The London Appreciation Society [Founded in 1932 by Dr H.L. Bryant Peers]

Secretary: John Mann, 109 Chatsworth Road London NW2 4BH Website: www.las.org.uk

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The Society is a secular, non-political and non profit-making organization for adults interested in the past, present and future of London

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President: The Rt. Hon. The Viscount Norwich, CVO

Vice Presidents Roger Cline Valerie Colin-Russ The Ven. Peter Delaney Gerald R. Charles Dickens

Committee Chairman: Christopher Claxton Stevens Deputy Chairman: John Mann Secretary: John Mann Registrar: Clive Page Treasurer: John Tritton Assistant Treasurer: Mary Moore Shelagh Blackham MBE Don Buchanan Arthur Fordham Patricia Howard Anne Oxenham MBE

Officers Membership Secretary: Christine Bevan Committee Secretary: Roger Cline

Honorary Life Members John Barrett Roger Cline Valerie Colin-Russ Daphne Hart

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Programme Organisers Shelagh Blackham Liz Harwood & Robin Key James Nadarajah Rosemary Bolingbroke Carole Lee Anne Oxenham Arthur Fordham Joy & Mike Lever Anne Ramon Julia Foyle [IT support] Margaret & John Mann Chris & Daphne Steele Simon Gillingham Gayna Martine & Simon Masterton Smith Judith & Richard West

Tour Leaders Pat Howard [Co-Ordinator] John Ackroyd Julie Crouch Rhoda Lewis Jacqueline Anda John Dodwell John Mann Rosemary Bolingbroke Geoff Donald Mary Moore Christopher Claxton Stevens Paul Dye Chris Redfern Roger Cline Keith & Mary Evans Hilary Taylor Valerie Colin-Russ Simon Gillingham John Tritton

Contacts If you have a query, please email or write to the relevant Officer, enclosing a stamped, addressed envelope if you need a reply by post.

Printing services or non-receipt of Blue Book Colin Watson, 22 Leonard Avenue, Morden, SM4 6DW Email: [email protected]

Non-receipt of booking confirmation Dr Clive Page, 1 Durler Gardens, Luton LU1 3TA Email: [email protected]

General Enquiries and Information Don Buchanan John Tritton Email [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Membership enquiries or change of address or email Christine Bevan, 52 Greenwich Park Street, Greenwich, London SE10 9LT Email; [email protected]

Correspondence to the Committee and Queries about Paper Booking Forms Roger Cline, Flat 13, 13 Tavistock Place London WC1H 9SH Email: [email protected]

Suggestions for future events The Secretary at the address on page 1 Email: [email protected]

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Essential Information about LAS Membership

Subscriptions: The annual subscription of £10 must be paid by the preceding 31 December. Details of how to pay your subscription will be sent with the next Blue Book.

Change of Address: Please notify the Membership Secretary if your postal or email address changes and when you reach Senior Citizen status.

Annual Programme: Cancelled Events

Full details of the Society’s Programme are published twice a year in the Blue Book. LAS will do all it can to stick to the advertised programme but neither the Society nor its officers can be held responsible for alterations or cancellations. Events will not be cancelled by LAS because of transport strikes. If for this or any other reason the hosts cancel an event the Society will try to re-arrange it later. If an event is cancelled members will be credited automatically with the full amount against the cost of their next booking.

Booking Arrangements

Most members now book on line. There were some concerns at first but many have said how remarkably straightforward our Registrar’s system is. All you have to do is start at the LAS website, www.las.org.uk and follow the obvious links. If you book on line you must also agree to pay by direct debit. If you have set one up already this will still be active. Those who are new to on line booking will be prompted to set up a direct debit in favour of LAS when they book events.

Please use the online booking system if you possibly can. Those who used paper forms last time should find paper booking forms enclosed with this Blue Book. To book using a paper form, please use your own envelope to send the form with SAE and cheque to Roger Cline, at Flat 13, 13 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SH (and not to the Registrar as formerly). There will be a £2 handling charge per paper booking form. Apply to Roger if you need a form and one is not enclosed.

Any two members may book on the same form whether they have the same address or not. An event requested by both will be allocated to both or neither. The total fee may be paid by the direct debit of either or both; if there are two direct debits registered the total will be divided appropriately between them.

You may apply for places for guests when the Blue Book says so, but applications for guests will not be successful if an event is fully booked by members.

