Maurice Warwick Beresford, FBA (6 February 1920 – 15 December 2005) was an English economic historian and archaeologist specialising in the medieval period.
In September 1939, with the start of the Second World War, Beresford registered as a conscientious objector.
[3] He was Sub-Warden (1942–1943) and then Warden (1943–1948) of Percival Guildhouse, an adult education centre and charity in Rugby, Warwickshire.
[6] He continued his research, including studying the local area through RAF aerial photography and old maps to rebuild the medieval landscape.
[3] He expanded his interests from history and historical geography into archaeology and was involved in excavations at Steeton and East Lilling in Yorkshire in 1948 and 1949.
[8][9] Together with John Hurst he conducted archaeological excavations at the deserted village of Wharram Percy near Malton in North Yorkshire.