E. Clive Rouse

Edward Clive Rouse MBE FSA FRSA (15 October 1901 – 28 July 1997) was an English archaeologist and writer on archaeology, who specialized in medieval wall paintings. He served as President of the Royal Archaeological Institute from 1969 to 1972. He was known as Clive Rouse, and was usually credited as E. Clive Rouse.

Background and early life

Rouse was born on 15 October 1901 in Stroud, Gloucestershire, the son of Edward Foxwell Rouse, a furniture-maker in Acton, West London, and his wife Frances Sarah Sams, whose family had been dairymen to Buckingham Palace. He was educated at St. Ronan's School, Worthing, then Gresham's School, Holt, and the St Martin's School of Art.

Career

After training as an artist, Rouse developed a passion for medieval wall paintings and worked with E. W. Tristram, Professor of Design at the Royal College of Art, on their recording and conservation. With assistants, he spent years removing or reducing wax coatings which had been misguidedly added to paintings, and conserving them using authentic materials, particularly slaked lime.

He was also a lecturer and worked to educate clergy and church architects in the care of wall paintings.

He collected Chinese armorial porcelain, and built up the largest private collection in England. He gave away many pieces, some to the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.

War service

Rouse served from 1939 to 1945 with the Intelligence unit of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He was awarded the MBE for services to the Medmenham Central Interpretation Unit.

Private life and death

Rouse never married. He died on 28 July 1997 in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire.

Publications

• Guide to Buckinghamshire (1935)
• The Old Towns of England (1936)
• Collins Guide to English Parish Churches (1958)
• Discovering Wall Paintings (1968)
• Mediaeval Wall Paintings (1991, reprinted 1996)

Honours and other positions

• Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, 1937
• Member of the Order of the British Empire, 1946
• FRSA, 1968
• Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers, 1962
• Vice-President, Royal Archaeological Institute, 1965–1969
• President, Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society, 1969–1979
• President, Royal Archaeological Institute, 1969–1972
• Honorary DLitt, University of Sussex, 1983

References

• Who's Who 1993 (A. & C. Black, London, 1993)
• Obituary by Jane Rutherfoord in The Independent, 6 August 1997
• Edward Clive Rouse, M.B.E., M.A., D.Litt. – obituary at web site of Society of Antiquaries of London