About the John Pendlebury Family Papers
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.
Sent from Knossos. Telling Herbert about a lunch they hosted for “The Hellenic Travellers” including [Arthur] Evans’ stepmother, Anthony Hope, Gilbert Murray, H. A. L. Fisher, [B. H.] Liddell Hart, Ernest Gardner, Ronald Knox, [Alfred Cort] Haddon of Christ’s [College, Cambridge], [William David] Ross of Oriel [College, Oxford], McElroy and Saleeby (“the health expert”); and that they had also had a visit from 100 Polish people from Warsaw. Additionally thanking Herbert for a copy of ‘Punch’ and “Ur and Budge”, and mentioning that he had written to congratulation Dickie and Robin [Mabel Dickson and her son].
Sent from Knossos. About publications (‘Aegyptiaca’ had arrived, a notice about the Ceylon Archaeological Post, asking for a copy of ‘Crete: the forerunner of Greece’ by Charles Henry Hawes, and for Herbert to send out offprints [of an article by John]); John’s work on the pottery of Knossos; tourists who had been visiting; disagreement with [Spyridon Marinatos, Director of the Candia Museum]; and that they had been to Kanli Kasteli (Bloody Castle) that day and “our man” [driver] had spread out lunch for them. Also mentions that [Arthur] Evans would arrive on Wednesday [16 Apr].
Sent from Knossos. Telling Herbert about visitors and arrivals to Knossos: [Gustav] Krupp of Essen (Germany) with a large family on Easter Monday [14 Apr]; [Arthur] Evans [16 Apr]; [Eleftherios] Venizelos, Sir Arthur and Lady Crossfield [17 Apr]; and [Robert Carr] Bonsanquet with others [19 Apr]. Also telling Herbert about progress on housing the pottery [finds at Knossos] and the Throne Room, that Arthur [Evans] was busy working on proofs of [‘The Palace of Minos III’], and that John was to receive an apology from [Spyridon] Marinatos [Director of the Candia Museum, for an accusation of trying to buy vases].
Sent from Knossos. Telling Herbert about progress on re-roofing the Throne Room, a small excavation by the Theatral area, building up the library collection (including that Arthur Evans had given £50 for the library), buying carpet and decorating the house [Villa Ariadne]. Also telling Herbert about a second party of “Hellenic Travellers” including [George William] Lyttelton and [Cyril] Allington of Eton [College], [John Fergusson] Roxburgh of Stowe [School], [Eric] Whitworth of Bradfield [College], Sir J. [John Herbert] Parsons and Professor [Robert] Newstead. Additionally listing cheques [for Herbert to deposit for John] and writing that Hilda’s bank book was in Athens.
Sent from Knossos. Updating Herbert on progress on the reconstruction of the Throne Room, and an excavation by the Theatral area which had revealed a new complex of pavements and walls and a lot of Geometric pottery. Also discussing that he had heard from [Humfry] Payne that [Spyridon] Marinatos [Director of the Candia Museum] had been sent a stern letter from the Ministry of Archaeology in Athens (related to accusing the BSA of trying to buy vases). Additionally mentioning that he had sent out advertisements for ‘Aegyptiaca’ just before leaving Athens, asking Herbert to send offprints from the [Journal of Egyptian Archaeology of his article ‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’] to [Thomas] Peet rather than [Gerald] Wainwright and to send books for the library at Knossos, telling him they had a lull in visitors, and listing cheques [to be paid into John’s bank account].
Sent from Knossos. About progress on excavations, and telling Herbert that Kosti [Chronakis] had been ill, Arthur [Evans] had been buying a lot of furnishings for the Taverna, and that [Spyridon Marinatos, Director of the Candia Museum] had resigned after a stern letter from the Ministry of Archaeology in Athens (related to accusing the BSA of trying to buy vases). Also mentioning offprints from the [Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, of his article ‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’], and that he would be back in the United Kingdom from the beginning or middle of July.
Sent from Knossos. Discussing a review by [Thomas] Peet (in the Liverpool Annuals) of ‘Aegyptiaca’, including criticisms of the book. Also updating Herbert on work at Knossos: that the work on the Palace was going well, they had found two more huge Koulouras (wall refuse pits) and a series of MMII polychrome (Kamarais) pottery. Also mentioning: [Humfry] Payne had found “great things” at Perachora (a town besides the temples, and “masses of excellent pottery”); he had received £15 worth of books from Salby [for the Knossos library]; the weather was too cool and rainy to have dinner outside; that Hilda was well but he had a cold; and reminding Herbert to organise cricket for July when John there and asking if there was news of offprints [from the Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, of his article ‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’].
