John Aubrey (1626-1697) was an antiquary. He matriculated at Trinity College, Oxford, 1642, and was a Student at the Middle Temple, London, 1646. He brought to light megalithic remains at Avebury in 1649. He formed large topographical collections in Wiltshire and Surrey, and left in manuscript much antiquarian and historical material. Further details are given in the Dictionary of National Biography.

'Monumenta Britannica' by John Aubrey, in four parts, chiefly written in about 1665-93, with notes added by John Evelyn and Dr Thomas Gale. These volumes contain a large amount of curious observations and original work, and are of considerable value from the numerous illustrations and the first-hand information relating to British antiquities.

At Aubrey's death in 1697 these manuscripts were in the possession of Awnsham Churchill, a London bookseller, and in 1755 and 1780 owned by a nephew of the same names, and in 1817 by William Churchill a son of the last-named, from whom they passed to a cousin, Col. Sir Charles Greville.

Greville sold the manuscripts to the Bodleian for £50 in 1836.

Entry to read in the Library is permitted only on presentation of a valid reader's card (for admissions procedures see http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/services/admissions/).

Falconer Madan, et al., A summary catalogue of western manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford which have not hitherto been catalogued in the Quarto series (7 vols. in 8 [vol. II in 2 parts], Oxford, 1895-1953; reprinted, with corrections in vols. I and VII, Munich, 1980), vol. V, nos. 28426-7.

See also Aubrey Manuscripts.

Antiquities

Aubrey | John | 1626-1697 | Antiquary Topographer

Evelyn | John | 1620-1706 | Diarist Traveller Numismatist Antiquary Gardener

Gale | Thomas | 1635-1702 | Dean of York Antiquary