About the John Pendlebury Family Papers
![](/images/pendlebury.jpg)
The John Pendlebury Family Papers cover the period from 1913 to 1964 and document the life of archaeologist and WWII hero John Devitt Stringfellow Pendlebury, his wife Hilda and their family.
“Lebena, a Mosaic” [Lendas archaeological site]
The beginning of the volume contains a section of “essays 1920” by John with comments and marks in a different hand [the book was previously used as a school book]. The essays are “The Themistocles, a newly discovered Dialogue of Plato written in a late and degraded style” (a handwritten dialogue between Eumenes and Critias) and “From the Annals of John Silent” (an essay about Oliver Cromwell). The main body of the volume is a travel-log entitled “John’s Trip to Greece with Mr Cullen, Easter 1923” comprising dated extracts of letters from John to Herbert Pendlebury about the trip (2 Apr – 4 May 1923) [copied out by Herbert Pendlebury], with small photographs [added later]. Extracts from a letter written from Athens (10 Apr) describe the journey through France (Paris), Switzerland (Lausanne), Italy (Dommodosola, Milan including the Cathedral, Lakes Como and Maggiore, plain of Lombardy, Venice), Yugoslavia (Serbia, Belgrade, South Serbia [region of Yugoslavia], Skopje), Guevgueli [Gevgelija] on the border with Greece, Salonika [Thessaloníki], Mount Olympos, the Vale of Tempe, Pelion, Ossa, Thessaly including Larissa [Lárisa], and Thermopylae [Thermopílai] (including seeing Mount Oeta). An extract also mentions a postcard from Zagreb [Croatia]. Further extracts from the letter (10 Apr) also describe arriving in Athens, going to the British School at Athens, meeting [Alan] Wace; visiting the Acropolis, the Acropolis Museum, Dipylon Gate and Cemetery and the Theseion; a day trip walking from Megara [Mégara] to Minoa and Nisaea, across Salamis [Salamís] and along the coast of Attica to Pireaus; a day trip to Prasias [modern Porto Rafti, Markopoúlou, Órmos], Laureion [Lávrion], Thorikos and walking back to Athens over Hymettos [Imittós Óros] (the trip was supposed to include Sounion but their car broke down); and climbing Lycabettos [Mount Lycabettus]. Extracts from further letters describe visiting the National Museum in Athens (including descriptions of rooms and work that Alan Wace was doing in the museum); seeing Lebadea [Levádhia], Delium, Tanagra, Thebae [Thebes], Haliartos and Goulas; travelling on to Livadhia [Levádhia], Mount Helicon, Stiris Monastery (where they ate and stayed the night), Schiste, Arracova [Arákhova], and Delphi (including descriptions of the archaeological site and museum); a boat trip to Patras [Pátrai] then travelling on to Olympia (including description of archaeological site), Anduvtiana, Greka [Graíkas], Andritsana [Andrítsiana], Bassae, Kalamata [Kalámai], Sparta, Langada Gorge, Trypi [Trípi], Mistra [Mistrás], Tripolis [Trípolis], Argos [Árgos], Tiryus, Nauplia [Náfplio], Epidauros [Epídhavros], the Heraion [of Argos], Mycenae (staying at the Belle Helene, [Alan] Wace showing them tombs, describing the archaeological sites), Corinth, Eleusis [Elefsína] and back to Athens; Marousi (climbing Pentelies); the boat journey from Pireaus, stopping in Corfu, then catching the train from Brindisi to Boulogne, and arriving back in London via Dover on the 4 May.
