Descriptive Summary
Access
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Acquisition Information
Processing History
Biographical Note
Historical Note
Collection Scope and Contents
Collection Arrangement
Indexing Terms
Descriptive Summary
Title: Nichols family collection on the Palace of Westminster
Date (inclusive): circa 1650-1905, undated
Date (bulk): 1800-1840
Collection Number: MS 203
Extent:
2.56 linear feet
(2 boxes)
Repository:
Rivera Library. Special Collections Department.
Abstract: This collection is comprised of items found within
The History of the Ancient Palace and Late Houses of Parliament at Westminster : Embracing Accounts and Illustrations of St.
Stephen's Chapel, and its cloisters, - Westminster Hall, - The Court of Requests, - The Painted Chamber
, by Edward Wedlake Brayley, and John Britton. Material includes correspondences, documents and illustrated plates from circa
1650 to 1905. The original book that contained these items is also housed within the collection. All of the plates feature
views of Westminster from different publications and years. The correspondence includes items addressed to historically significant
individuals or persons related to the history of the Westminster or the production of the book. Highlights include correspondences
to John Bowyer Nichols, the printer of the book; from Charles Barry, the son of the architect who rebuilt the Parliament and
Westminster; to Dr. Reverend Kippis, a noted British Historian and author; from Sir John Cam Hobhouse, British Member of Parliament
and friend of the poet Lord Byron.
Languages: The collection is in English and French.
Access
This collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright Unknown: Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction,
and/or commercial use, of some materials may be restricted by gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and
publicity rights, licensing agreement(s), and/or trademark rights. Distribution or reproduction of materials protected by
copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. To the extent other restrictions
apply, permission for distribution or reproduction from the applicable rights holder is also required. Responsibility for
obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], [date if possible]. Nichols family collection on the Palace of Westminster (MS 203). Special Collections
& University Archives, University of California, Riverside.
Acquisition Information
The book, which contained the items in this collection,
The History of the Ancient Palace and Late Houses of Parliament at Westminster : Embracing Accounts and Illustrations of St.
Stephen's Chapel, and its cloisters, - Westminster Hall, - The Court of Requests, - The Painted Chamber
, by Edward Wedlake Brayley, and John Britton was purchased by Henry Snyder in London in the 1960's and was subsequently sold
to the University of California, Riverside in 1995.
At some point before Henry Snyder purchased the item it was owned by Robert Washington Oates, a noted collector and antiquarian
bookseller. It is unknown how the book came into Oates' possession or how it went up for sale in London but much of the Nichols
family library was sold at Sothebys auctions.
Processing History
Processed by Sara Stilley, Preservation Assistant, 2010.
Items were removed from the book,
The History of the Ancient Palace and Late Houses of Parliament at Westminster : Embracing Accounts and Illustrations of St.
Stephen's Chapel, and its cloisters, - Westminster Hall, - The Court of Requests, - The Painted Chamber
, by Edward Wedlake Brayley, and John Britton, with their original location (page numbers) noted. They were then processed
by preservation standards and housed in mylar enclosures. A custom clam shell box was made to house the book because of its
damaged state. Damage to the book includes: broken leather spine, lost head caps, first two signatures detached from the text
block, and extensive swelling of the text block due to the inserted items. Some slight damage also occurred from removing
items as they were attached in the book.
All items removed from the book have been digitized.
Biographical Note
John Nichols (1745-1826): John Nichols was apprenticed to printer William Bowyer in 1757 and took over that business in 1777.
Among his noteworthy accomplishments was being editor of
Gentleman's Magazine and some of the most lengthy and complete antiquarian county histories. Additionally he worked with Abraham Farley in on
the 300th anniversary edition of the
Domesday Book. Nichols created a special font for the edition, which was unfortunately destroyed in a workshop fire in 1808. Also, he held
the office of Master of the Stationer's Company in 1804. Nichols' son, John Bowyer Nichols, and grandson, John Gough Nichols,
continued the printing business which is considered today to be one of the best documented printing houses of its time in
England.
