The post of Surveyor of the Fabric of Westminster Abbey was established in 1698. The role is an architectural one, with the current holder being responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the Abbey and its buildings. In the past, the role has involved overseeing new construction work as well as restoration and architectural conservation. The post has been held by the following people:Christopher Wren (1698–1723) Nicholas Hawksmoor (1723–1736) John James (1736–1746) James Horne (1746–1752) Henry Keene (1752–1776) James Wyatt (1776–1813) Benjamin Dean Wyatt (1813–1827) Edward Blore (1827–1849) George Gilbert Scott (1849–1878) John Loughborough Pearson (1878–1897) John Thomas Micklethwaite (1897–1906) William Lethaby (1906–1928) Walter Tapper (1928–1935) Charles Reed Peers (1935–1951) Stephen Dykes Bower (1951–1973) (John) Peter Foster (1973–1988) Donald Buttress (1988–1999) John Burton (1999–2012) Ptolemy Dean (2012–present)

John James was a British architect particularly associated with Twickenham in west London, where he rebuilt St Mary's Church and also built a house for James Johnson, Secretary of State for Scotland, later Orleans House and since demolished. Howard Colvin's assessment of him was that of "a competent architect, but he lacked inventive fancy, and his buildings are for the most part plain and unadventurous in design".