William Greenwell
Encyclopedia
Canon William Greenwell FRS FSA
FSA.Scot
(1820–1918) was an English
archaeologist.
, County Durham
, England
. He was the eldest son of his father William Thomas Greenwell (1777–1856) and mother Dorothy Smales.
He had three younger brothers Francis, Alan, and Henry Nicholas Greenwell
, and a sister Dorothy (1821–1882) who published poetry under the name Dora Greenwell
.
After an early education by Rev. George Newby, he attended Durham School
. One of his schoolmates was Henry Baker Tristram
. He matriculated at University College, Durham
in October 1836 and graduated with his BA
in June 1839. He starting training to be a barrister
at Middle Temple
, but did not like London
so returned to Durham in 1841 to study theology. He received an Master of Arts
in 1843.
Greenwell was ordained a deacon
by Bishop Edward Maltby
June 30, 1844 and priest June 28, 1846. He was bursar
of University College in Durham from 1844 to 1847.
His family estate included the site of the ancient Roman fort Longovicium
. As a child he and his brother Frank would scoop out soil covering the camp, leading to his interest in archaeology
. He was a founding member of the Tyneside Naturalists' Field Club in 1846, and later that year toured Germany and Italy. In 1852 he became principal of Neville Hall in Newcastle upon Tyne
. In August 1852 he presented a paper at an Archaeological Institute there.
Greenwell was appointed canon
at Durham Cathedral
from 1854 to his death, so was often known as Canon Greenwell.
He was also appointed librarian of Durham from 1862. In 1868 he was elected into the Society of Antiquaries of London
.
Greenwell is noted for his work on the Grimes Graves
along with his treatises on electrum
coinage of Cyzicus
.
He is also known as originator of "Greenwell's Glory", used in fly fishing
.
His fishing and hunting skills developed in early childhood on the River Browney
.
One of his students was Augustus Pitt Rivers
.
Greenwell died 27 January 1918.
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...
FSA.Scot
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland is the senior antiquarian body in Scotland, with its headquarters in the National Museum, Chambers Street, Edinburgh...
(1820–1918) was an English
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
archaeologist.
Life
William Greenwell was born 23 March 1820 in the estate known as Greenwell Ford near LanchesterLanchester, County Durham
Lanchester is a village and civil parish in County Durham, England, and was in the former district of Derwentside . It is to the west of the city of Durham and from the former steel town of Consett, and has a population of slightly over 4,000 people.Although there was a small drift mine on the...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, England
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...
. He was the eldest son of his father William Thomas Greenwell (1777–1856) and mother Dorothy Smales.
He had three younger brothers Francis, Alan, and Henry Nicholas Greenwell
Henry Nicholas Greenwell
Henry Nicholas Greenwell was an English merchant credited with establishing Kona coffee as an internationally known brand.His family became major land-holders in the Kona District of the island of Hawaii....
, and a sister Dorothy (1821–1882) who published poetry under the name Dora Greenwell
Dora Greenwell
-Life:Dorothy Greenwell was born 6 December 1821 at the family estate called Greenwell Ford in Lanchester, County Durham, England.Her father was William Thomas Greenwell and mother was Dorothy Smales ....
.
After an early education by Rev. George Newby, he attended Durham School
Durham School
Durham School, headmaster Martin George , is an independent British day and boarding school for boys and girls in Durham....
. One of his schoolmates was Henry Baker Tristram
Henry Baker Tristram
The Reverend Henry Baker Tristram FRS was an English clergyman, Biblical scholar, traveller and ornithologist.Tristram was born at Eglingham vicarage, near Alnwick, Northumberland, and studied at Durham School and Lincoln College, Oxford. In 1846 he was ordained a priest, but he suffered from...
. He matriculated at University College, Durham
University College, Durham
University College, commonly known as Castle, is a college of the University of Durham in England. Centred around Durham Castle on Palace Green, it was founded in 1832 and is the oldest of Durham's colleges. As with all of Durham's colleges, it is, independently of the University, a listed body...
in October 1836 and graduated with his BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in June 1839. He starting training to be a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
at Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
, but did not like London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
so returned to Durham in 1841 to study theology. He received an Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1843.
Greenwell was ordained a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
by Bishop Edward Maltby
Edward Maltby
Edward Maltby was an English clergyman of the Church of England. He became Bishop of Durham, controversial for his liberal politics, for his slightly naive ecumenism, and for the great personal wealth that he amassed....
June 30, 1844 and priest June 28, 1846. He was bursar
Bursar
A bursar is a senior professional financial administrator in a school or university.Billing of student tuition accounts are the responsibility of the Office of the Bursar. This involves sending bills and making payment plans with the ultimate goal of getting the student accounts paid off...
of University College in Durham from 1844 to 1847.
His family estate included the site of the ancient Roman fort Longovicium
Longovicium
Longovicium was an auxiliary fort on Dere Street, in the Roman province of Britannia Inferior. It is located just southwest of Lanchester in the English county of Durham, roughly to the west of the city of Durham and from Consett.-History:Longovicium was situated between the forts of...
. As a child he and his brother Frank would scoop out soil covering the camp, leading to his interest in archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
. He was a founding member of the Tyneside Naturalists' Field Club in 1846, and later that year toured Germany and Italy. In 1852 he became principal of Neville Hall in Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
. In August 1852 he presented a paper at an Archaeological Institute there.
Greenwell was appointed canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
at Durham Cathedral
Durham Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham is a cathedral in the city of Durham, England, the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Durham. The Bishopric dates from 995, with the present cathedral being founded in AD 1093...
from 1854 to his death, so was often known as Canon Greenwell.
He was also appointed librarian of Durham from 1862. In 1868 he was elected into the Society of Antiquaries of London
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...
.
Greenwell is noted for his work on the Grimes Graves
Grimes Graves
Grime's Graves is a large Neolithic flint mining complex near Brandon in England close to the border between Norfolk and Suffolk. It was worked between around circa 3000 BC and circa 1900 BC, although production may have continued well into the Bronze and Iron Ages owing to the low cost of flint...
along with his treatises on electrum
Electrum
Electrum is a naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver, with trace amounts of copper and other metals. It has also been produced artificially. The ancient Greeks called it 'gold' or 'white gold', as opposed to 'refined gold'. Its color ranges from pale to bright yellow, depending on the...
coinage of Cyzicus
Cyzicus
Cyzicus was an ancient town of Mysia in Anatolia in the current Balıkesir Province of Turkey. It was located on the shoreward side of the present Kapıdağ Peninsula , a tombolo which is said to have originally been an island in the Sea of Marmara only to be connected to the mainland in historic...
.
He is also known as originator of "Greenwell's Glory", used in fly fishing
Fly fishing
Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
.
His fishing and hunting skills developed in early childhood on the River Browney
River Browney
The River Browney is a river in County Durham, England, and the largest tributary of the River Wear.According to Durham County Council Internet GIS, the River Browney rises from a spring in Park Head Plantation, on the eastern slope of Skaylock Hill, roughly a mile south east of Waskerley...
.
One of his students was Augustus Pitt Rivers
Augustus Pitt Rivers
Lieutenant-General Augustus Henry Lane-Fox Pitt Rivers was an English army officer, ethnologist, and archaeologist. He was noted for his innovations in archaeological methods, and in the museum display of archaeological and ethnological collections.-Life and career:Born Augustus Henry Lane-Fox at...
.
Greenwell died 27 January 1918.
Works
With a translation, an appendix of original documents, and a glossary. Together with description of figures of skulls, general remarks on prehistoric crania, and an appendix by George Rolleston.External links
- The Greenwell Project Homepage (Durham University)