Guildhall Library Events and Exhibitions

GUILDHALL EVENTS

LIBRARY AND EXHIBITIONS The Library of London History

MAY-AUGUST 2015

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF WENCESLAS HOLLAR, ARTIST TO LONDON

Thursday 2 July, 2-3pm

STAINED GLASS IN THE CITY

Wednesday 13 May, 10.30am

Guildhall Library Aldermanbury, London EC2V 7HH 020 7332 1868 / 020 7332 1870 guildhall.library@cityoflondon.gov.uk www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/guildhalllibrary

Follow

ALL EVENTS REQUIRE BOOKING AND TAKE PLACE AT GUILDHALL LIBRARY. EVENTS ARE FREE UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED.

Wednesday 13 May, 10.15am for a 10.30am start

STAINED GLASS IN THE CITY: WALK

DETAILS OF HOW TO BOOK CAN BE FOUND ON THE BACK PAGE

THE STORY OF ST KATHARINE’S: TALK

Join Chris West to discover the history of this small but fascinating area next to the Tower of London.

Hear about the Royal Hospital Church and thriving community from 1148 to 1825; Telford’s Docks with its luxury trade from 1828 to 1968; and its dilapidation then resurrection to world-famous Marina today, with all its current treasures.

St Katherine’s Dock,

© Gutenberg.org

EVENTS

Tuesday 5 May, 2-3pm

Wednesday 6 May, 2-3pm

LONDON’S

VILLAGES:

MAYFAIR: TALK

£10 plus booking fee – booking essential.

Meet at Guildhall Yard outside Guildhall Art Gallery.

Window by Clayton and Bell in St Michael Cornhill

Justly famous as the haunt of the famous and fashionable, Mayfair hides some fascinating stories beneath the glitz.

This talk by Pete Smith takes us from a nobleman who took a daily bath in milk and then resold it, to a gambling club that once turned away Fergie and Princess Di. © Alexandra Epps

© City of London

Friday 8 May, 11am-1pm

MAYFAIR: WALK

Ironically, one of London’s most exclusive and stylish districts is named after an annual May fair described as “a disgrace to the Creation”. This walk led by Pete Smith, reflects both the seedy past and the glittering present of this fascinating area.

£8 per person, no booking required,

pay on the day.

Meet just inside the entrance to Green Park next

to the Ritz Hotel.

caption

Explore the magical qualities of the beautiful stained glass windows to be found within a selection of the historic churches of the City – discover both old and modern windows and experience their pure colour, variety of artistic styles and intrinsic spirituality.

Tuesday 19 May, 2-3.30pm

THE HISTORY AND TREASURES OF GUILDHALL LIBRARY

Join our librarians to learn about the history of Guildhall Library, tour the building (including behind the scenes!) and view some of the library’s treasures.

© Lambeth Palace Library

The Great Hall, Lambeth Palace

© City of London

EVENTS

EVENTS

Thursday 21 May, 2-3pm

FOOD IN THE CITY

ACCOMPANYING

EXHIBITION TALK

Thursday 21 May, 6-8pm

THE HISTORIC COLLECTIONS OF LAMBETH PALACE LIBRARY AND SION COLLEGE LIBRARY: TALK

Founded in 1610, Lambeth Palace Library is the historic library of the Archbishops of Canterbury and the principal archive for the history of the Church of England. In the mid-1990s, its collections grew with the transfer of the early books from Sion College Library, founded in the City of London in 1629. This illustrated lecture by Giles Mandelbrote, Librarian and Archivist of Lambeth Palace Library, will trace the history of both libraries and explore some of their treasures.

£5 plus booking fee. Includes a wine reception. © City of London

Stained Glass at Guildhall Library

Tuesday 26 May, 2-3pm

SHIPWRECKS AND

MASTERS OF THE

MERCHANT NAVY

– THE LLOYDS MARINE COLLECTION: WORKSHOP

Jeanie Smith of Guildhall Library will take you through this important maritime collection which offers resources for study of the Merchant Navy from 1741 – present, including ships’ details, shipping movements and casualties. Come along and find out more.

