Thomas Park Brown Plaque

About This Blue Plaque

Thomas Park, also known as “The Poetical Antiquary”, was a prominent English antiquary and bibliographer. Born in 1759, Park dedicated his life to the study and preservation of antiquities and literary works. He was elected as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries (FSA) in recognition of his extensive knowledge and contributions to the field.

Park resided in Church Row, Hampstead, which was a popular area among literary figures and intellectuals during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Hampstead, now part of the London Borough of Camden, has a rich history and has been home to many notable writers, artists, and thinkers over the years.

As an antiquary, Park was passionate about collecting and studying rare books, manuscripts, and historical artifacts. He made significant contributions to the field of bibliography and was known for his meticulous research and attention to detail. Park’s work helped to preserve and shed light on many important literary and historical works that might have otherwise been lost to time.

Tragically, Park’s son, John James Park, who was born in 1795 and authored the first history of Hampstead, died in 1833 at the young age of 38. Thomas Park himself passed away just a year later in 1834, at the age of 75. The blue plaque at Church Row, erected in 1909, serves as a tribute to the lives and legacies of both father and son, celebrating their contributions to the literary and historical heritage of Hampstead and beyond.