Flaxman Charles John Spurrell
Encyclopedia
Flaxman Charles John Spurrell (6 September 1842 - 25 February 1915), the archaeologist, geologist and photographer, was born in Mile End
, Stepney
, London
, the eldest son of Dr. Flaxman Spurrell
, M.D., F.R.C.S., and Ann Spurrell (who were also first cousins). Shortly after his birth, his father moved to Bexley
, Kent
; later, Flaxman (junior) lived at The Priory, Picardy Road, Belvedere, now home to the Priory Conservative Club. Spurrell Avenue in Bexley was named after Flaxman (junior).
In the 1860s he began to examine flint implements in and around Crayford
in Kent, and over the following decades published a large number of articles for the Kent Archaeological Society
(of which his father was a founding member), the Essex Archaeological Society and Royal Archaeological Society, as well as other societies and groups. In 1895 he presented a number of pre-historic remains to the Natural History Museum
, and later donated material to the Norwich Castle Museum.
He was a close friend of the egyptologist William Matthew Flinders Petrie
, whom he helped to record discoveries made in, for example, Naqada
and Tell el-Amarna in Egypt
.
Flaxman Spurrell was also interested in photography, and some of his photographs are currently held by English Heritage
.
Some years before his death, he retired to Bessingham
Manor House in Norfolk
, one of the seats of the Spurrell
family, and was no longer active in the archaeological world. He died at The Den, Bessingham, in 1915, having married his cousin, Katherine Anne Spurrell, on 27 March 1912.
Flaxman Spurrell was educated at Epsom College
; he was a Fellow of Geological Society from 1868 to 1905 and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
from 1899 to 1910.
He was a nephew of Rev. Frederick Spurrell
and an uncle of the biologist and author Herbert George Flaxman Spurrell
.
In Archaeologica Cantiana, the journal of the Kent Archaeological Society, he published:
Flaxman Spurrell also published the following articles in the Essex Naturalist:
In the Proceedings of the Geologists' Association he published the following works:
The following was published in the Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society:
In the Journal of the Anthropological Institute can be found:
The following appeared in the Reports of the West Kent Natural History, Microscopical and Photographic Society:
Mile End
Mile End is an area within the East End of London, England, and part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is located east-northeast of Charing Cross...
, Stepney
Stepney
Stepney is a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in London's East End that grew out of a medieval village around St Dunstan's church and the 15th century ribbon development of Mile End Road...
, 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...
, the eldest son of Dr. Flaxman Spurrell
Spurrell
Spurrell is a surname found in a number of parts of England and Wales, as well as other parts of the world.- The Spurrells of Norfolk, England :...
, M.D., F.R.C.S., and Ann Spurrell (who were also first cousins). Shortly after his birth, his father moved to Bexley
Bexley
Bexley is an South East London]] in the London Borough of Bexley, London, England. It is located on the banks of the River Cray south of the Roman Road, Watling Street...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
; later, Flaxman (junior) lived at The Priory, Picardy Road, Belvedere, now home to the Priory Conservative Club. Spurrell Avenue in Bexley was named after Flaxman (junior).
In the 1860s he began to examine flint implements in and around Crayford
Crayford
Crayford is a town and electoral ward in the London Borough of Bexley that was an important bridging point in Roman times across the River Cray, a tributary of the River Darent, which is itself a tributary of the River Thames.-History:...
in Kent, and over the following decades published a large number of articles for the Kent Archaeological Society
Kent Archaeological Society
The Kent Archaeological Society was founded in 1857 to promote the study and publication of archaeology and history, especially that pertaining to the ancient county of Kent in England...
(of which his father was a founding member), the Essex Archaeological Society and Royal Archaeological Society, as well as other societies and groups. In 1895 he presented a number of pre-historic remains to the Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
, and later donated material to the Norwich Castle Museum.
He was a close friend of the egyptologist William Matthew Flinders Petrie
William Matthew Flinders Petrie
William Matthew Flinders Petrie FRS , commonly known as Flinders Petrie, was an English Egyptologist and a pioneer of systematic methodology in archaeology and preservation of artifacts...
, whom he helped to record discoveries made in, for example, Naqada
Naqada
Naqada is a town on the west bank of the Nile in the Egyptian governorate of Qena. It was known in Ancient Egypt as Nubt and in classical antiquity as Ombos. Its name derives from ancient Egyptian nub, meaning gold, on account of the proximity of gold mines in the Eastern Desert.Naqada comprises...
and Tell el-Amarna in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
Flaxman Spurrell was also interested in photography, and some of his photographs are currently held by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
.
