Historian and Heritage Expert

Welcome to my website. I am an historian, archaeologist and heritage champion who believes that our past informs and shapes our future, and that to make a great future for everyone we need to understand and care for our past.

Ever since I was a child, I have been investigating history; some of my earliest efforts digging in my parent’s garden discovered important Roman remains. After reading History at university and completing an MA and PhD I have devoted my career to working with history, museums, archaeology and heritage always trying to explain why history matters and make it accessible and enjoyable to everybody.

I am married to the Historian Anna Keay and have two children, Arthur and Maud; we live, as much as possible, in a medieval merchant’s house in North Norfolk.

The Building of England: The Architectural History of a Nation

On June 18th 2026 The Building of England: The Architectural History of a Nation my revised, updated and much expanded history of architecture in England will be published at an astonishingly affordable £12.99. Between 29 April and publication I shall be counting down the best 50 buildings in England on my Instagram feed. I hope you don’t disagree too much with my choices.
"A truly stupendous achievement… one of the best architectural historians this country has ever produced" A.N. Wilson, The Evening Standard
"Thurley has a knack of finding new, provocative things to say about familiar landmarks or styles" Richard Morrison, The Times
"an impressive book – for its scholarship, for its easy didacticism, for the care with which Thurley has thought things through" Michael Prodger, Sunday Times
Post Image

Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster

Having served as a Board Member on the Sponsor Body for this project since 2019, and as a non-executive director on the Delivery Authority since 2020, I took the Chair of the Authority on April 1 2025. I take over from Mike Brown CBE who was its first Chair and guided it through its formative years. Appointed by the Clerks of the Houses, and the Parliamentary Project Board, I shall lead the Delivery Authority as Parliament works towards making a decision on how to undertake the urgent re-servicing and conservation of the national legislature in early 2026.
Post Image

Palaces of Revolution wins the 2023 Samuel Pepys Prize

I am proud to announce that on 9th November 2023 at a dinner in London my latest book Palaces of Revolution won the prestigious Samuel Pepys award presented bi-annually to the book that makes the greatest contribution to the understanding of the Seventeenth Century world of Samuel Pepys.
Post Image