Britton, John

ANTIQUARY, AUTHOR, EDITOR (ENGLAND)
BORN 7 Jul 1771, Kington St. Michael, Wiltshire - DIED 1 Jan 1857, London
GRAVE LOCATION London: West Norwood Cemetery, Norwood High Street, Norwood (Square 119, grave 5,235)

John Britton came from a poor family and was orphaned at an early age. He took all kinds of jobs to make a living and tried his hand at writing as well. Together with his friend Edward Wedlake Brayley he published "The Beauties of Wiltshire" (1802). His " Architectural Antiquities of Great Britain" started in 1805 and in 1814 the ninth and final volume was published. "Cathedral Antiquities of England" followd in fourteen volumes between 1814 and 1835.

In 1850 he published an autobiography. He died in 1857. His library was acquired by a group of men who formed the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society and it is still in the Wiltshire Heritage Museum.

Related persons
• had work illustrated by Blore, Edward

Images

The grave of John Britton at West Norwood Cemetery, London.
Picture by Androom (28 May 2014)

 

Sources
John Britton (antiquary) - Wikipedia


Brodsky, Joseph

Published: 01 Apr 2017
Last update: 01 Apr 2022