William Herbert was an English librarian and antiquary.

Life

In 1828 he was elected librarian of the Guildhall Library

Guildhall Library

The Guildhall Library is administered by the Corporation of London, the government of the City of London, which is the historical heart of London, England. It was founded in the 1420s under the terms of the will of Lord Mayor Dick Whittington...

, which had been recently re-established by the Corporation of London

Corporation of London

The City of London Corporation is the municipal governing body of the City of London. It exercises control only over the City , and not over Greater London...

. He prepared a second edition of the catalogue in 1840, and retired in 1845. He died, aged 80, on 18 November 1851, at 40 Brunswick Street, Haggerston

Haggerston

Haggerston is an area and a electoral ward in the London Borough of Hackney, in northeast London, UK. It is bounded by Hackney Road on the south, Kingsland Road on the west, Middleton Road on the north with London Fields and Broadway Market on the east...

; he was survived by Eliza Herbert, probably his daughter.

Works

With Edward Wedlake Brayley

Edward Wedlake Brayley

Edward Wedlake Brayley was an English antiquary and topographer.He was born at Lambeth, London. He was apprenticed to the enamelling trade, but developed an early interest in literature. His close friendship with John Britton lasted for sixty-five years...

 he produced in 1803 a volume of tales and poems, entitled 'Syr Reginalde, or the Black Tower; a romance of the Twelfth Century' (London), and in 1806 a history of Lambeth Palace, which he dates from Globe Place, Lambeth. Another edition of the latter work was published for the illustrators in the same year. He was also associated with Robert Wilkinson

Robert Wilkinson (mapmaker)

Robert Wilkinson was an 18th century English mapmaker primarily based at No.58, Cornhill, London. He reissued an English atlas in 1785, a world atlas in 1794, New Holland 1820, North America in 1823 and the East India Islands in 1825.-Notes:...

in producing 'Londina Illustrata,' a sumptuously illustrated account of ancient buildings in London and Westminster (London, 1819–25, 2 vols.). According to the plates of this work he lived at Marsh Gate, Lambeth, in 1808-9.

Herbert is best known by his 'History of the Twelve great Livery Companies of London,' 1836-7, 2 vols. All Herbert's works are lavishly illustrated. He published also:

• ‘Antiquities of the Inns of Court and Chancery … with a concise history of the English law,’ 1804.
• ‘Select views of London and its environs … from original paintings and drawings, accompanied by copious letterpress descriptions’ 1804-5, 2 vols.
• ‘London before the Great Fire,’ parts 1-2, 1817.
• ‘Illustrations of the site and Neighbourhood of the new Post Office … with an account of the antient Mourning Bush tavern, &c., Aldersgate, and various London taverns,’ 1830.
• ‘The history and antiquities of the parish and church of St. Michael, Crooked Lane, London; with historical sketches of the Boar's Head tavern, Eastcheap,’ 1831. This work was published by subscription, and was intended to be finished in six parts, of which only two appeared.
• ‘School elocution, or the young academical orator,’ 1853; published posthumously.
• Collections, chiefly manuscript, for the history of London livery companies, chantries and monasteries, preserved in the Guildhall Library.