Sir Archibald Geikie Blue Plaque

In December 2007, we erected our first plaque in appreciation of Sir Archibald Geikie at Shepherd's Down, Hill Road. Sir Archibald was a famous geologist in his day, holding many positions in his distinguished career:

1867 Director of the Geological Survey of Scotland
1871 Murchison Chair of Geology, Edinburgh University
1879 Visits and lectures in the USA
1882 Director General of the Geological Survey
1890 President of the Geological Society
1908 President of the Royal Society

In 1913 Geikie, newly appointed to the Order of Merit, retired from London to live in Haslemere in "Shepherd's Down", designed by his wife and daughters. In that year Sir Jonathan Hutchinson died, a former president of the Royal College of Surgeons and founder and owner of Haslemere Educational Museum. He left no Museum endowment and it faced closure. Geikie came to the fore and agreed to head up the management committee and to start fund raising. Under his leadership the museum prospered and moved to the premises it occupies today.

For full details, with maps and photographs, of this and other Haslemere Society Blue Plaques, see Publications tab.