My brother, Nicholas Molyneux, who has died aged 68 from coronary heart issues, was an architectural historian identified for the depth of his topic data and his enthusiasm for historic buildings, particularly these in Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire.
For a lot of his working profession he was with English Heritage as principal inspector of historic buildings for the West Midlands, a job that concerned him in lots of tasks, together with the rebuilding of the Royal Shakespeare theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon and the restoration of the gardens at Kenilworth Fortress.
As a volunteer with the Shakespeare Birthplace Belief, he led analysis into their buildings and suggested on the archaeology of varied Shakespeare-related websites. Collectively along with his colleague Stephen Value, he additionally rewrote a piece of the Pevsner information to notable buildings in Worcestershire, specializing in timber framing.
He contributed to BBC information studies as a historic buildings marketing consultant and was even contacted about farm buildings by the makers of The Archers, his favorite radio programme. As well as he appeared as an skilled on TV collection, together with Time Crew, Animal Park and Countryfile.
Nick was born in Whitby, North Yorkshire, to Elizabeth (nee Staveley), a authorized secretary, and her husband, Geoffrey, a trainer. He went to Hartlepool boys’ grammar college, and though he had initially meant to check arithmetic at college, a sixth-form journey to an archaeological dig modified the course of his life by inspiring him to pursue what was to develop into his ardour.
After gaining an archaeology diploma from Birmingham College, his first job was on the York Archaeological Society’s excavation of Coppergate in York. He then went on to work first on the Commandery Museum in Worcester after which the Malvern Museum, earlier than shifting to Birmingham Metropolis Museum in 1976. For 3 years within the Nineteen Eighties he was the itemizing inspector for the Worcestershire Relisting Scheme for historic buildings, earlier than shifting to English Heritage in 1990, working there till his retirement in 2023.
A bigger than life character whose enthusiasm for his topic was infectious, Nick was a beautiful mixture of absolute skilled, jovial colleague and regarded decide. He was all the time beneficiant along with his time, completely satisfied to assist others with queries, large or small, and to debate issues at size to resolve any points. His detailed data of a few of the buildings in his area was unbelievable, all the way down to the tiniest of particulars.
Nick was an opera lover and spent many completely satisfied occasions at Glyndebourne, Longborough and Birmingham Metropolis Opera. He achieved a lifetime ambition when he grew to become a member of the Bayreuth Opera competition and was capable of have fun his sixtieth birthday there.
He’s survived by me, a nephew, Edward, and a niece, Catherine.
