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.

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.