In memoriam: Rosemary Cramp

A Fellow and Lecturer at St Anne’s College, Oxford, Rosemary came to Durham University in 1955 and was instrumental in the founding of the Department of Archaeology the following year with Eric Birley. An internationally renowned archaeologist specialising in the archaeology and art of the early medieval world, Rosemary’s contributions to archaeology and heritage were far-reaching, most notably the excavations of the twin monastery of Monkwearmouth-Jarrow and the founding of the long-running Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Stone Sculpture. She was also an inspiration to many as the first woman to be promoted to Professor at Durham University in 1971.

Throughout her academic career Rosemary was collegial and public-spirited, always finding time for colleagues and students, as well as devoting much time to service as a member of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, the British Museum, Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission England (latterly Historic England), the Archaeology Data Service and the Council for British Archaeology. She served as President of the Society of Antiquaries of London from 2001-2004 and was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 2006. In 2008 she was awarded the Gold Medal from the Society of Antiquaries of London for distinguished services to archaeology. She was twice recognised in the Royal Honours Lists for her services to scholarship, being appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1987 and then Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2011.

Rosemary served as Head of Department in Archaeology at Durham University for 19 years, from 1971-1990, and was instrumental in driving the growth and success of the department, not least in putting in place the foundations for its outstanding international research reputation, particularly in archaeological science. She remained a key and active member of the archaeology department as an Emeritus Professor, continuing to publish and lead the completion of the Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Stone Sculpture in her last years.

Rosemary will be deeply missed by colleagues and friends