Comprising a travel-log compiled by John Pendlebury containing photographs and details of the journeys and excursions from London to Athens (25 Oct – 11 Nov, via Munich, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade and Constantinople [Istanbul]); Thessaly (22 – 29 Nov, including Chalais [Khalkís], Eretria [Erétria], Volo [Vólos], Kalabaka [Kalambáka], Meteora Monasteries [Metéora], Larissa [Lárisa], Vale of Tempe); Phyle [Filí] (30 Nov); the Argolid (9 – 14 Dec, Mycenae, Tiryns, Nauplia [Náfplio]); walking the boundary wall between Athens and Eleusis [Elefsína] to Daphni [Dhafní] (29 Dec); a 2nd trip to the Argolid (5-12 Jan, Nauplia [Náfplio], Kasarmi [Kazárma], Kato Phanari [Dryópi], Poros [Póros], Kalauria [archaeological site on Póros], Dhamala [Troizín], Hermione [Ermióni], Aegina); the Cave of Euripides (24 Jan); a trip to Mycenea, Argos [Árgos], Nemea [Neméa] and Phlious [Flioús] (30 Jan – 3 Feb); Eleusis [Elefsína] (4 Mar); Prasiae [modern Porto Rafti, Markopoúlou, Órmos], Thorikos and Sounion (15 Apr); and Salonika [Thessaloníki], Molyvopyros and Myriophyte (including photographs of archaeological sites, 8 Mar – 13 Apr). Also includes photographs of Athens, plans and hand drawn maps. Additionally includes detailed instructions for walking (by Gell, written out by John Pendlebury) for a trip in the Argolid.
Comprising a notebook travel log, compiled by John Pendlebury, containing photographs and details of excursions from Athens to Marathon (22 Apr); Korakou and Corinth (24 Apr); Olympia, Kalamata [Kalámai] and Sparta (25 Apr-1 May); Vouliagmeni (19 May); Rhamnous (20 May); Oropo and Amphiareion (21 May); Prasiae [modern Porto Rafti, Markopoúlou, Órmos], Thorikos, Sunion [Sounion] (23 May). Also contains plans of archaeological sites on tracing paper.
Comprising a notebook travel log, compiled by John Pendlebury containing photographs and details of trips from London to Athens (16-20 Sep 1928); Mycenae to Xylokastro [Xilókastron] for John and Hilda’s honeymoon (21 Sep -1 Oct 1928); to Salonika [Thessaloníki] (2 – 22 Oct 1928); a cruise around Islands (Cyclades, North Aegean and Saronic islands) (1-13 Apr 1929); to Sounion and Porto Raphti [Porto Rafti, Markopoúlou, Órmos] (16 Apr 1929): Brauron [Vraona] (24 Apr 1929); Rhodes (17-25 May 1929); Athens to London (1-7 June 1929); London to Athens (5-12 Oct 1929) including 4 days in Venice; Mycenae, Nauplia [Náfplio], Tripolis [Trípolis], Andritsaena [Andrítsaina], Kalamata [Kalámai] and Olympia (15-26 Oct 1929); Eleusis [Elefsína] and Daphni [Dhafní] (31 Oct 1929); Monastery of Mendeli in Penteli (23 Nov 1929); Menidi (3 Nov 1929); Sounion (5 Nov 1929); Delphi (9-12 Nov 1929); Rhamnous (15 Nov 1929); Corinth, Mycenae and Perachora (23-28 Nov 1929); Siphnos (4 – 13 Dec 1929); and Athens to Thebes (17 Dec 1929). Also contains photographs of sites around Athens. Additionally includes a contents page at the front of the volume, a hand drawn (traced) map of Siphnos, and a pocket for a “map of travels in the Aegean 1928-29” (empty). The notebook contains a note that the photographs from the 2nd trip to Mycenae (Oct 1929) are in a separate book [this is referring to a photograph album, PEN 7/2/1].
