Paul Dryburgh

About

Paul is one of the Principal Records Specialists in the Medieval team at The National Archives. His interests are government, society, religion and the economy across the British Isles in the 13th and 14th centuries, and the materiality of collections, particularly seals.

He also has a keen interest in the training of linguistic and palaeographic skills needed to access medieval records, and is an officer with several record societies.

Research activity

After completing his doctorate at the University of Bristol, Paul worked for a decade on academic research projects, which included the creation of a handbook for sources relating to medieval Ireland at The National Archives and an online and in-print edition of the Fine Rolls of King Henry III (1216-72).

Prior to joining The National Archives as a Medieval Record Specialist in 2014, Paul worked as an access archivist at the Borthwick Institute, University of York.

Paul’s current research interests include ecclesiastical records, medieval Ireland, and the materiality of collections, particularly seals, seal bags and bound parchment volumes. He also has a keen interest in the training of linguistic and palaeographic skills needed to access medieval records.

From 2019-23 Paul acted as Co-Investigator on an Arts and Humanities Research Council funded project, ‘The Northern Way’, which explored and revealed the role of the Archbishops of York from 1304-1405. Paul is currently Co-Investigator of the Medieval Exchequer ‘Gold Seam’ on the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland project, funded by the Irish Government.

Paul’s work has involved considerable engagement with digital humanities and the creation of large datasets with potential for linking data, and he is keen to explore future opportunities in this field.

Paul is Joint General Editor of the Pipe Roll Society, Honorary Secretary of the Lincoln Record Society, and President of the Mortimer History Society. He is also a former Chair of the British Association for Local History.