Announcement Date: July 20, 2024
A weekend event to recognise the life of Dr Arthur Raistrick, whose work to this day influences our understanding and enjoyment of the Yorkshire Dales and beyond! This weekend event is to recognise a life’s work that today influences our understanding and enjoyment of the Yorkshire Dales and beyond!
The event was organised by Yorkshire Geology Society where we had a stand and our British Mining Editor, and our Dr Richard Smith gave a presentation. Dr Smith also wrote an article about Arthur Raistrick and his contribution to mining history in our latest publication, British Mining No 118 – Memoirs 2024
Saturday consisted of a programme of talks and discussion on the life and work of Arthur Raistrick, including speakers who knew and worked with him.
Dr Arthur Raistrick 1896-1991 was one of the most remarkable scientists and polymaths of the Yorkshire Dales of the twentieth century, perhaps of all time. His prolific output – with over 330 books and research paper published in his long lifetime – is without equal. But even more significant was his pioneering work in so many different fields, in glacial geology, palynology, field and industrial archaeology, especially lead mining in his native Dales. In addition Raistrick was one greatest interpreters of Dales historic landscapes, as evidenced by his authorship of several classic books. He is also still revered as an influential teacher and lecturer, one of the founding fathers of the UK National Park and Access to the Countryside movement, a gentle yet radical Quaker whose uncompromising principles shaped his life and career in quite extraordinary ways.