Comprising a notebook travel log, compiled by John Pendlebury, containing photographs and details of trips in Sicily (27 Dec 1929-25 Jan 1930); to Phyle [Filí] and the Cave of Pan (9 Feb 1930); Vari [Vári] and the Cave of Pan (16 Feb 1930); Athens to Chalcis [Khalkís] and Eretria [Erétria] via Thebes (2-3 Mar 1930); the Argolid (6-11 Feb 1931); Andros [Ándros] (19-26 Feb 1931); Athens, Delphi, Thermopylae [Thermopílai], Chaeroneia [Chaironeia], H. Luke [Monastery of Hosios Loukas, near Steíri], Thebes and Gla [with Hilda Pendlebury, Humfry Payne and Dilys Powell] (2-10 Mar 1931); Thorikos (1939); Kimolos [Kímolos, Nísos] and Syros [Sýros, Nísos], with Gerard Mackworth Young (18-27 Mar 1939); Naxos [Náxos, Nísos] (30 Mar – 8 Apr 1939); and Mycenae and Pylos [Pílos] (15 – 18 Apr 1939). Volume also includes notes by [Hilda Pendlebury] attached by paperclips. One note is about a photograph of Perachora, and another explains that they had not been able to travel west from Delphi on their trip in March 1931 because of the weather. John and Hilda were accompanied on the trip to the Argolid by James Hilary Sheffield Waddington and Mary Chubb. Includes photographs of Ancient Corinth and the Heraion of Perachora which were taken by James Hilary Sheffield Waddington or Mary Chubb (Feb 1931), after their trip to the Argolid with John and Hilda Pendlebury. John and Hilda did not accompany them to Corinth and Perachora.
Comprising a notebook travel log, compiled by John Pendlebury, containing photographs and details of trips to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine [including some places now in Israel] (8 Feb – 8 Mar 1933); Cumberland (United Kingdom, 2-9 Oct 1933); from “England to Egypt” via Gibraltar and Italy (11-22 Nov 1933); Cambridge (United Kingdom, Oct 1934); Palestine [including some places now in Israel] (6-12 Apr 1935); Hadrian’s Wall (United Kingdom, 18-20 Aug 1937); and “East Africa etc.” [Sudan, Yemen, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan and Egypt] (15 Jan – 23 Mar 1938).
Photograph album prepared for the 1936 BSA exhibition (probably by Mercy Money-Coutts according to a note left inside). Contains a brief description of the cave and explanation of the excavation; maps and plans of Crete, the Lasithi Plain and Trapeza cave; a list of sites in the Lasithi Plain; diagrams of finds from the cave; and photographs of the cave, surrounding landscape and finds. A significant number of photographs were taken out of the volume, and are most likely the loose photographs which have been added here. 4 photographs (items number 31-34) have been placed back into the album as it was clear where they had come from. The maps, plans and diagrams are all exactly the same as those published in ‘Excavations in the Plain of Lasithi. I. The Cave of Trapeza’ by H. W. Pendlebury, J. D. S. Pendlebury and M. B. Money-Coutts, in The Annual of the British School at Athens, Vol. 36 (1935/1936), pp. 5-131. Some of the photographs in the album and the loose photographs are the same as those published, others appear to be the published items prior to restoration. All of the photographs (besides a landscape panorama and one more landscape photograph) are prints from negatives in PEN 4/3/3. The “Tr” numbers (which the photographs are labelled with) relate to negatives (in PEN 4/3/3), to photograph numbers in the excavation notebook PEN 4/1/2 and negative numbers in “photographic catalogue” in excavation notebook PEN 4/1/1.
Contains photographs of archaeological sites, excavations, people at excavations (including John Pendlebury) and objects found around the Lasithi Plain. Covers excavations at Trapeza Cave, Skaphidia Cave, Argoulia Cave, Kastellos Tzermiadhou, Kolonna, Agiou Georgiou Papoura, Sta Mnemata, Karphi, Astividhero, Donadhes and Lagou. The album is labelled in John Pendlebury’s handwriting. The photographs have original reference numbers starting “Tz”, and photographs of objects have additional “O” references. These numbers refer to negatives in negative albums (PEN 4/3/6, 4/3/7 and 4/3/8). There is a list of the photographs with a negative reference written inside the front cover. Some photographs also have “M” numbers (Sta Mnemata), “K” numbers (Karphi), “A” numbers [Astividhero or Architecture], “Kol” numbers (Kolonna), “MK” numbers (Mikre Koprana) and “G” numbers. Some of the photographs were published in ‘Excavations in the Plain of Lasithi II’ by H. W. Pendlebury, J. D. S. Pendlebury and M. B. Money-Coutts, in BSA (38): these are photos 2, 3, 5, 14, 16, 17, 19, part of 64, part of 68, 167-168, 183-190, 191 (printed in reverse), 192-194. Some other photographs were published in ‘Karphi. A city of refuge in early iron age Crete. Excavation in the Plain of Lasithi III’ in BSA (38): these are photos 43, 48-49, 52, 57, 58, 61, 67, 82, 86, 88, 90, 110, 111, 113, 114, 119, 120, 123, 127, 132, 133, 138, 141-142, 146, 150, 153, 155, 162-164, 197, 201, 206, 228-236, 248-251, 253-257, 260, and 261-270. The series of excavation photographs is continued in the next album (PEN 4/3/5).
