GUILDHALL EVENTS
LIBRARY AND EXHIBITIONS The Library of London History
JANUARY-APRIL 2016 WRITING HOME: DECORATIVE WRITING Thursday 3 March, 6-8pm
FEEDING LONDON: THE FORGOTTEN MARKET GARDENS 4 April – 3 June
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. DETAILS OF HOW TO BOOK CAN BE FOUND ON THE BACK PAGE
EVENTS Tuesday 19 January, 2-3pm
ART AND THE RIVER The River Thames has inspired artists for over three hundred years and continues to do so today. In this illustrated talk by Alexandra Epps, City of London Guide and Tate Guide, discover a selection of artists from the historical to the modern and experience their fascinating views of the river and interpretations of its eventful history.
Wednesday 20 January, 2-3.30pm
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.
Thursday 21 January, 2-3pm
GETTING TO GRIPS WITH DISCOVERY SEARCHING
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.
Wednesday 27 January, 2-3pm
A SINGULAR CHURCH: ALL HALLOWS BY THE TOWER
Just one church, but hundreds of stories! Pete Smith, a volunteer guide at All Hallows, aims to tell some of the most colourful tales of the City of London’s oldest church. You will encounter: headless bodies, Roman remains, a font that left for the New World, and even a phantom cat!
Thursday 28 January, 6-8pm (Tour of Roman Amphitheatre, 5-5.30pm, Guildhall Art Gallery – Optional)
RAGSTONE TO RICHES: HOW THE MEDWAY VALLEY QUARRIES BUILT ROMAN LONDON
Simon Elliot, an archaeologist and historian, has identified the monumental ragstone quarries in the Upper Medway Valley which provided so much of the building material for Roman London. In his talk he will explain where these quarries were, how the stone was quarried, the means by which vast quantities of this quarried material was transported to London, and the role of the Classis Britannica regional navy in facilitating the industry.
£5 plus booking fee. Includes a wine reception.
WALK Friday 29 January, 11am–1pm
CITY CHURCHES: EAST
To follow the talk ‘A Singular Church’, this walk begins at All Hallows by the Tower and goes on to examine the interiors of some of the most fascinating churches on the eastern side of the City. Uncover their hidden treasures and discover some of their curious stories.
Meet at All Hallows by the Tower, £8 no need to book (pay on the day)
EVENTS
Thursday 4 February, 6-8pm
THE LOST WORLD OF THE GEORGIAN CHOCOLATE HOUSE
Join London historian Dr Matthew Green for an illustrated talk exploring some of the great chocolate houses of Georgian London. Discover how a bitter, luxuriant and exotically spiced glop called chocolate conquered Baroque Europe and came to corrupt the most exclusive address in London, St James’s, spawning seditious hotbeds of decadence, depravity and despair that Londoners came to love and fear as chocolate houses. Dr Green will be signing copies of his new book ‘London: A Travel Guide through Time.’
£5 plus booking fee. Includes a wine reception and free servings of Monsieur St Disdier’s Baroque hot chocolate.
THE 19TH-CENTURY CEMETERIES OF LONDON
The extraordinary period of change that London experienced in the 19th century saw a parallel upheaval in burial practices. Many ancient churchyards closed forever and an impressive array of garden cemeteries opened in the suburbs. Join Robert Stephenson to learn more.
Thursday 11 February, 6-8pm
LOVE’S SECRET: AFFAIRS IN GEORGIAN LONDON
We take an illustrated romp through documents held at London Metropolitan Archives with Information Officer Charlotte Hopkins, to reveal some of the scandalous affairs of 18th century London. Among the characters in focus are Lady Worsley, Martha Ray, the Cibber family, and Count Alfieri. A look through the keyhole at the proceedings of early divorce settlements will be provided.
£5 plus booking fee. Includes wine reception.
©Robert Stephenson
Tuesday 9 February, 2-3pm
Tuesday 16 February, 2-3pm
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.
Wednesday 24 February, 2-3.30pm
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.
