Strutt, Joseph

(1749-1802)

   Apprenticed to an engraver, he later studied at the Royal Academy. He became interested in antiquarian research and used his artistic skills to embellish numerous books on the manners and customs of past ages. His most successful book, published right at the end of his life, was Glig-Gamena Angel-Deod, or The Sports and Pastimes of the People of England (1801), subsequently shortened to The Sports and Pastimes ... which went through numerous editions, inspired other antiquary-folklorists such as John *Brand and Henry *Ellis, and is still one of the basic source-books for folklorists and social historians. It brought to light a wealth of material from manuscripts, including a number of invaluable illustrations of games culled from a range of rare sources. At the time of his death, he was writing a work of fiction, which was completed by Walter Scott and published as Queenhoo Hall in 1808 and which, although not successful in itself, was a major influence on Scott's developing ideas on the historical novel. Dorson refers to Strutt, and not without justification, as the 'Father of English Antiquaries'.

   ■ Dorson, 1968: 30-1; DNB.