diff --git a/src/misc/serialize.h b/src/misc/serialize.h
index 7797be6..8d1fd29 100644
--- a/src/misc/serialize.h
+++ b/src/misc/serialize.h
@@ -164,6 +164,24 @@ namespace epics { namespace pvData {
                            int byteOrder,
                            std::vector<epicsUInt8>& out);
 
+    /**
+     * @brief deserializeFromBuffer Deserialize into S from provided vector
+     * @param S A Serializeable object.  The current contents will be replaced
+     * @param byteOrder Byte order to write (EPICS_ENDIAN_LITTLE or EPICS_ENDIAN_BIG)
+     * @param in The input buffer (byte order of this buffer is used)
+     * @throws std::logic_error if input buffer is too small.  State of S is then undefined.
+     */
+    void deserializeFromBuffer(Serializable *S,
+                               ByteBuffer& in);
+
+    inline void deserializeFromVector(Serializable *S,
+                                      int byteOrder,
+                                      const std::vector<epicsUInt8>& in)
+    {
+        ByteBuffer B((char*)&in[0], in.size(), byteOrder); // we promise not the modify 'in'
+        deserializeFromBuffer(S, B);
+    }
+
     /**
      * @brief Class for serializing bitSets.
      *
diff --git a/src/misc/serializeHelper.cpp b/src/misc/serializeHelper.cpp
index e51d592..a3994ee 100644
--- a/src/misc/serializeHelper.cpp
+++ b/src/misc/serializeHelper.cpp
@@ -215,3 +215,57 @@ namespace epics {
         }
     }
 }
+
+namespace {
+struct FromString : public epics::pvData::DeserializableControl
+{
+    ByteBuffer &buf;
+    epics::pvData::FieldCreatePtr create;
+
+    FromString(ByteBuffer& b)
+        :buf(b)
+        ,create(epics::pvData::getFieldCreate())
+    {}
+
+    virtual void ensureData(std::size_t size)
+    {
+        if(size>buf.getRemaining())
+            throw std::logic_error("Incomplete buffer");
+    }
+
+    virtual void alignData(std::size_t alignment)
+    {
+        size_t pos = buf.getPosition(), k = alignment-1;
+        if(pos&k) {
+            std::size_t npad = alignment-(pos&k);
+            ensureData(npad);
+            buf.align(alignment);
+        }
+    }
+
+    virtual bool directDeserialize(
+        ByteBuffer *existingBuffer,
+        char* deserializeTo,
+        std::size_t elementCount,
+        std::size_t elementSize)
+    {
+        return false;
+    }
+    virtual std::tr1::shared_ptr<const Field> cachedDeserialize(
+        ByteBuffer* buffer)
+    {
+        return create->deserialize(buffer, this);
+    }
+};
+}
+
+namespace epics {
+    namespace pvData {
+        void deserializeFromBuffer(Serializable *S,
+                                   ByteBuffer& buf)
+        {
+            FromString F(buf);
+            S->deserialize(&buf, &F);
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/testApp/misc/testSerialization.cpp b/testApp/misc/testSerialization.cpp
index 7edc6f2..797a26f 100644
--- a/testApp/misc/testSerialization.cpp
+++ b/testApp/misc/testSerialization.cpp
@@ -834,11 +834,35 @@ void testToString(int byteOrder)
     printbytes(bytes.size(), &bytes[0]);
 }
 
+void testFromString(int byteOrder)
+{
+    testDiag("testFromString(%d)", byteOrder);
+
+    StructureConstPtr _type = getFieldCreate()->createFieldBuilder()
+            ->add("X", pvInt)->add("Y", pvString)
+            ->createStructure();
+
+    PVStructurePtr _data = getPVDataCreate()->createPVStructure(_type);
+
+    if(byteOrder==EPICS_ENDIAN_LITTLE) {
+        ByteBuffer buf((char*)expected_le, NELEMENTS(expected_le)-1, byteOrder);
+        deserializeFromBuffer(_data.get(), buf);
+    } else if(byteOrder==EPICS_ENDIAN_BIG) {
+        ByteBuffer buf((char*)expected_be, NELEMENTS(expected_be)-1, byteOrder);
+        deserializeFromBuffer(_data.get(), buf);
+    } else {
+        throw std::logic_error("Unsupported mixed endian");
+    }
+
+    testOk1(_data->getSubFieldT<PVInt>("X")->get()==42);
+    testOk1(_data->getSubFieldT<PVString>("Y")->get()=="testing");
+}
+
 } // end namespace
 
 MAIN(testSerialization) {
 
-    testPlan(230);
+    testPlan(234);
 
     flusher = new SerializableControlImpl();
     control = new DeserializableControlImpl();
@@ -862,6 +886,8 @@ MAIN(testSerialization) {
 
     testToString(EPICS_ENDIAN_BIG);
     testToString(EPICS_ENDIAN_LITTLE);
+    testFromString(EPICS_ENDIAN_BIG);
+    testFromString(EPICS_ENDIAN_LITTLE);
 
     delete buffer;
     delete control;