author
John Stow
d. 1605
Best known for A Survey of London, this self-taught Elizabethan antiquary turned a lifelong fascination with the city into one of the most vivid records of old London. His chronicles and histories helped preserve details that might otherwise have vanished.
1 Audiobook
The Survey of London
by John Stow
About the author
Born in London around 1524 or 1525, John Stow began life as a tailor before giving himself over to the study of history, manuscripts, and the city's past. He became one of the best-known English antiquaries of the Elizabethan age, collecting books and records with unusual dedication.
His most famous work, A Survey of London (first published in 1598 and expanded in 1603), remains a landmark account of the city's streets, buildings, customs, and people. He also produced widely read chronicles and annals of English history, helping shape how later generations understood the nation's past.
Stow's devotion to research came at a personal cost, and later accounts note that his scholarly pursuits left him in poverty. Even so, his careful eye for everyday detail and his love of London's history have made him an enduring figure for readers interested in Tudor England.