Thursday 25 February, 2-3pm
A SINGULAR STREET: CHEAPSIDE
©Stuart Harvey
Thursday 18 February, 2-3pm
FITZROVIA
Stuart Harvey continues his selection of talks with an illustrated walk around part of Fitzrovia, which includes a square designed by the Adam brothers and introduces some of the local residents from the past. These include revolutionaries, artists, scientists and an explorer celebrated in Australia but perhaps not so well known in the UK.
©Pete Smith
Cheapside was once not only London’s principal shopping street but arguably the most important thoroughfare in Britain. Pete Smith will introduce you to tales of tournaments, coronation processions, a lynching, buried treasure, a right royal accident, and the days when the gutters ran with wine.
4 & 5 March From 6.45pm to 8.45 on 20minute loop (last show approximately 8.15pm)
SHAKESPEARE SON ET LUMIERE
EVENTS
Thursday 3 March, 6-8pm
WRITING HOME: DECORATIVE WRITING
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 postcards, writing paper was often used to show a place or to convey a message. This talk by John Scott explores the development and, ultimately, the demise of decorated stationery.
£5 plus booking fee. Includes wine reception. Friday 4 March, 2-3pm
GEORGIAN AND VICTORIAN THEATRICAL CONNECTIONS
Royal Circus
Through personal research Barbara Thomas has discovered the many theatrical links between families who over time were involved with Sadler’s Wells, Vauxhall Gardens, the Royal Opera House, the Strand and Surrey Theatres, and the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company. This talk gives an insight into life and liaisons within the theatrical community.
In a collaboration between Guildhall Library and Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and building on the success of the Magna Carta Son et Lumiere in 2015, Guildhall is hosting another Son et Lumiere, celebrating the City’s links to Shakespeare. Accompanied by music compositions from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, the Dance Porch of Guildhall will be illuminated with 3D projection mapping. This video technology transforms irregularly shaped objects and surfaces into a living display with extraordinary effect.
In association with Guildhall Galleries, the Guildhall Art Gallery and Heritage Gallery will be open until 9pm to enable visitors to view the Shakespeare Deed and First Folio. Also on display will be Visscher’s 1616 engraving, one of the few visual records of the pre-Great Fire city and created in the year of Shakespeare’s death. Alongside the original print will be artist Robin Reynolds’ version of modern London, newly unveiled in 2016 and arranged to fit the Visscher landscape.
Wednesday 9 March, 2-3pm
THE SOUTHWARK STORY
One of the most colourful and ancient areas of London, Southwark was on the main route to the continent and the pilgrimage route to Canterbury. After being famous for its pubs, theatres and brothels it became an industrial area ‘with slums of Dickensian proportions’. Now it has become the playground of London with galleries and theatres, including the Tate Modern and the Globe. Join Guy Rowston to learn more.
Guildhall Yard, London EC2V 5AE www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/sonetlumiere Free Part of Shakespeare 400 and Barbican Shakespeare Weekender
WORKSHOP Tuesday 15 March, 2-3pm
EXPLORING THE RECORDS OF THE WATERMEN AND LIGHTERMEN’S COMPANY
The records of the Watermen and Lightermen’s Company provide a wealth of information about individuals who worked on the River Thames between the late 17th and early 20th century. Information Officer Claire Titley will use a range of fascinating original records from the Company’s archives to show you how you can trace individuals in the records, how to make the most of your search, and to get a flavour of the working lives of the watermen and lightermen.
WORKSHOP 1: CIVIL REGISTRATION – BIRTHS MARRIAGES AND DEATHS AFTER 1837. Wednesday 13 January, 2-3.30pm
WORKSHOPS
FAMILY HISTORY WORKSHOPS FOR BEGINNERS These individual workshops will be led by our highly experienced staff based at Guildhall Library.
Booking essential.
Your research will normally begin with birth, marriage and death certificates, so this workshop will teach you how to interpret these, how to make the best use of indexes and how to avoid spending money on the wrong certificates.
£7.50 plus booking fee.
WORKSHOP 2: MAKING USE OF THE CENSUS Wednesday 3 February, 2-3.30pm The census returns of 1841 to 1911 have produced some of the most useful and revealing records for the family historian. This workshop will show you how to research and interpret census records, including tips on how to find persons who appear to be missing from the census.
