Arthur Raistrick was born in Saltaire (Yorkshire West Riding) in 1896. He went to Bradford Grammar School, then was apprenticed as an electrical engineer. He was imprisoned as a Conscientious Objector during the First World War and later became a Quaker. He gained an M.Sc. in Civil Engineering and M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Geology (applied to mining) at Leeds University. In 1929 he was appointed Lecturer, and later Reader, in Applied Geology at Armstrong College (later King's College of the University of Durham). On his retirement in 1956 he devoted considerable time to research and writing on industrial archaeology, particularly that of the Yorkshire Dales. He studied the archaeological and geological evidence in the field, colouring and annotating Ordnance Survey maps to illustrate his findings, and also producing plans and site drawings.
From the guide to the The Elizabeth and Arthur Raistrick Map Collection, 1744-1972, (Bradford University Library)