Tuesday 26 May, 6-8pm

SHAKESPEARE IN LONDON : TALK

Naval Dock Deptford

Shakespeare in London offers a lively and engaging reading of Shakespeare’s major work, looking at how London influenced his drama and how it was so often the true city at the heart of his plays. Taking readers on an imaginative journey through the city, the book moves both chronologically and geographically. Come along to find out more about Shakespeare in London from the authors of the book.

£5 plus booking fee.

Includes a wine reception.

© City of London

Simon Gregor, a freelance photographer, has been exploring the Library’s collection on food and drink, and photographing sites associated with these themes in the City of London today. Surprised by the sheer range of activities related to the production, distribution and sale of food and drink in the City, Simon will share some of the remarkable stories and discoveries he came across, as well as some photographs which are not included in his exhibition.

“The Music Lesson”

by Lord Leighton

Thursday 4 June, 6-8pm

GETTING TO GRIPS WITH DISCOVERY SEARCHING: WORKSHOP

FUSILIER MUSEUM EXHIBITION ACCOMPANYING TALK

Thursday 28 May, 6-8pm

In an era of texts and tweets there are a diminishing number of people who remember being encouraged by anxious parents to write home. Before the days of cameras and of postcards, writing paper was often used in the Victorian era to show a place or to convey a message.

This talk explores the development and, ultimately, the demise of decorated stationery.

© City of London

WRITING HOME:

THE DEVELOPMENT OF

DECORATIVE WRITING

PAPER 1800-1950: TALK

Thursday 4 June, 2-3pm

AN INTRODUCTION

TO VICTORIAN ARTISTS AT ST PAUL’S, PART 2: TALK

Join us for the official opening of the exhibition from The Fusilier Museum, exploring the life of Corporal Walter Croft in the First World War, with storytelling from Mark Steinhardt. Mark will read a fictionalised account of Walter Croft’s life based on his letters held at the Fusilier Museum and the events of WWI.

Thursday 18 June, 2-3pm

CITY SCRIBBLERS: TALK

From Geoffrey Chaucer to Hilary

Mantel, London has housed and

inspired a wide spectrum of writers.

“City Scribblers” examines the often eccentric contributions to literature and the life of the Square Mile made by a number of them – good, bad and frankly appalling. © Pete Smith

EVENTS

City of London Libraries have recently launched a discovery search, which means you can now use one search for all our print and e-resources. This workshop helps you get the most out of this tool.

SPECIAL EVENT

Tuesday 26 May, 2-3pm

Booking essential. Includes a wine reception Thursday 11 June, 2-3pm

A VERY MODERN TRADITION Thursday 18 June, 3.15pm – LIVERY COMPANIES IN THE 21ST CENTURY: TALK SQUARE MILE SCRIBBLERS: WALK The City of London’s Livery

Stuart Harvey continues with his selection of illustrated talks with the “respectable” artists Lord Leighton and G. F. Watts contrasting to some extent their lifestyles with the Pre-Raphaelites.

Companies are one of the pillars of British society, pre-dating the Norman conquest. Whilst guilds in other towns and cities throughout the UK have passed in to history, the City of London’s Livery Companies continue to grow in number, membership and relevance to modern society.

This talk by Paul D Jagger, the author of The City of London Freeman’s Guide, explores the modern role and impact of the Livery Companies.

£5 plus booking fee. Includes a wine reception.

Guildhall

On this walk Pete Smith will tell you: why T. S. Eliot was nicknamed “the Pope”, why Cheapside got such a bad press from Chaucer and Middleton, what Kingsley Amis proposed to spend his Booker Prize on, and what writer was almost gunned down in the Bank of England. Meet at Guildhall Yard.

