visiting Glamis, Scotland |
National Archives workbook 39/13 page 28 |
1889 |
September 4 |
Pitt-Rivers visiting Aberdeen, Scotland |
National Archives workbook 39/13 page 28 |
1889 |
September 10 |
Pitt-Rivers visiting St Andrews, Scotland |
National Archives workbook 39/13 page 48 |
1889 |
October 1-3 |
Pitt-Rivers still in Newcastle |
CUL volume 2 page 613 and on |
1889 |
|
? First year Pitt-Rivers uses typewriter and camera in record keeping |
Thompson, 1977: 95 |
1889 |
|
Pitt-Rivers' assistant, Tomkin sent to Polytechnic in London for instruction in photography and drawing |
Thompson, 1977: 95 |
1890 |
March |
Pitt-Rivers visiting Chedworth Roman Villa as Inspector of Ancient Monuments |
National Archives workbook 39/11 page 37 |
1890 |
May 28 |
Pitt-Rivers writes encouraging archaeological investigation in England |
The Times 2 June 1890 |
1890 |
June 2 |
Pitt-Rivers publishes letter in Times 2 June 1890 for establishment of English Exploration Fund |
NOTES ON CURRENT EVENTS., British Architect, 33:23 (1890:June 6) p.401-2 |
1890 |
June 12 |
Pitt-Rivers exhibits models of crosses at Society of Antiquaries. Announcement of talk by Pitt-Rivers on crosses at Society |
Thompson, 1977: 126; The Times 12 June 1890 |
1890 |
July 4 |
Pitt-Rivers writes on preserving British antiquities from Rushmore |
The Times 15 July 1890 |
1890 |
September 7 or 8 |
Pitt-Rivers visiting Haverfordwest Wales as Inspector of Ancient Monuments. [NB It is possible that this tour was done by P-R's assistant rather than himself. Workbook supports this as it is written by assistant] |
National Archives workbook 39/13 page 54, 56 |
1890 |
September 9 |
Pitt-Rivers visiting Longhouse, Wales |
National Archives workbook 39/13 page 57 |
1890 |
September 12 |
Pitt-Rivers visiting Pen Bont, ?Newport, Wales |
National Archives workbook 39/4 page 60 |
1890 |
September ? |
Pitt-Rivers congratulated on recovering from an unspecified illness which has prevented him working |
L651 Salisbury & South Wiltshire Museum Pitt-Rivers papers |
1890 |
|
Pitt-Rivers gives up salary but keeps honorary post of Inspector |
Thompson, 1977: 126 |
1891 |
April 25 |
Pitt-Rivers gives money for work on Roman walls in Chester |
Roman Remains in Chester, Athenaeum 3313 (1891:Apr. 25) p.543-4 |
1891 |
July 22 – September 8 |
Pitt-Rivers tries to buy Old Sarum; eventually Dean and Chapter retained possession |
Manchester Guardian 22 July 1891; Morning Post 8 September 1891 p. 3 |
1892 |
September 17 |
Pitt-Rivers involved with rescue of Alfriston Church, Sussex |
Manchester Guardian 17 September 1892 |
1897 |
October 22 |
Pitt-Rivers comments on toothlessness of Ancient Monuments Act |
Manchester Guardian 22 October 1897 |