author
George Laurence Gomme
1853–1916
A key figure in British folklore studies, this Victorian scholar helped turn local traditions and old buildings into subjects worth preserving. He also shaped how London remembered its past, from county histories to the blue plaque scheme.
2 Audiobooks
Survey of London, Volume 05 (of 14), the parish of St. Giles-in-the-Fields, part 2
by William Edward Riley, George Laurence Gomme
Folklore as an Historical Science
by George Laurence Gomme
About the author
Born in London in 1853, Sir George Laurence Gomme built a career in public service while becoming one of the leading folklorists and antiquarians of his time. He worked in local government administration and later served the London County Council, bringing the same careful eye to civic records that he brought to history and tradition.
Gomme was closely involved in the founding and growth of the Folklore Society, and he also helped establish the Victoria County History. His writing explored folklore, early institutions, customs, and the history of London, always with a strong interest in how ordinary practices could reveal the deeper story of a place.
He was also an advocate for preserving old buildings and for commemorating notable lives in the city. He is remembered not only for his books and essays, but for helping shape the way London's heritage was recorded and publicly honored before his death in 1916.