Stuart Rigold Explained

Stuart Rigold
Birth Date:8 December 1919
Nationality:British
Fields:ArchaeologyPhotography
Workplaces:Inspectorate of Ancient Monuments
Alma Mater:University of St Andrews, St. Peter's Hall University of Oxford
Known For:Timber framingNumismatics
Spouse:Married Eleanor Pike

Stuart Eborall Rigold FSA FRHistS FRSA (8 December 1919 – 5 July 1980) was a British photographer and archaeologist, who served as president of the British Numismatic Society between 1971 and 1975 and principal inspector of England for the Inspectorate of Ancient Monuments between 1976 and 1978. He had a keen personal interest in medieval architecture on which he studied and wrote extensively, and was a pioneer of the scholarship of timber framing.

Early life and education

The Rigold family came originally from either Germany or Austria, the surname thought to be a likely variant of Reginald, and is also found as Rigault, Rigauld and Rigaud. His father was a mining engineer, and Stuart took his middle name, Eborall from his mother's maiden name. Stuart was reportedly proud of his initials S.E.R. due to his great-grandfather having been the general manager of the South Eastern Railway.

Stuart grew up close to Rolvenden in Kent, to which he remained particularly attached. As a student at Sutton Valence he stuttered which he managed in later life.

In 1936, at the age of 17, Stuart went up to the University of St Andrews to read geology together with English, French and classics. This was, however, to be cut short by the outbreak of war. Following service at Bletchley Park, working with the Enigma outfit and becoming a warrant officer II,[1] [2] he went up to St. Peter's Hall, Oxford to read Greats, matriculating in 1946.

Employment

On coming down from Oxford in 1948 a BA (later progressing to MA), Rigold joined the Inspectorate of Ancient Monuments, which was to be the primary focus of his life's work. Here he worked for 30 years, becoming principal inspector for England in his final two years.

In 1963 Rigold was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, serving on its council ten years later. He was also a prominent member of numerous other societies, including the Kent Archaeological Society, to whose publication, Archaeologia Cantiana he contributed a large number of articles. He played a prominent part in the Society for Medieval Archaeology, using his wide-ranging knowledge on the editorial committee, and also in the Royal and British Numismatic Societies, the latter of which he was president from 1971 to 1975[3] and gold medallist. He was familiar at both Burlington House and the Warburg Institute, where he was a highly valued contributor to discussions.

Photographs by Rigold are held in the Conway Library of art and architecture at the Courtauld Institute of Art.[4]

Personal life

Rigold Married Eleanor Pike in 1955, who survived him. The couple had no children.

Bibliography[5]

Biography

Books

Select journal articles

Archaeologia Cantiana

British Numismatic Journal

The Archaeological Journal

Medieval Archaeology

Journal of the British Archaeological Association

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Roll of Honour — Stuart Eborall Rigold. 2020-09-24. Bletchley Park.
  2. https://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Pub/ArchCant/Vol.088%20-%201973/07/087.htm
  3. https://www.britnumsoc.org/publications/Digital%20BNJ/pdfs/1971_BNJ_40_17.pdf
  4. Web site: 2020-06-30. Who made the Conway Library?. 2020-10-01. Digital Media. 3 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200703211341/http://blog.courtauld.ac.uk/digitalmedia/2020/06/30/who-made-the-conway-library/. dead.
  5. Web site: RI OPAC: Authors. 2020-09-24. opac.regesta-imperii.de. de.

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