Miss Landen, Miss Spence and Miss Webb 

'‘Mr Jerdan, my congratulations. I did not know you were a novelist.’
‘Then you were right, Mr Loudon, for I am not. And if you think that all writers are male, you are again mistaken. Each of these three young ladies is a published author, as well as a contributor to my Literary Gazette. I present to you Miss Landen, Miss Spence and Miss Webb. May I invite you to guess which of my Three Graces penned The Mummy?’ This is a quote from The Claudians: gardens, landscapes, reason and faith: John Claudius Loudon and Claudius Buchanan, Tom Turner (Kindle, 2024).

More about William Jerdan 

William Jerdan (1782-1869) was born in Kelso, Scotland. He dabbled in law, medicine, and commerce before settling on journalism. Jerdan founded the Literary Gazette and was its editor for 34 years. It became a leading platform for literary criticism and news, shaping the cultural landscape of Victorian England. Jerdan championed writers like Charles Dickens and Elizabeth Barrett Browning - as well as Elizabeth Isabella Spence, Jane Webb (Loudon),and L.E.L. Letitia Elizabeth Landon. He fathered 4 or 5 illegitimate children with L.E.L before abandoning her. The three girls worked for William Jerdan and it was probably through him that they met each other and met John Martin's Family.

- Elizabeth Isabella Spence was a travel writer and novelist 

- L.E.L. Letitia Elizabeth Landon was a very popular poet and writer (and one of Jerdan's mistresses)

- Jane Webb (Loudon) was a novelist and writer who lived at No. 21 North Street, off Great Portland Street.  Marylebone had a North Street which became Aybrook street in 1912. A North Street is shown on the 1828 Greenwood Map - but this is far from Gt Portland Street. There is also a New North Street running north from Red Lion Square. So it seems probable that the North Street in which Jane Wells Webb lived was one of the un-named alleys off Great Portland Street. If anyone can find it please let me know.

The three girls were also on friendly terms with John Martins children, including:

- Jonathan Martin, famous for settin fire to York Minster 

- William Martin, inventor of Metallic Railways on Stone Blocks 1796

Connections Between Victorian Writers and Influential Figures

Miss Landen, Miss Spence, and Miss Webb were prominent figures in Victorian literature, each contributing significantly to the era’s cultural fabric. Their association with William Jerdan, a key figure in literary journalism, was instrumental in their careers. Jerdan’s Literary Gazette provided a vital platform for their work, enhancing their visibility and influence. The connections extended beyond professional relationships; the trio’s interactions with John Martin’s family highlight their integration into broader artistic and intellectual circles. This cross-pollination of ideas among writers, artists, and critics played a crucial role in shaping the literary and cultural landscape of the time. For example, the influence of their works and social circles is evident in the way they reflect the themes and concerns of Victorian society, including social reform and the role of women in literature.