£7.50 plus booking fee.
WORKSHOP 3: PARISH REGISTERS FOR FAMILY HISTORIANS Wednesday 2 March, 2-3.30pm As you take your family history further back in time the parish records are the major source for baptisms, marriages and burials. This workshop will look at how to track down and interpret the relevant parish registers.
£7.50 plus booking fee.
WORKSHOP 4: WILLS AND HOW TO FIND THEM Wednesday 6 April, 2-3.30pm Wills can be the most revealing of all family history records, reflecting the feelings and aspirations of your ancestors and revealing family relationships. This workshop will assist you in tracking down wills as well as understanding and interpreting their contents.
£7.50 plus booking fee.
WORKSHOP 5: TRADES AND PROFESSIONS OF OUR ANCESTORS Thursday 28 April, 2–3.30pm Shopkeeper, lawyer, soldier, hairdresser or thief, your ancestor’s trade may have been recorded in trade directories, guild records and apprenticeships. This workshop will describe the most suitable resources for learning about your ancestors’ occupations.
Wednesday 16 March, 2-3pm
WHEN MINAHAN MET MARY – SEX, CORRUPTION AND SCANDAL IN 1880s LONDON
One summer night in 1882, Inspector Minahan encountered Mary Jeffries, the most infamous brothel-keeper in London. Jeffries’ clients included politicians, peers and princes. She also trafficked girls overseas in a flourishing trade that exploited Britain’s lax legislation. Demoted for reporting Jeffries’ operation, Minahan pursued his own investigation, and his findings sparked national outrage: riots, arrests, a tabloid war and a sensational trial. Join author Bridget O’Donnell to hear more.
£7.50 plus booking fee.
Mary Jeffries ©Bridget O’Donnell
Scene from “The Winter’s Tale”
©Caroline Swan
EVENTS
Thursday 17 March, 2-3pm
THE LONDON BURIAL GROUNDS
In the 1850s many of London’s ancient burial grounds were closed forever. In the 1890s Isabella Holmes set out to record these lost graveyards, publishing a fascinating book containing her discoveries. Join Caroline Swan to hear about this extraordinary woman and her sometimes rather unorthodox graveyard explorations!
Thursday 24 March, 2-3pm
GETTING TO GRIPS WITH DISCOVERY SEARCHING
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.
Wednesday 23 March, 2-3pm
A SINGULAR BRIDGE: LONDON BRIDGE
Pete Smith traces the history of London Bridge from Roman times to the present day. Discover: who was buried over water, which fair lady was hated for neglecting the bridge, what work nineteen starlings had to do, when an elephant didn’t need the bridge to cross the Thames, and much more.
Wednesday 30 March, 2-3.30pm
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.
© Simon Gregor
Tuesday 5 April, 6-8pm
FEEDING LONDON: EXHIBITION LATE VIEW AND LAUNCH
Tuesday 5 April, 2-3pm
THE WINTER’S TALE – SHAKESPEARE AND THE TRADITIONS OF INDOOR PERFORMANCE
At the end of ‘The Winter’s Tale’ (1611), Shakespeare stages a theatrical miracle: a statue comes to life and a wife and mother is restored to her family. This talk, by Dr Sarah Dustagheer, considers the play’s production at the Blackfriars playhouse, a small candlelit indoor hall that Shakespeare’s company used from 1609. And what, if anything, do recent productions of ‘The Winter’s Tale’ at the Garrick Theatre (directed by Kenneth Branagh) and at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse (directed by Michael Longhurst) reveal about the wonder of this final scene?
Jam Yesterday, Jam Tomorrow, an Environment Trust for Richmond project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, is bringing back to life the rich history and growing practices of market gardening that were a dominant part of South West London for around 200 years. Join historian David Lawrie to hear about the leading families who cultivated the gardens and their impact on feeding London, right up until the 1970s, when the jam factories, fruit orchards and exotic veggie patches were abundant. Heritage project manager, Juliana Vandegrift, will also give a brief overview of the Model Market Garden created by their volunteer community. Includes an exclusive late view of the exhibition.
£5 plus booking fee. Includes a wine reception.