£8 per person, no booking required

(pay on the day)

© Courtesy of John Scott

© Russ E Foster

EVENTS

Tuesday 23 June, 2-3pm

Thursday 18 June, 6-8pm

COMMEMORATING WATERLOO 1815-2015: TALK

The events which unfolded south of Brussels on 18 June 1815 conferred instant immortality on those who took part in them. For the Duke of Wellington, Waterloo consummated victory in a long battle for what he considered to be his due recognition.

Join Dr Russ Foster to examine this timely study, which offers fresh perspectives on one of Britain’s best-known figures, as well as on the nature of heroism.

£5 plus booking fee. Includes a wine reception.

ELECTRONIC RESOURCES

This session is aimed at people who would like to learn about our biographical, family history and London digital resources. The workshop will look at digitised newspapers, Ancestry.co.uk, Find My Past, the Dictionary of National Biography and the City of London’s image database COLLAGE.

Saturday 20 June, 11am – 1pm

THE CITY’S BRIDGES: WALK

This walk by Pete Smith takes in all the City’s Bridges before ending close to St Paul’s Cathedral. Along the way, you will hear about the bridge that sprouted heads, the elephant that walked across the Thames, a daredevil pilot and a quick-witted bus-driver.

Tuesday 23 June, 2-3pm

DEVELOPERS AND THE CITY: TALK

Who are the entrepreneurial forces behind those striking City buildings?

We are talking developers, not architects. Join City of London Guide and former City law firm partner, Colin Davey, to hear about what it takes to put these developments together and about some of the companies and characters that have helped form our London skyline.

£8 per person, no booking required (pay on the day).

Meet inside All Hallows by the Tower.

Thursday 25 June, 6-8pm

THE AIR WAR ON LONDON 1915-1918: TALK

When we think of London at War it’s usually the Second World War that comes to mind, and pre-eminently the Blitz of 1940-41. But just a generation before that tragic event London was subjected to a periodic but disquieting attack from Zeppelins and bombing planes that left Londoners jittery, and showed the London authorities not up to the job of defending the capital. Join Jerry White to learn more.

£5 plus booking fee. Includes a wine reception Tuesday 30 June, 2-3.30pm

THE HISTORY AND TREASURES OF GUILDHALL LIBRARY See May’s entry for details.

© City of London © City of London

© Wikipedia

Tuesday 7 July, 2-3pm

WHERE ART MEETS ARCHITECTURE: TALK

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF WENCESLAS HOLLAR, ARTIST TO LONDON: TALK

Famed for his Long View of London, the Czech engraver was brought to England by the art-loving Earl of Arundel in 1636. Whilst gaining patronage from Court he made ends meet by the equivalent of photojournalism, drawing fashions

View of the City of London from Southwark looking across London Bridge with an angel like figure in the sky, Hollar, c1640

and executions during the turbulent 1640s. Going into exile during the Commonwealth, he returned at the Restoration to record London’s great event, only to die in penury. Join Guy Rowston to learn more.

Thursday 16 July, 2-3pm

THE TRUE STORY OF THE ‘BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER KWAI’: TALK

Join Kevin Patience, who visited Singapore and the Death Railway, and hear the story behind making the film, and the ‘Fall of Singapore’ and the subsequent construction of the notorious ‘Death Railway’ linking Burma and Thailand, and what is left today.

Tuesday 14 July, 10.45am for 11.00am start

WHERE ART MEETS ARCHITECTURE: WALK

Thursday 16 July, 6-8pm

PLAGUE:

LATE VIEW AND LAUNCH

In this illustrated talk, Pete Smith tells the story of the Great Plague that swept London 350 years ago, drawing on the resources of Guildhall Library.

His daughter Elizabeth, recently a key member of the Liberia Ebola Task Force, sets the terrors of 1665 against the challenges of coping with a horrifying modern pandemic.

Includes an exclusive viewing of the exhibition.

£10 (plus booking fee) booking essential Meet outside The Globe Pub, junction of Moorgate and London Wall, London EC2M 6SA (nearest tube Moorgate)

£5 plus booking fee.