This is a continuation of the previous photograph album (PEN 4/3/4), and only the first few pages of the volume have been used. It contains photographs of Karphi (the site, people working at the excavations and landscape). The album is labelled in John Pendlebury’s handwriting, the photographs have reference number starting “Tz” which refers to negatives in an album (PEN 4/3/8). There is a list of the photographs with a negative reference written inside the front cover. Some photographs also have “M” numbers [Sta Mnemata] and “K” numbers (Karphi). Many photographs were published in ‘Karphi. A city of refuge in early iron age Crete. Excavation in the Plain of Lasithi III’ in BSA (38).
Includes mostly photographs of John and Hilda Pendlebury's (née White) children David and Joan Pendlebury as well as letters of congratulation on the birth of David Pendlebury. Additionally contains: a loose wedding photograph of unidentified couple, a loose photograph of David Pendlebury in school uniform; photographs of John Pendlebury in front of BSA hostel in Athens added to the back of the album and David Pendlebury at the Villa Ariadne, as a toddle in the front of the album.
Photograph album compiled by John Pendlebury, containing plans and photographs of Tholos tombs in Mycenae and some other archaeological sites in the Peloponnese, with notes on the sites. Also contains other photographs and plans of Mycenae. The first page has the title of the album written on it as “The Tholos Tombs of Mycenae & elsewhere with The Citadel of Mycenae & its Environs.” Also includes loose photographs of Knossos [possibly prints of photographs from Arthur Evans], and a temple in Egypt.
Mainly photographs of archaeological sites and landscapes in the Peloponnese including Mycenae, Tiryns, Corinth and Náfplio. Also includes a loose photograph of John Pendlebury at Thorikos.
Includes photographs of landscapes, archaeological sites and people. At the reverse of the album are photographs of John Pendlebury and family. Note that photographs are missing, including uncaptioned and captioned photographs. The missing captioned photographs are: 1. “Group on the way to Palaikastro” 2. “Sir Arthur Evans” 3. “Dr Duncan Mackenzie” 4. “P. J. Dixon”
Photograph album containing itineraries and photographs from John and Hilda Pendlebury’s journeys in Crete: 10 Feb-1 Mar 1928; 4-17 May 1928; 26 Apr-13 May 1929; 14 Mar-8 Jul 1930; 8-14 Apr 1932 (with C. C. Cremin); 10-23 May 1932 (with S. R. Sherman); and 26-31 May 1932 (with C. J. Jekyll). Also contains plans of archaeological sites in Crete. Some photographs are missing: 1. One with the caption “Miss Rodger” [taken by Miss Rodger, probably of King Minos fresco, Knossos], c. 85mm x 60mm 2. One captioned “Proprietor, HWW, VW, MR in Vrakhasi Gorge”, c. 85mm x 60mm
Photograph album containing: photographs of people, landscapes, Knossos and other archaeological sites in Crete; an itinerary of John Pendlebury’s travels in Crete in 1933 with Hilda Pendlebury and others; and loose photographs of sites in Corfu and photographs taken in the Savoy Hotel in Luxor, Egypt. Note that some photographs are missing: 1. With the caption “The West Court from the West, Excavations of 1930. North West Acropolis Houses and Koulouras”, c. 170mm x 230mm 2. With the caption “J.D.S.P. and Yanni Markakis”, c. 60mm x 85mm 3. 2 photographs from the last page, both approximately 75mm x 105mm