Some years before his death, he retired to Bessingham
Bessingham
Bessingham is a village in the North Norfolk district of the English county of Norfolk. It lies 8 miles north-north-west of Aylsham and 5 miles south-south-west of Cromer. It forms part of the civil parish of Sustead....
Manor House in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, one of the seats of the Spurrell
Spurrell
Spurrell is a surname found in a number of parts of England and Wales, as well as other parts of the world.- The Spurrells of Norfolk, England :...
family, and was no longer active in the archaeological world. He died at The Den, Bessingham, in 1915, having married his cousin, Katherine Anne Spurrell, on 27 March 1912.
Flaxman Spurrell was educated at Epsom College
Epsom College
Epsom College is an independent co-educational public school in Epsom, Surrey, England, for pupils aged 13 to 18. Founded in 1853 to provide support for poor members of the medical profession such as pensioners and orphans , Epsom's long-standing association with medicine was estimated in 1980 as...
; he was a Fellow of Geological Society from 1868 to 1905 and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
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...
from 1899 to 1910.
He was a nephew of Rev. Frederick Spurrell
Frederick Spurrell
The Reverend Frederick Spurrell was the second son, and seventh of eight children, of Charles Spurrell and Hannah Shears . He was descended from the Spurrell family of Thurgarton, Norfolk....
and an uncle of the biologist and author Herbert George Flaxman Spurrell
Herbert George Flaxman Spurrell
Herbert George Flaxman Spurrell , the biologist, physician and author, was the only son of the architect Herbert Spurrell and Harriet Rebecca Blaxland...
.
Publications
The following papers were published by F. C. J. Spurrell in the Royal Archaeological Society's Archaeological Journal:- Implements and Chips from the floor of a Palaeolithic Workshop, Vol. XXXVII
- Deneholes and Artificial Caves with Vertical Entrances, Vol. XXXVIII
- Shallow Pits in Norfolk and Elsewhere, Vol. XL
- Early Sites and Embankments on the margins of the Thames Estuary, Vol. XLII
- The First Passage of the Thames by Aulus Plautius, Vol. XLVII
- Shoebury Camp, Essex, Vol. XLVII
- Notes on a Boat found at Albert Dock, Woolwich, Vol. XLVII
- Rude Implements from the North Downs, Vol. XLVIII
- Some Flints from Egypt of the IVth Dynasty, Vol. XLIX
- Notes on Early Sickles, Vol. XLIX
- On Remedies in the Sloane Collections, and on Alchemical Symbols, Vol. LI
- Notes on Egyptian Colours, Vol. LII
- On Some Flint Implements from Egypt and Denmark, Vol. LIII
In Archaeologica Cantiana, the journal of the Kent Archaeological Society, he published:
- Palaeolithic Implements found in West Kent, Vol. XV
Flaxman Spurrell also published the following articles in the Essex Naturalist:
- Ensilage, or preserving grain in pits (1887)
- Withambury (1887)
- Danbury Camp, Essex (1890)
- HæstenHasteinHastein was a notable Viking chieftain of the late 9th century who made several raiding voyages.- Early life :...
's Camps at Shoebury and Benfleet, Essex (1890)
In the Proceedings of the Geologists' Association he published the following works:
- Excursion to Erith and Crayford, Vol. IX
- On the Estuary of the Thames and its Alluvium, Vol. XI
- Excursion to Higham, Vol. XI
- Excursion to Crayford, Vol. XI
- Excursion to Swanscombe, Vol XI
- Excursion to Grays, Thurrock, Essex, Vol. XII
- Excursion to Dartford Heath, Vol. XIII
- See also Visit to see F. C. J. Spurrell's collection of fossils in Excursion to Belvedere, J. Morris, Vol. II
The following was published in the Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society:
In the Journal of the Anthropological Institute can be found:
- On some Palaeolithic knapping tools and methods of using them, Vol. XIII
The following appeared in the Reports of the West Kent Natural History, Microscopical and Photographic Society:
- A sketch of the history of the rivers and denudation of West Kent (1886)
See also
- F. C. J. Spurrell, Kentish Antiquary and Archaeologist, Nesta D. Caiger, Research Report, Kent Underground Research Group 8, 1992.