John Bowyer Nichols (1779-1863): J.B. Nichols was apprenticed to his father and when freed? became a partner in the family
business. He continued the family tradition of printing county histories and was the official printer of British parliamentary
publications. Along with being a printer, J.B. Nichols was, like his father, editor of the
Gentleman's Magazine, a poet and an author of many works on antiquarian subjects. He was Master of the Stationer's Company in 1850.
John Gough Nichols (1806-1873): J.G. Nichols joined the family business in 1824 and was a natural historian and perfect successor
to his grandfather's tradition of studying and printing antiquarian histories. He also carried on the editorial leadership
of the
Gentleman's Magazine until its sale in 1856. He was a founding member of many historical societies such as Camden Society, Surtees Society and
Shakespeare Society and publisher of their publications.
John Britton (1771-1857): Co-author of the book in which the items were found. A well- known English author and historian
of his time, he created, along with his friend Edward Wedlake Brayley a new form of literature in the of important monuments
throughout Britain. He was a frequent contributor to
Gentleman's Magazine.
Edward Wedlake Brayley (1733-1854): Co-author of the book in which the items were found. A noted English author, historian
and topographer, he wrote several works with John Britton his life long friend.
Historical Note
Palace at Westminster: The Palace at Westminster began as a royal palace in the eleventh century and was the primary residence
in London for the Kings of England and for Parliament until a fire in 1512 that destroyed much of the residential area and
the King Henry VIII moved the royal family to Whitehall Palace. After, it served only as the meeting space for the Parliament,
and various other judicial courts and various other functions. In 1834 much of the medieval building burned in a devastating
fire . Sir Charles Barry won the competition to rebuild the site in the popular Perpendicular Gothic style. The replacement
was much larger, including over 8 acres of reclaimed land along the Thames River, and incorporated those areas not destroyed
in the fire. This reconstruction began in 1840 and lasted for 30 years. Since then there has been considerable restoration
of the soft sandstone used to build the structure due to the effects of London's pollution, The House of Commons had to be
rebuilt after it was destroyed in a 1941 German bombing of London. Areas of note in the structure are those that survived
the 1834 fire: Westminster Hall, the Cloisters of St. Stephen's, the Chapel of St. Mary Undercroft and the Jewel Tower.
Collection Scope and Contents
This collection is comprised of items found within
The History of the Ancient Palace and Late Houses of Parliament at Westminster : Embracing Accounts and Illustrations of St.
Stephen's Chapel, and its cloisters, - Westminster Hall, - The Court of Requests, - The Painted Chamber
, by Edward Wedlake Brayley, and John Britton. Material includes correspondences, documents and illustrated plates from circa
1650 to 1905. The original book that contained these items is also housed within the collection. All of the plates feature
views of Westminster from different publications and years. The correspondence includes items addressed to historically significant
individuals or persons related to the history of the Westminster or the production of the book. Highlights include correspondences
to John Bowyer Nichols, the printer of the book; from Charles Barry, the son of the architect who rebuilt the Parliament and
Westminster; to Dr. Reverend Kippis, a noted British Historian and author; from Sir John Cam Hobhouse, British Member of Parliament
and friend of the poet Lord Byron.
Collection Arrangement
This collection is arranged into three series as follows:
- Series 1. Correspondence and other material, 1650-1905, undated
- Series 2. Plates (illustrations), 1747-1875, undated
- Series 3. Publications, 1836
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Brayley, E. W. (Edward Wedlake), 1773-1854
Britton, John, 1771-1857
Nichols, John Gough, 1806-1873
Nichols, John, 1745-1826
Nichols, J. B. (John Bowyer), 1779-1863
Westminster Palace (London, England)
Genres and Forms of Materials
Correspondence
Plates (illustrations)
Publications