Sent from Knossos. Telling Herbert about progress on the excavation and finds including a flight of crimson steps; that he was busy at Knossos as [Piet] de Jong had just left so John was doing his work too, as well as supervising reconstruction and running the excavation, so he didn’t have time to continue sorting and housing pottery that year. Also thanking Herbert for information about service flats in London and saying they would get one [in the summer]; apologising for the “tone” of a telegram he had sent to Herbert; discussing United Kingdom income tax; asking Herbert not to send [books by] Wilamowitz and Myres as he would read them when he was home; complaining about new procedures by the Greek post office which would slow-down delivery times; and thanking Herbert for sending out [copies of ‘Aegyptiaca’ to others] and wondering why Keynes Smith had not received his copy (as he was on a list John had given [Cambridge University Press]).
Sent from Knossos. Thanking Herbert for [a book entitled] ‘Who were the Greeks?’ and telling him that John and Hilda had been away camping on the shore near “Almyro” [Almyros beach, Eastern Crete]; that he was very busy taking on [Piet] de Jong’s architectural work, digging and reconstructing; and that books had safely arrived from Salby’s [bookseller, for the library at Knossos]. Additionally sending regards from [Georg] Karo who had been excavating at the Dipylon and had found the tomb of the “Lacedaemonian Polemards” [Kerameikos, Athens].
Sent from Knossos. Telling Herbert about work on the excavation: that it was strenuous as he was doing his own work, Piet de Jong’s (who was at Perachora with Humfry Payne) and Duncan Mackenzie’s left over work; Hilda was working on pottery; that they were digging West of the West court and had found 2 more “Koulouras” (walled rubbish pits), 2 houses plastered in red, lots of complete MMIa vases, the boundary wall of the oldest (MMIa) Palace area, and other items. Also telling Herbert about a letter John had written to the Times Literary Supplement about their review of a book about [excavations at Olynthos]; that Mary Hamilton [Swindler] had visited Knossos and was giving John a copy of [‘Ancient Painting’]; that [Arthur] Evans would leave Knossos on the 27th [of June] and they should be back in the United Kingdom by the 14th of July. Additionally thanking Herbert for sending books; thanking him for his approval of [John’s article ‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’ in the Journal of Egyptian Archaeology] and asking what he thought of drawings by Hilda; and mentioning his Cretan costume had arrived and was “perfectly gorgeous”.
Sent from Knossos. Telling Herbert about work at Knossos, including that they had found the original western entrance to the Palace, he had started writing a guide to Knossos, and that they wouldn’t be home until the 20th of July as there was a lot of work to do. Also thanking Herbert for [‘Ancient Painting’ by Mary Hamilton Swindler]; telling him about [Humfry] Payne’s work at Perachora including that Payne had found at least 50 items that could be added to ‘Aegyptiaca’; and about getting Cretan clothes “with embroidery to delight Dickie’s heart” [Mabel Dickinson].
Sent from Knossos. Complaining that [Arthur] Evans seemed to be trying to extend John’s time at Knossos to the detriment of his work at Amarna, and kept finding additional things for the team to do; apologising that they would not return to the United Kingdom until the 20th of July; advising Herbert on cleaning marble busts; stating that the [Cambridge University] Press should have sent offprints [from the Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, of his article ‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’]; and mentioning that he was looking forward to tennis and cricket and that it seemed that everyone [in athletics] was now jumping [6 feet and 2 inches] and “doing 15 in the hurdles”.
Sent from Knossos. Discussing plans to travel back from Knossos via Athens to see [Humfry] Payne’s finds from Perachora, and arrive [in the United Kingdom] on the 20th of July, and asking to if they [John and Hilda] could go to Malvern on the 23rd [of July] because John wanted to visit [F P] David during his last term at Winchester [College]. Also discussing an article about Knossos in The Times, the weather at Knossos, and that he was glad [Arthur] Evans had left so they could finish the work without interruptions. Additionally mentioning that Hans [Frankfort] had congratulated him on the style of his article ([on ‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’] which he had just received the offprints for) and “the jocular kicks on the bottom I gave Wainwright”, and that he was sorry about Robin [Mabel Dickinson’s son].
Sent from Knossos. Mainly telling Herbert about a letter from [Gerald Avery] Wainwright responding to John’s article on [‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’], and John’s letter of reply to Wainwright. Also discussing finishing work and packing up at Knossos, the weather, that he was glad that Robin [Mabel Dickinson’s son] was better and hoped “Dickie is behaving”. The reverse of the letter is annotated “Crete 1930” in a different hand.
Sent from the British School at Athens.
Sent from the British School at Athens.
Sent from 14 Harwood Court, Hanover Square, [London].
Sent from 14 Harwood Court, Hanover Square, [London].