James Farrer

Born in 1812 and dead in 1879, James Farrer was a Conservative Member of Parliament for South Durham, serving in the mid-19th century. Alongside politics, he developed a strong interest in antiquities and became known for exploring historic sites, especially in Orkney.

He is most closely associated with the opening of Maeshowe in 1861 and with his book Notice of Runic Inscriptions Discovered during Recent Excavations in the Orkneys, published in 1862 for private circulation. The work helped introduce readers to the remarkable Norse inscriptions found inside the monument and remains the title most clearly linked with his name today.

Farrer was also involved in other excavations, including early work at Chedworth Roman Villa. Modern accounts tend to treat him as an enthusiastic Victorian antiquarian rather than a careful archaeologist in the modern sense, but his curiosity and publications still make him a memorable figure in the story of British archaeology.