author
Charles Welch
1848–1924
Best known as a longtime Guildhall Library librarian, he wrote vivid histories of London that helped preserve the city’s civic memory. His books and reference work ranged from medieval streets to livery companies and major landmarks.
1 Audiobook
Mediæval London
by William Benham, Charles Welch
About the author
Born on July 21, 1848, Charles Welch was a British librarian and author closely associated with the Guildhall Library in London. Obituaries in The Times and Nature note that he joined the library staff straight from school and served there for more than forty years, later becoming widely respected for his knowledge of London’s history and antiquities.
Welch wrote a substantial body of work on the City of London, including books on subjects such as Mediæval London, the modern history of London, Tower Bridge, the Monument, and several of the city’s old companies and institutions. Sources also describe him as a contributor to the Dictionary of National Biography and the Victoria County Histories, showing how his research reached beyond standalone books into major reference projects.
He retired from the Guildhall Library in 1906 and died on January 14, 1924. A clear portrait image was not readily confirmed from the sources reviewed, so no profile image is included here.