A. N. Irvine Collection
Category
Archive Collections
Date
circa 1888 - circa 1999
Materials
Collection
Chedworth Roman Villa, Gloucestershire
NT 72362
Summary
A. N. Irvine Collection Notebooks, cuttings, photographs. Records of the late A N Irvine BEM, caretaker of the Roman villa, Chedworth, (1930-1977): John Irvine's notebooks on forestry work in Gloucestershire and South Wales c.1918- early 1920s; research notes on the east Cotswold area from c.1888, many with cuttings and photographs, including Chedworth railway cutting, nature reserve and village, Foss Cross, Coln Rogers, Withington, Cirencester, Stowell Estate and Colesbourne; various postcards and photographs; Chedworth Unionist Club minutes 1909-1912 Admin History: Andrew Norman Irvine (known as Norman Irvine) was born in Colesbourne in 1912. His father John had moved there from Northumberland, in order that he could take up a position as manager of Henry Elwes' woods (see D9249/1 for forestry notebooks compiled by John Irvine and D9249/3 for records relating to the Elwes family). In 1918 the family moved to live in the house which stands in the precincts of Chedworth Roman Villa, at that time part of Lord Eldon's Stowell Park Estate. At the same time, Norman's mother, Alice, became caretaker of the villa. In 1922, John Irvine died leaving Alice to bring up Norman, his elder sister Alice Cecily and younger brother Thomas William. The family were allowed to continue living at the villa until 1923 when the site was acquired by the National Trust, following the sale of the Stowell Park estate by Lord Eldon. Norman attended Yanworth and Chedworth Church of England Schools before leaving in 1926 to take up work in the woods at Stowell. In 1930, he was appointed caretaker of the villa. Many famous archaeologists have been involved with Chedworth and W St Clair Baddeley, a noted archaeologist from Painswick, encouraged Norman and laid the foundation for his interest in Roman antiquities. The Midland and South Western Junction Railway passed very close to the villa and it was during these years Norman built up an extensive knowledge of steam railways. In 1940 he married Dorothy before leaving for 6 years war service with the 24th Field Regiment Royal Artillery. Dorothy continued to look after the villa in his absence. In 1977, the couple retired to Stratton and Dorothy died four years later. Norman continued his keen interest in the villa, in local history and especially in steam railways. His knowledge of all three is reflected in this collection. Norman Irvine died in 2001, aged 89 [Note Norman Irvine's fine collection of railway photographs have been deposited with STEAM, the Museum of the Great Western Railway in Swindon] [For these and other details see D9249/11/9] Information taken from the Gloucestershire Archives Online Catalogue Gloucestershire Archives reference number: D9249