Christopher Elrington
Encyclopedia
Christopher Robin Elrington (20 January 1930 – 3 August 2009) was an English
historian, known primarily for his work with the Victoria County History
. Elrington was born in Farnborough
, as the second of three sons of Brigadier
Maxwell Elrington, and his wife Beryl. Christopher's father died in active service in Germany, while the son was 15. Elrington was educated at Wellington College
, Berkshire
, before performing his military service. He later went to University College
, University of Oxford
, where he took a BA. After this he did his MA in medieval
history at Bedford College, University of London
.
In 1954 Elrington started working for the Victoria County History
. The project an attempt to build a comprehensive history of all the counties
of England was at this time in a phase of revival, after having been dormant since the time of the First World War
. Initially he worked primarily on the history of Birmingham
, as well as a history of the parish of Woodford in Wiltshire
, that would serve as a model for the format that the new editions of the works would adopt. In 1960 work started on the county of Gloucestershire, and Elrington moved to the county to get closer to the sources. Over the course of eight years, he and his assistants completed two and a half volumes covering over sixty places, which was considered a good rate of work. In 1968 he returned to London, where he became deputy editor of the whole project. Then, in 1977, he was made general editor, succeeding Ralph Pugh
, and remained in this post until 1994. As the coordinator of the work of over thirty professional historians, he had great influence on the work, and put greater emphasise on such things as the history of the landscape. Much of his effort was also focused on financing the project, which at the time was running into financial difficulties.
From 1962 to 1972 he was the General Editor of the Wiltshire Record Society
, an honorary position.
Elrington became a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
in 1964, and of the Royal Historical Society
in 1969. The University of London
gave him the title of professor in 1992, though he did not teach there. After he retired in 1994 he became an Emeritus
professor. While at Oxford he met and married Jean Margaret Buchanan, an architect. Together they had twins; a son and a daughter.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
historian, known primarily for his work with the Victoria County History
Victoria County History
The Victoria History of the Counties of England, commonly known as the Victoria County History or the VCH, is an English history project which began in 1899 and was dedicated to Queen Victoria with the aim of creating an encyclopaedic history of each of the historic counties of...
. Elrington was born in Farnborough
Farnborough, Hampshire
-History:Name changes: Ferneberga ; Farnburghe, Farenberg ; Farnborowe, Fremborough, Fameborough .Tower Hill, Cove: There is substantial evidence...
, as the second of three sons of Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
Maxwell Elrington, and his wife Beryl. Christopher's father died in active service in Germany, while the son was 15. Elrington was educated at Wellington College
Wellington College, Berkshire
-Former pupils:Notable former pupils include historian P. J. Marshall, architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, impressionist Rory Bremner, Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge, author Sebastian Faulks, language school pioneer John Haycraft, political journalist Robin Oakley, actor Sir Christopher...
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, before performing his military service. He later went to University College
University College, Oxford
.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...
, University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, where he took a BA. After this he did his MA in medieval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
history at Bedford College, University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
.
In 1954 Elrington started working for the Victoria County History
Victoria County History
The Victoria History of the Counties of England, commonly known as the Victoria County History or the VCH, is an English history project which began in 1899 and was dedicated to Queen Victoria with the aim of creating an encyclopaedic history of each of the historic counties of...
. The project an attempt to build a comprehensive history of all the counties
Historic counties of England
The historic counties of England are subdivisions of England established for administration by the Normans and in most cases based on earlier Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and shires...
of England was at this time in a phase of revival, after having been dormant since the time of the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Initially he worked primarily on the history of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, as well as a history of the parish of Woodford in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, that would serve as a model for the format that the new editions of the works would adopt. In 1960 work started on the county of Gloucestershire, and Elrington moved to the county to get closer to the sources. Over the course of eight years, he and his assistants completed two and a half volumes covering over sixty places, which was considered a good rate of work. In 1968 he returned to London, where he became deputy editor of the whole project. Then, in 1977, he was made general editor, succeeding Ralph Pugh
Ralph Pugh
Ralph Bernard Pugh was an historian and editor of the Victoria History of the Counties of England from 1949 to 1977....
, and remained in this post until 1994. As the coordinator of the work of over thirty professional historians, he had great influence on the work, and put greater emphasise on such things as the history of the landscape. Much of his effort was also focused on financing the project, which at the time was running into financial difficulties.
From 1962 to 1972 he was the General Editor of the Wiltshire Record Society
Wiltshire Record Society
The Wiltshire Record Society is a publishing association in Wiltshire, England, which edits and publishes historic documents concerned with the history of Wiltshire.-History:...
, an honorary position.
Elrington became a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
in 1964, and of the Royal Historical Society
Royal Historical Society
The Royal Historical Society was founded in 1868. The premier society in the United Kingdom which promotes and defends the scholarly study of the past, it is based at University College London...
in 1969. The University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
gave him the title of professor in 1992, though he did not teach there. After he retired in 1994 he became an Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
professor. While at Oxford he met and married Jean Margaret Buchanan, an architect. Together they had twins; a son and a daughter.