Edward Lovett

Edward Lovett (July 1852 – 1933) was an English folklorist, recognised for his collections of charms, amulets, and objects used in children's games. He was born in Islington and lived in Outram Road, Croydon, later residing in Caterham, and is reported to have worked as a chief cashier at a branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland in the City of London. Lovett spent his spare time collecting, writing, and lecturing on folk-lore, usually focused on objects he had collected on his walks around London, Sussex and Surrey. Lovett was married and had at least two children. His oldest son served in the First World War. After his retirement in 1912, he dedicated himself full time to his collection, and to sharing his love of alpine plants. An early work, self-published, is "How to Make A Rock Garden and Grow Alpine Plants", not dated, but presumably around 1900. The two interests overlapped when Lovett was able to exchange small alpine specimens, grown in seashells, for amulets and charms from the people he met in London.