M. W. Barley

Maurice Willmore Barley (19 August 1909 – 23 June 1991) was an English historian and archaeologist, specialising in medieval settlements and historic buildings.

Early life and education Barley was born and raised in Lincoln, in a working-class family. His father, Levi Baldwin Barley, worked in a local engineering firm and was a prominent member of the Workers' Educational Association. Barley studied history at University of Reading, taking a Dip. Ed in 1932.

Career Barley taught at a school in Grimsby, then went to work at University College, Hull in the Department of Local History. At this time he also taught local history and archaeology at adult education classes in Lindsey and East Yorkshire. Following contact with the eminent folklorist Ethel Rudkin, Barley's interest in local history intensified; his publications on the subject cover slate headstones, varieties of apple, architecture and archaeology. He was Organising Tutor of the University College in Rural Nottinghamshire until 1962, in which year he became Senior Lecturer in the Department of Classics, and Reader in Archaeology in 1965. He was appointed Nottingham's first professor of Archaeology in 1971. Barley organised major excavations of the Roman fort and town at Great Casterton, Rutland, and the medieval borough at Torksey, alongside minor excavations in Nottingham and Newark. At Nottingham, he developed his interest in medieval and vernacular architecture, and read for an M.A. in the subject in 1952. He published many articles on buildings, publishing his most important book, The English Farmhouse and Cottage, in 1961. Also noteworthy was his publication A Guide to British Topographical Collections of 1974. From 1951 Barley had been actively involved in the development of the Council for British Archaeology, as a member of the Executive Committee, then as Secretary (from 1954–64). In 1966 he was appointed to the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of England. Between 1957 and 1963 he was President of the Vernacular Architecture Group and between 1972 and 1990 Chairman of the York Archaeological Trust. He was also a Vice-President of the Society of Antiquaries of London and a fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Historic England hold a collection of Barley’s photographs and, photographs attributed to him are also held in the Conway Library, whose archive, of primarily architectural images, is in the process of being digitised as part of the wider Courtauld Connects project.

Personal life Barley met his future wife, Diana (born Mabel Gladys Morgan) when they were both students at University of Reading. They married in 1934 and had three children, Anthony, Simon, and Harriet. Diana was a daughter of English literature professor Arthur Eustace Morgan, who was the first principal of University College, Hull. Relocating to Nottingham, Barley co-founded Nottingham Civic Society in 1962. He was also keenly involved with the Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire, at one point serving as its Vice President and editor of its publication.

Selected publications

Archaeological papers from York presented to M.W. Barley, eds. P.V. Addyman and V.E. Black. York: York Archaeological Trust, 1984, Recording Timber-Framed Buildings: An Illustrated Glossary, N W Alcock, M W Barley, P W Dixon & R A Meeson, Council for British Archaeology, 2nd edition 1989 (reprinted 2018), The English Farmhouse and Cottage, Gloucester: Sutton, 1987 (first published in 1961), 0862993717 The Shell Book of English Villages, ed. John Hadfield with entries by M. W. Barley, London: Peerage, 1985, European Towns: their archaeology and early history, editor & contributor, London: Council for British Archaeology, 1977, The Plans and Topography of Medieval Towns in England and Wales, London: Council for British Archaeology, 1975, A Guide to British Topographical Collections, London: Council for British Archaeology, 1974, The House & Home, London: Vista Books, 1963 The Face of Britain: Lincolnshire and The Fens, B. T. Batsford, London, 1952