Dina Portway Dobson

Dina Portway Dobson-Hinton (1885 – 1968) was an English archaeologist and pioneering caver. As well as teaching and writing on prehistory and ancient history, she explored caves in the Mendip Hills and advocated for women in the magistracy.

Early life and education She was born Dina Portway on 3 March 1885, the eldest of six children of stove manufacturer H. Portway. Educated at Bedford High School, she studied history at Newnham College, Cambridge between 1903 and 1906. Cambridge did not award degrees to women at that time, but she received her Litt.D. from Trinity College Dublin.

Between 1906 and 1910, she taught at the High Schools of Edgbaston and Manchester. She served as President of the Axbridge Archaeological Society and Caving Group. From 1926 she gave radio talks on prehistoric archaeology. She was elected Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1934. She was also President of a branch of the Soroptomists Club.

Radio Dobson-Hilton also became a radio broadcaster and scriptwriter for the BBC. She worked on the Schools radio series How Things Began and for the Home and Light Service. She had six children, including prominent businessman Richard Dobson.

Select works The Archaeology of Somerset (1931) A Book of Prehistory (1933) A Book of Ancient History (1934) Early Man (1950) Clothing and Costume (1955)