Person    | Male  Born 1820  Died 31/12/1876

Rev. Thomas Hugo

Categories: History, Religion

British antiquary and collector. Curate at St Botolph without Bishopsgate 1851-8. Rector at St Pauls West Hackney  1872. Member the Society of Antiquaries of London, the Linnean Society and the Royal Society of Literature (sat on council 1855-73).

A founding member of the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society (LAMAS) and In December 1855 gave an address at its first meeting explaining its objectives.

At A History of the Cries of London, by Charles Hindley we learnt that Hugo was a collector of the Cries of London.

This portrait comes from the Transactions of the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society, Vol V where it is captioned: "In Memoriam. THE REV. T. HUGO, M.A., M.R.S.L., F.L.S., AND V.P. Of THE LONDON AND MIDDLESEX ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY."  His death was quite unexpected. We hope you agree that either Hugo had a strangely-shaped head, or the artist, JS, was not very good.

2025: We were contacted by Tom Welsh (author of Fake Heritage) who found this page “a rather understated account of this brilliant antiquary and villain in other respects. The villain acquired treasures in possibly devious ways - he was very much involved in the Cuerdale Hoard, though after the event, and he retained part of the Mold Cape after the rest of it had been acquired by the British Museum. He was particularly remembered as a collector of Bewick printing blocks, and for his part in the affair of the Shadwell Shams, evidently fake lead badges if we believe official accounts, because he exposed the deceptions involved in trying to make out they were forgeries. I gave an account of him in ‘Fake Heritage’ in chapter 8. He seems to have ended up rather an alcoholic, judging from incidents in his time at West Hackney. He really was a character of his day - and might well have been parodied by Dickens if he had known him.”  See also: Charles Reed.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Rev. Thomas Hugo

Commemorated ati

West Hackney National Schools

We weren't expecting the investigation into this plaque to turn up anything p...

Read More

Other Subjects

Bennet Woodcroft

Bennet Woodcroft

Inventor, industrial archaeologist, leading figure in patent reform and the first clerk to the commissioners of patents. Born Lancashire. Appointed professor of machinery at University College Lond...

Person, History, Industry, Museums / Libraries

1 memorial
Kew Society

Kew Society

Originally founded as the Kew Union. It seeks to enhance the beauty of Kew and preserve its heritage. It reviews all planning applications in Kew, with special regard to the architectural integrity...

Group, Community / Clubs, History

1 memorial
Mary Seacole Trust

Mary Seacole Trust

From the Trust's website: "We want British society to become fairer, more inclusive and more harmonious. We believe that overcoming exclusion and increasing participation by promoting equality of b...

Group, Gender Issues, History, Medicine, Race Issues

1 memorial
Ruislip, Northwood & Eastcote Local History Society

Ruislip, Northwood & Eastcote Local History Society

A society with the aim to promote the conservation of Ruislip's heritage and to bring the history of the area to life.

Group, Community / Clubs, History

1 memorial
Robert P. McCulloch

Robert P. McCulloch

American entrepreneur from Missouri, best known for McCulloch chainsaws and for purchasing London Bridge, which he moved to Lake Havasu City, Arizona - one of the cities he founded. He purchased it...

Person, History, USA

2 memorials

Previously viewed

Thomas Campbell

Thomas Campbell

Sculptor.  Born Edinburgh.  Successfully established a studio in Rome for 10 years, and then also in London.  Portrait busts a speciality. At one stage we had Thomas Campbell the sculptor confused...

Person, Sculpture, Scotland

1 memorial
Stanley J. Grail
War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Raymond H. Rolfe
War dead, WW1
1 memorial
C. H. Jackson, Pte.

C. H. Jackson, Pte.

Imperial Camel Corps, Australian Contingent, 1st Battalion

Person

War dead, WW1
1 memorial