author
W. J. (William John) Loftie
1839–1911
A Victorian clergyman with a deep love of old buildings and city streets, he wrote lively, wide-ranging books on London, art, architecture, and travel. His work helped turn the capital’s past into something vivid and readable for a broad audience.
3 Audiobooks
Lessons in the Art of Illuminating A Series of Examples selected from Works in the British Museum, Lambeth Palace Library, and the South Kensington Museum. With Practical Instructions, and a Sketch of the History of the Art
by W. J. (William John) Loftie
Authorised Guide to the Tower of London
by W. J. (William John) Loftie
Whitehall : historical and architectural notes
by W. J. (William John) Loftie
About the author
William John Loftie was born in Tandragee, County Armagh, in 1839 and was educated at Trinity College, Dublin. He was ordained in the Church of England and went on to combine clerical work with a busy literary career.
Loftie became especially known for writing about the history and antiquities of London, though his interests also stretched to art, architecture, and travel. Reference sources including the British Museum describe him as an archaeologist, collector, and antiquarian as well as a prolific author.
He wrote for major periodicals and produced many books, with London remaining one of his best-known subjects. He died in 1911, leaving behind a body of work that reflects the Victorian passion for uncovering the stories hidden in streets, churches, and old buildings.