Nigel Baker

Dr. Nigel Baker is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham's School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences. Specializing in field archaeology, his work focuses on historic towns, urban morphology, and river archaeology. He holds a B.A. from the University of Birmingham (1978), a Ph.D. from the University of Nottingham (2000), and is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London (elected 2009). His career spans academia, local government, and commercial archaeology sectors.

Research interests include medieval town development, Shropshire archaeology, and the archaeology of English rivers. He has co-directed excavations at Shrewsbury Castle and contributed to major publications on Worcester, Gloucester, Bristol, and Hereford. Current projects involve a 100th-anniversary volume on Shropshire archaeology and a book on river archaeology ('Paddling into the Past').

• Key roles: Urban Morphology Research Group member
• Committees: Historic England Urban Panel (2016-2022), Worcester Cathedral Fabric Advisory Committee (2022-present)
• Public engagement: Lectures for local societies, W.I., and TV appearances (e.g., 'Britain's Great Rivers')

Awards include the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists membership (1986) and Fellowship of the Society of Antiquaries (2009). His work bridges academic research with practical applications in urban regeneration and heritage conservation.