Includes a wine and canapés reception

Tuesday 21 July, 2-3.30pm

© City of London

© Alexandra Epps

THE HISTORY AND

TREASURES OF

GUILDHALL LIBRARY

See May’s entry for details.

© City of London

Join Alexandra Epps for a fascinating stroll exploring the Architectural Sculpture of the City. Discover many of the remarkable friezes, facades and reliefs on statement buildings. Arts and Crafts, Beaux-Arts, Edwardian Baroque and the arrival of the Modern movement.

SPECIAL EVENT

EVENTS

Thursday 2 July, 2-3pm

Discover the Architectural Sculpture of the City in this illustrated talk by Alexandra Epps. The unique relationship that developed between sculptor and architect at the turn of the twentieth century, following the acceptance of decorative sculpture as an art form, led to the creation of many remarkable friezes, facades and reliefs on statement buildings in the City.

Monday 27 July, 11.00am-12.30pm

PLAGUE, STORYTELLING AND HISTORICAL SOURCES: FAMILY WORKSHOP

© Pete Smith

TURN AGAIN, WHITTINGTON: TALK

Suitable for Children 10 years and over, children must be accompanied by an adult.

Also available: Tuesday 28 July, 11.00am-12.30pm Monday 3 Aug, 11.00am-12.30pm Tuesday 4 Aug, 11.00am-12.30pm

THE REMARKABLE HISTORY OF TEMPLE BAR

Tuesday 28 July, 2-3pm

GETTING TO GRIPS WITH DISCOVERY SEARCHING

See May’s entry for details.

LOUIS XIV’S VERSAILLES: THE POWER, THE GLORY AND THE SECRET WIFE: TALK

SILK: FROM CHINA TO THE CITY: TALK

HUGUENOTS SUMMER

HUGUENOTS SUMMER

Thursday 30 July, 6-8pm

Thursday 23 July, 6-8pm

Silk Damask for Dumfries House

© Richard Humphries

Richard Humphries’ journey within the textile manufacturing industry began in the mid-1960s.

He was apprenticed into the textile trade as a design trainee with the well-established and renowned firm of Warner and Sons Ltd. His own business began when he was still just 20 years old in Sudbury, Suffolk. Today he sees the interest in British made fabrics rekindled, as demand for high quality continues to grow. Richard’s talk will bring to the forefront the inheritors of the silk weaving traditions of Spitalfields, and reveal the success of sumptuous silk.

£5 plus booking fee. Includes a wine reception

Built by Christopher Wren, this architectural icon formerly marked the crucial boundary between the Cities of London and Westminster. In the 19th century Temple Bar was rebuilt at Theobalds Park where it languished for over a century before its glorious return to the City in 2004.

Join Robert Stephenson to learn more.

© Robert Stephenson

Dick Whittington was a poor country boy who came to London penniless, made a fortune with the help of his cat, Tommy, and even became Lord Mayor three times.

Oh no he wasn’t!

Pete Smith aims to introduce the real Dick Whittington in this illustrated talk.

Tuesday 11 August, 2-3pm

© City of London

EVENTS

Wednesday 22 July, 2-3pm

At this workshop with Isabelle Chevallot to mark 350 years since the Great Plague decimated London’s population in the summer of 1665, there will be the opportunity to explore a variety of original sources and contemporary accounts of the Great Plague of 1665 held in Guildhall Library. Then attendees will be treated to an atmospheric plague storytelling session.

The long reign of ‘Louis the Great’ (1643-1715) reached its apogee in the 1680s. In this talk Tony Spawforth contrasts the glittering court of Versailles in this momentous decade with the horrors of religious persecution. He examines the role of Madame de Maintenon in royal decision-making and her possible influence on Louis’ religious policy. He ends by looking at the most enduring monument to Louis XIV’s rigid faith, the superb royal chapel at Versailles, of which Madame de Maintenon – rather surprisingly--disapproved.

