LFWJ was born at Kimberworth, Rotherham, on November 24th 1816, the seventeenth child of schhol master Arthur Jewitt and his wife Martha. Two years later the family moved to Duffield in Derbyshire where he received his education - largely from his father.
By the age of 21 he had learned wood engraving and worked with his brother Orlando. During this period he also worked with the engraver F.W. Fairholt, illustrating the publications of Charles Knight, and he also contributed to the Pictorial Times and the Illustrated London News and for a time he had management of the illustrations in Punch. From 1849 to 1853 Jewitt was chief librarian of Plymouth Public Library before returning to Derbyshire where he edited the Derby Telegraph, and in 1860 founded the antiquarian magazine The Reliquary which he edited until his death. He was also one of the earliest officers in the Derby Rifle Volunteers.
He was a member of the British Archaeological Association and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and he became a prolific writer on English antiquities and topography. His most memorable achievement was, however, The Ceramic Art of Great Britain, published in 1878 but which had teken 20 years to compile.
Llewellynn died at The Hollies, Duffield on June 5 1886.
(With thanks to Catherine Hawley for championing LFWJ!)
See also http://genweb.net/~books/eng/dby/dbyh1225Tideswell.shtml
Copyright S D Jowitt