Photograph album containing handwritten itineraries and photographs of John Pendlebury’s trips around Crete including: around the Messara [Mesarás, Pedhiás] 1934; East Crete (with Seton Lloyd, Joan Lloyd, Tristram Hillier and Richard Wyndham) 1934; West Crete (with Hilda Pendlebury and Khronis [Bardakis/Vardhakes]) 1935; Lasithi [Lasíthi] area (with R W Hutchinson) 1935; Dia [Día, Nísos] (with Manolaki and Kosti) 1935; Mount Ida and Central Crete (with Manolaki, Kosta Kounalis, R W Hutchinson and Mercy Money-Coutts) 1935; Lasithi [Lasíthi] and Hierapetra [Ierápetra] Isthmus (with Mercy Money-Coutts) 1935; the South Coast of Crete (with Hilda Pendlebury) 1936; Agios Nikolaos [Áyios Nikólaos] to Lasithi [Lasíthi] (with Hilda Pendlebury and Mercy Money-Coutts) 1936; Mount Ida (with Hilda Pendlebury and Mercy-Money Coutts) 1936; Messara and Kophinos [Mesarás, Pedhiás and Kófinas, Óros] (with Mercy Money-Coutts and R W Hutchinson) 1937; “Milatos, Spina Longa, Pakhyammos, Kalamafka, Lasithi” [Mílatos, Spinalónga, Pacheía Ámmos…Lasíthi] 1937; “Dikte, Psykhro, Mathia, Lyttos, Knossos” [Mount Dickte, Psikhrón, Mathiá] (with Mercy Money-Coutts), 1937; “Anogeia, Axos, Nidha, Psiloriti, Zaros, Melabes, Kavo Melissa” [Anógeia, Axós, Nida Plateau, Mount Ida, Zarós, Mélambes] (with Mercy Money-Coutts and Kosta Kounalis) 1937; East Crete, 1938; “To Lasithi…Phrati, Emparos, Limnarkanos, Tzermiadho” [Lasíthi…Afrátion, Émbaros…Tzermiádhes] (with Hilda Pendlebury, Frank Thompson, Mercy Money-Coutts, Vincent Desborough and Marion Pascoe) 1938: another trip to East Crete (with Martin Hammond, Molly Hammond and Hilda Pendlebury) 1938; West Crete (with R W Hutchinson) 1939; East Crete, 1939; Central Crete, 1939; and Lasithi [Lasíthi] (including a glendi on Karphi), 1939.
Reused photograph album containing photographs of various archaeological sites, and landscapes within Greece. Including Aegina, Crete, Mycenae, Olympia, and the Acropolis in Athens. Also includes loose photographs (in an envelope).
Sent from Culver House [D], Winchester College. Thanking Herbert for sending £1; sending a poem in Greek entitled ‘πιθηκοs’ [‘The apes’] (not included); telling Herbert about sporting and academic achievements of men in his house at Winchester, John’s achievements in Greek, mathematics and French, that he was 6th [place in “cuse”], and they had had a natural history lecture on beast eating plants; and also about plans for [Herbert and Lilian to visit on the 28th of Feb]. The reverse of the letter has notes of Greek words translated into English [Herbert notes on the poem that John sent].
View includes 2 figures [one possibly Hilda Pendlebury or Eileen Heurtley].
[“Stout Cortey” is probably a reference to a poem by John Keats ‘On First Looking into Chapman's Homer’ which includes the line “Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes”].
This was the ship that John Pendlebury was travelling on from England to Egypt.
Taken from boat at sea [S. S. Orama] on journey from England to Egypt.
Taken from boat at sea [S. S. Orama] on journey from England to Egypt.
Taken from boat at sea [S. S. Orama] on journey from England to Egypt.
Taken from boat at sea [S. S. Orama] on journey from England to Egypt.
Taken from boat at sea [S. S. Orama] on journey from England to Egypt.