Cyril Fox
Encyclopedia
Sir Cyril Fred Fox born, Chippenham
, Wiltshire
, was an English
archaeologist.
Cyril Fox became keeper of archaeology at the National Museum of Wales. Along with his wife, Aileen Fox
, he surveyed and excavated several prehistoric monuments in Wales
.
and then director of a small research station in Cambridge. He moved to work part-time for the university's museum of archaeology and anthropology, and completed a Ph.D thesis on the archaeology of the Cambridge region, published in 1922. In that year he was appointed curator of archaeology in the National Museum of Wales, and in 1926 became its Director. He produced a remarkable range of publications. They include The Personality of Britain (1932), drawing attention to the differences between upland and lowland Britain, Offa's Dyke
(1955), a seminal study of that great earthwork, and studies on Celtic
Art, on the major discovery of early ironwork at Llyn Cerrig Bach
in Anglesey
, and of Monmouthshire
houses. For his administrative and scholarly work he gained a wide range of honours, including a knighthood (1935) and Fellowship of the British Academy (1940). Always more than a digger and chronicler, Fox's breadth of vision means that his work is still valuable today. Among other achievements, he encouraged his colleague Iorwerth Peate
in the development of what became in 1946, under Peate's direction, the Welsh Folk Museum at St Fagan, near Cardiff (now titled the St Fagans National History Museum
).
Chippenham
Chippenham may be:* Chippenham, Wiltshire* Chippenham * Chippenham, Cambridgeshire-See also:* Virginia State Route 150, also known as Chippenham Parkway, USA* Cippenham, Berkshire, UK...
, 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...
, 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.
Cyril Fox became keeper of archaeology at the National Museum of Wales. Along with his wife, Aileen Fox
Aileen Fox
Aileen Fox, née Henderson was an English archaeologist.The daughter of a solicitor, she was educated at Downe House School in Kent and later at its new site in Berkshire, under the headship of Olive Willis, and went on to read English at Newnham College, Cambridge...
, he surveyed and excavated several prehistoric monuments in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
Career
Sir Cyril Fred Fox rose from his first humble employment as a 16-year-old gardener to become Director of the National Museum of Wales from 1926 to 1948. On the way to this prestigious appointment he became a clerk in a government commission on tuberculosisTuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
and then director of a small research station in Cambridge. He moved to work part-time for the university's museum of archaeology and anthropology, and completed a Ph.D thesis on the archaeology of the Cambridge region, published in 1922. In that year he was appointed curator of archaeology in the National Museum of Wales, and in 1926 became its Director. He produced a remarkable range of publications. They include The Personality of Britain (1932), drawing attention to the differences between upland and lowland Britain, Offa's Dyke
Offa's Dyke
Offa's Dyke is a massive linear earthwork, roughly followed by some of the current border between England and Wales. In places, it is up to wide and high. In the 8th century it formed some kind of delineation between the Anglian kingdom of Mercia and the Welsh kingdom of Powys...
(1955), a seminal study of that great earthwork, and studies on Celtic
Celtic art
Celtic art is the art associated with the peoples known as Celts; those who spoke the Celtic languages in Europe from pre-history through to the modern period, as well as the art of ancient peoples whose language is uncertain, but have cultural and stylistic similarities with speakers of Celtic...
Art, on the major discovery of early ironwork at Llyn Cerrig Bach
Llyn Cerrig Bach
Llyn Cerrig Bach is a small lake in the north-west of the island of Anglesey, Wales. Its main claim to fame is the large hoard of Iron Age materials discovered there in 1942, apparently placed in the lake as votive offerings...
in Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
, and of Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is a county in south east Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire which covered a much larger area. The largest town is Abergavenny. There are many castles in Monmouthshire .-Historic county:...
houses. For his administrative and scholarly work he gained a wide range of honours, including a knighthood (1935) and Fellowship of the British Academy (1940). Always more than a digger and chronicler, Fox's breadth of vision means that his work is still valuable today. Among other achievements, he encouraged his colleague Iorwerth Peate
Iorwerth Peate
Iorwerth Peate also known as Cyfeiliog, was a Welsh poet and scholar, best known as the founder, along with Cyril Fox, of St Fagans National History Museum. Born in Llanbrynmair, his interest in folk studies and anthropology was kindled when studying at Aberystwyth under professor Herbert John...
in the development of what became in 1946, under Peate's direction, the Welsh Folk Museum at St Fagan, near Cardiff (now titled the St Fagans National History Museum
St Fagans National History Museum
St Fagans National History Museum , commonly referred to as St Fagans after the village where it is located, is an open-air museum in Cardiff chronicling the historical lifestyle, culture and architecture of the Welsh people...
).