Thursday 7 April, 2-3pm
SOME TREASURES OF ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL
EVENTS
Stuart Harvey continues with his series of illustrated talks, this time looking at some of the vestments, plate and memorials of St Paul’s and briefly touching on the work of Edwin Lutyens.
Tuesday 12 April, 1-1.30pm
SHAKESPEARE IN PRINT
Taking inspiration from Guildhall Library’s collections, Dr. Peter Ross (Guildhall Library Principal Librarian) will look at the various books printed at the time of Shakespeare’s First Folio, the plays and the playwrights. His talk will include a look at the First Folio itself.
Thursday 14 April, 2-3pm
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE LIBRARY OF THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF GARDENERS
This illustrated talk, by Jeanie Smith (Assistant Librarian), will introduce you to some of the delightful books in this collection held at Guildhall Library, which you are welcome to read and enjoy.
Tuesday 19 April, 6-8pm
LONDON AT NIGHT: LATE VIEW AND LAUNCH
Many people over the centuries have been fascinated by London at night. Even in the twenty-first century, London after dark has lost none of its charm and intrigue. In a talk to accompany his exhibition of photographs, Simon Gregor (artist-in-residence at Guildhall Library) will share some of his experiences of photographing London at night, and the stories behind the images. He will also reflect more generally on the links between the photographic image and the time and place in which it was created.
£5 plus booking fee. Includes wine reception.
Wednesday 20 April, 2-3.30pm
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.
ELECTRONIC RESOURCES
EXHIBITIONS
Tuesday 26 April, 2-3pm
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.
Thursday 28 April, 6-8pm
SHAKESPEARE’S LONDON/ BEAUMONT’S LONDON
We are used to thinking about Shakespeare in London. This talk, by Dr Lucy Munro, explores alternative views of London through the works of Francis Beaumont who – like Shakespeare – died in 1616 and whose play ‘The Knight of the Burning Pestle’ is a hilarious parody of different ways of writing about the city.
£5 plus booking fee. Includes a wine reception.
Until 8 January
TALBOT HOUSE: ‘AN OASIS IN A WORLD GONE CRAZY’ In 1915 army chaplain Philip ‘Tubby’ Clayton established the Everyman’s Club at Talbot House in the small town of Poperinge, only a few miles from the front line in Ypres. In this house rank was irrelevant, orders were prohibited, and all soldiers were encouraged to forget about the war. This exhibition tracks the story of Tubby and this ‘oasis’ for soldiers during the First World War. It will include items from Talbot House, the memoirs of Tubby and the actual hut in which he wrote them after fleeing the Germans.
John Snell c1960s, who ran market gardens in Heston and Osterley, Middlesex
THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF GLAZIERS AND PAINTERS OF GLASS THROUGH THE AGES
The Worshipful Company of Glaziers and Painters of Glass obtained its Royal Charter from Charles I in 1638, although references to a ‘Guild of Glaziers’ exist from as early as 1328. This exhibition takes you on a journey through the life of the Company, from these historical beginnings, to its work in the present day, including supporting students and creating new work, often in secular buildings. On display will be a selection of precious items from their collections.
©Sue Snell
EXHIBITIONS
25 January – 23 March
4 April – 3 June
FEEDING LONDON: THE FORGOTTEN MARKET GARDENS
The exhibition celebrates the long history of market gardening in South West London, telling the story of commercial food-growing in the area. Sound-recorded memories of workers and families bring the past to life. It will be accompanied by a selection of material from Guildhall Library’s collections. An exhibition curated by Jam Yesterday, Jam Tomorrow, a Heritage Lottery funded project of the Environment Trust.
18 April – 26 August
LONDON AT NIGHT
©Simon Gregor
London is a remarkable city at any time of day, but London at night has a magic all of its own. Photographer Simon Gregor often leads tourists, and Londoners, on night-time photo walks of the city, to try to discover some of the intrigue, atmosphere and charm of the metropolis ‘after hours’. In this exhibition, Simon will share some of his own favourite images of London after dark.
GUILDHALL EVENTS
LIBRARY AND EXHIBITIONS The Library of London History
JANUARY-APRIL 2016
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.
All images © City of London unless indicated
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
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