Grimes, William Francis (1905-1988)

British archaeologist. As honorary director of excavations for the Roman and Medieval London Excavation Council from 1946, he was responsible for the exploration of the Walbrook Mithraeum (temple sacred to Mithras) and many other sites from the early history of London.

Grimes was director of the London Museum 1945-56, and director of the Institute of Archaeology and professor of archaeology at the University of London 1956-73. His publications include Holt (Denbigh) Legionary Works Depot 1930, Prehistory of Wales 1951, Excavations on Defence Sites 1939-45 1960, and The Excavation of Roman and Medieval London 1968.