How a Victorian travelogue sparked a century of British engagement with Egyptian history

History · Published 29 September 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1873, Amelia Blanford Edwards journeyed up the Nile, an experience that ignited a passion for preservation. By 1882, her advocacy led to the founding of the Egypt Exploration Society. For over a century, this organization has navigated the complex intersection of British and Egyptian heritage from its London base.

The Egypt Exploration Society emerged from a specific moment of Victorian intellectual curiosity. Following her extensive travels, Amelia Blanford Edwards returned to England to launch a campaign that culminated in the Society’s formal establishment in April 1882. Her seminal account, A Thousand Miles Up the Nile, served as the catalyst for a project that would eventually document and preserve vast swathes of Egyptian history.

Since 1892, the Society has maintained a presence in Camden, London, using the borough as a headquarters for its operations. This location has become more than just an administrative hub; it is the repository for a unique archive that chronicles the development of Egyptology. The Society’s records offer a distinct lens through which to view the entanglement of British and Egyptian historical narratives, reflecting the evolving methods and interests of researchers over the last 140 years.

Current leadership, including Director Carl Graves, continues to build upon this legacy. Graves, who holds a PhD from the University of Birmingham, focuses his own research on ancient Egyptian settlement patterns and landscape archaeology. His work also examines the growth of British Egyptology during the late eighteenth century, providing critical context for the Society’s ongoing mission. By maintaining these archives, the EES ensures that the history of exploration remains accessible, allowing scholars to trace how the discipline has matured from its early, foundational years into the modern era of systematic archaeological inquiry.

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