Laurence Gomme

Sir George Laurence Gomme, FSA (18 December 1853 – 23 February 1916) was a public servant and antiquarian.

His position as statistical officer, from 1893, and then as clerk to the council, from 1900, gave him a major role in policy and administration.

His work is now generally regarded as too dependent on a survivals theory, which tried to trace folk customs back to earlier stages of civilisation; but it retains value as a collection.

He used his council position to protect threatened buildings and to advance the Survey of London, to which he also contributed historical material.

Another overlap of his historical and professional interests was the blue plaque commemorative scheme, which he persuaded the council to begin administering in 1901: the 800th blue plaque to be awarded would later mark his own London residence in 24 Dorset Square.