Wright, Thomas (1810-1877)

Letters from Thomas Wright, including several to William Blackmore (1827-1878), financier, philanthropist, patron of anthropology and founder of the Blackmore Museum in Salisbury, covering various matters and current projects, notably business and meetings of the Ethnological Society, William Blackmore's museum, Wright's second volume of 'Julius Caesar', the excavations at Uriconium and Wright's volume on them (see MS.8007/68/6 and MS.8007/68/11 which includes a progress report, description and diagram of the excavations). A printed leaflet advertising 'Essays on certain peculiar forms of ancient worship' a private publication by order only from John Camden Hotten of Piccadilly, London (MS.8007/68/3) found inserted inside MS.8007/68/2.

1865-1870, undated

10 letters, 1 printed paper

Purchased from Glendining, London, August 1934 (acc.67863); purchased from Glendining, London, November 1932 (acc.67743); purchased from Stevens, London, March 1931 (acc.68133).

English antiquarian. Helped to found the British Archaeological Association and the Percy, Camden and Shakespeare societies. In 1842 he was elected corresponding member of the Academic des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres of Paris, and was a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. In 1859 he superintended the excavations of the Roman city of Uriconium, near Shrewsbury, of which he issued a description. Published extensively on British history and literature, especially England in the Anglo-Saxon period and the Middle Ages.