£5 plus booking fee. Includes a wine reception

Tuesday 25 August, 2-3.30pm

THE HISTORY AND TREASURES OF GUILDHALL LIBRARY See May’s entry for details.

© Pete Smith

Corporal Walter Croft

Tuesday 12 – Saturday 16 May

Covent Garden

See June’s entry for details.

Thursday 27 August, 2-3pm

ROUND AND ROUND

THE GARDEN: TALK

Pete Smith, a City and Westminster guide, traces the history of Covent Garden from Anglo-Saxon settlement to twenty-first-century shopping and entertainment centre. During that time, it has played host to monks and market traders, aristocrats and actors, poets and prostitutes, and more than one disreputable royal. Discover its scandals and its triumphs.

Saturday 29 August, 11am-1pm

CITY OF VICE: WALK

This walk with Pete Smith explores Covent Garden’s varied history from Anglo-Saxon times.

Discover what linked a group of gardening monks and a famous harlot; how cabbages gave way to café culture; where London’s first Punch & Judy show took place; and what lay under the Opera House.

Meet at the forecourt of Charing Cross Station outside the Charing Cross Hotel £8, pay on the day, no booking required

FOOD AND THE CITY

The City of London has been a focal point for the acquisition, sale and consumption of food and Guildhall Library itself holds a remarkable collection on food and wine. In this exhibition artist-in-residence Simon Gregor presents photographs of some of the less commonly seen documents from the library’s collection, as well as images which depict our relationship with food in the City today.

© Simon Gregor

ELECTRONIC

RESOURCES

Until Friday 7 August

EXHIBITIONS

Thursday 27 August, 2-3pm

THE CAMPAIGN

FOR CHEAP POSTAGE:

175TH ANNIVERSARY

This exciting postal history exhibition tells the story of the revolution in communication, supported by the City of London. In the nineteenth century New Post Office reform was very much needed, as the cost of sending a letter was prohibitive.

The situation was to change dramatically in January 1840: here lies the story of how communication changed forever.

Hume’s Comic Envelope No.1 Bearing Id Penny Black Plate 2

Monday 1 June – Wednesday 1 July

ONE MAN’S WAR:

THE STORY OF CORPORAL

WALTER CROFT

Corporal Walter Croft was a 21 year old railway apprentice when war broke out in 1914. This exhibition by the Fusilier Museum follows this ordinary young man’s journey through more than 70 letters to his friends and family. His letters, which are full of incredible description, relive his experiences of joining up, through basic training and finally to action on the Somme in 1916.

Wednesday 8 July – Friday 11 September

LONDON’S DREADFUL VISITATION: THE GREAT PLAGUE, 1665

The Great Plague was a haunting event in the City of London, wiping out almost 100,000 people. Whether young or old, man or woman, saint or sinner, it killed mercilessly and changed London forever. This exhibition takes you through Guildhall Library plague material, from books to broadsides, which reveal more information about this devastating period of our history.

GUILDHALL EVENTS

LIBRARY AND EXHIBITIONS The Library of London History

MAY -AUGUST

Guildhall Library opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9.30am-5pm Wednesday 9.30am-7.30pm Alternate Saturdays 9.30am-5pm Please check our website for more details The library is closed on bank holiday weekends.

Please note exhibitions are inaccessible during afternoon talks.

Front cover main image © City of London Inset image © Alexandra Epps

ALL EVENTS REQUIRE BOOKING AND TAKE PLACE AT GUILDHALL LIBRARY. PLEASE BOOK THROUGH EVENTBRITE: WWW.GHLEVENTS.EVENTBRITE.CO.UK IF YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES REGARDING BOOKING PLEASE CONTACT: GHLEVENTS@CITYOFLONDON.GOV.UK OR 020 7332 1869/1871 Guildhall Library Aldermanbury, London EC2V 7HH 020 7332 1868 / 020 7332 1870 guildhall.library@cityoflondon.gov.uk www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/guildhalllibrary

Follow