This article explores the life and legacy of the historian John Duncan Marshall (1919–2008). It considers his role in helping to established the fields of urban history and industrial archaeology, and his influence on local and regional history in Britain during the latter 20th century. The article also discusses Marshall's role in the creation of the Centre for North West Regional Studies at Lancaster University. The article argues that the most distinguishing feature of Marshall's wide-ranging achievements was his commitment to a communitarian approach that demanded cooperation between people from different backgrounds and entailed a commitment to the lived experience of individuals and communities as fundamental subjects of study.