Audrey Williams

Audrey Williams ( Davies; 1902–1978) was a Welsh archaeologist. She was the first woman president of the Royal Institution of South Wales (RISW) She excavated three Iron Age Promontory Forts on the Gower Peninsula. Sheppard Frere succeeded her in 1946 as director. They co-wrote several publications about the Roman excavations, and she published two articles in her own name.

In London, she once again worked with Grimes, on excavations at sites in the City of London affected by bomb damage, prior to their redevelopment, including Barbican, St Brides and Fleet Street. One of the most prominent excavations she worked on was the Temple of Mithras, which was discovered at a building site at Walbrook in 1954. The unexpected discovery of a bust of Mithras on the last scheduled day of the excavation generated considerable press and public interest, debates in Parliament and discussion in the Cabinet. The excavation was extended, allowing further discoveries to be made, but delaying the construction. Grimes is often solely credited as the director of the excavations, however he was running another site in London at the same time. Williams was on site every day and her work makes up much of the archive; because of her contribution, John Shepherd ensured her name was included in the title in his report of the excavation, The Temple of Mithras, London: Excavations by W. F. Grimes and A. Williams at the Walbrook. Grimes always described her as the better excavator.

In 1950, she divorced Williams, and remarried in 1952 to Illtyd Stockwood, which also ended in divorce in 1956. In 1959, she married W.F. Grimes and retired from professional archaeology. The couple returned to Wales in 1973, to Williams's home in Brynmill in Swansea. Williams died in 1978. Her ashes were scattered at Pwlldu Bay on the Gower Peninsula.

Published works

In Archaeologica Cambrensis

Roman coin from Gorseinon, Glamorgan. XCI, p. 311, 1936. Hammer or mace from Oxwich, Glamorgan. XCI, p. 309. 1936 Some Roman pottery from Basingwerk Abbey. XCI, p. 144, 1936. Bronze implements from Swansea, Glamorgan. XCII, p. 333, 1937. Prehistoric and Roman pottery in the museum of the Royal Institution of South Wales, Swansea. XCIV, p. 21, 1939. Excavation at the Knave promontory fort, Rhosilli, Glamorgan. XCIV, p. 210, 1939. The excavation of Bishopston Valley promontory fort, Glamorgan. XCV, p. 9, 1940 The excavation of High Pennard promontory fort, Glamorgan. XCVI, p. 23, 1941 Two Bronze Age barrows, Fairwood Common, Gower, Glamorgan. XCVIII, p. 52, 1944 More Roman pottery from Basingwerk Abbey. XCIX. p. 256, 1945. A promontory fort, Henllan, Cardiganshire. XCIX, p. 226, 1945. Clegyr Voia, St. Davids, Pembrokeshire (excavation in 1943). CII, p. 20, 1952.

Other publications

Excavations at Langford Downs, Oxon. (near Leachdale) in 1943. Oxon., 11–12, 1947. Roman Canterbury 1944, Medici Society, 1947. Roman Canterbury 1945, Medici Society, 1948. Excavations at Allard's Quarry, Marnhull, Dorset, Proceedings Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 72, 1951 Excavations at Board Mill, Stanton Harcourt, Oxon. 16, 1951

With Sheppard Frere:

Roman Canterbury 1945–1946, Medici Society, 1949. Roman Canterbury: the City of Duroverum 1947–1953.