Shortly after the booking deadline the Registrar will merge requests made on line with those made on paper and run the usual booking allocation programme. The aim is to return on-line requests by email within a few days; booking confirmations which have to be posted may take up to two weeks.

Whenever tickets are needed for an event such as a concert the Tour Leader will hand them out on the day at the designated meeting place.

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What to do if you cannot use a place you have been offered and have paid for

• Most events are oversubscribed and if at all possible LAS would like another member to take your place • If you have joined the email swap system your booking confirmation form will include the email addresses of unsuccessful applicants for the events for which you have a place. If you cannot use your place please try to find a replacement from among those on the waiting list. If you succeed you and your exchange partner should agree on how he or she should reimburse you. • If you are not in the email swap scheme and would like to join, email the Registrar. • If you are not in the email swap system please leave a message for the Secretary saying you cannot attend. He may be able to find someone to take your place and if successful he will discuss how you should be reimbursed • Whenever a swap is arranged, on arriving at the meeting place your replacement should tell the Tour Leader that he or she is taking your place. • A few hosts insist on having in advance the names of every member of any visiting group. These events are asterisked in the Blue Book and if you have to drop out LAS will not be able to replace you. But please tell the Secretary that you have had to drop out so that he can advise the Tour leader not to expect you. There are no asterisked events in this Blue Book.

Dietary Requirements. When you book an event which includes a meal for which we have to pre-order we will send you details of any choices available.

Insurance against Injury or Loss

LAS tries to ensure that all the venues we visit and all the guides we use are fully insured, and LAS also has its own Public Liability Insurance. But the Society and its officers cannot be held responsible for death or injury to members or loss or damage to property at any time or however caused.

General Data Protection Regulations

These Regulations came into force on 25 May 2018. They require LAS to tell you what data about you LAS holds, and how we use it.

The only data we hold is what you provided on your membership application form and booking forms: ie title, names, postal address, telephone numbers, email address, and whether entitled to senior discounts, have any dietary or access needs, are a member of the email swap scheme, which events you applied for and booked, whether you book on line or on paper, and any Society office or committee membership held.

The data is stored on paper or on the personal computers of the Membership Secretary, the Registrar and where necessary other members helping to run the Society.

LAS also stores some data externally: • on line booking data is stored on an external server temporarily until each booking deadline, • names and email addresses are stored by an external service provider so that LAS can send emails to all members, and 4

• the secure servers of Go Cardless store the bank account information you provided but your bank account details cannot be accessed by the LAS

Only those who help to run LAS have access to your data. It is not shared with any other organization.

Attending Events

• The Blue Book is prepared some months before events take place so it is in your interest to check the details, of travel arrangements before you set out. For National Rail; Telephone 03457 484950, website www.nationalrail.co.uk : for Transport for London: telephone 0343 222 1234, website www.tfl.gov.uk . • Unless the Blue Book mentions car parking explicitly, assume there is none. • Please give your name to the Tour Leader when you arrive at the meeting place. • Always meet, please, at the designated meeting place and not at the venue if this is different. If some members go directly to the venue this may be inconvenient for the hosts as well as causing problems for the Tour Leader who is expecting to assemble the whole group at the meeting place before proceeding to the venue. • Please have your Booking Confirmation Form with you. It may be needed. • Please try not to arrive more than 30 minutes before the advertised time. • Events start at the advertised time. It is sometimes possible to wait for a few minutes, and sometimes possible to leave instructions about how to find a venue at for example a ticket office or nearby shop. Tour Leaders will do whatever is possible to help latecomers without affecting the enjoyment of members who have arrived on time . But latecomers do run the risk of missing an event. • Some of the places we visit still have a formal dress code. Others have high expectations of their members and staff. Please dress appropriately for each occasion.

Booking Deadlines

Because many LAS events are over-subscribed we hold a ballot for places. Only forms received by midnight on the appropriate date shown below will be entered in the main ballot. Forms received subsequently will be processed in further batches about every two weeks.

Events in August to October 2018 (events 114 to 179): the booking deadline is Monday 9 th July Events in November and December 2018 (events 180 to 210): the booking deadline is Saturday 8 th September .

**NEW** If you use printed booking forms, post them (with cheque and SAE) to: Roger Cline, Flat 13, 13 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SH

On-line forms continue to be handled via the website by The Registrar, Clive Page .

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Wednesday 1 August 114. Guided Tour of Clarence House Built between 1825 & 1827 to the designs of John Nash, Clarence House is one of the last remaining great aristocratic town houses in London. It takes its name from its first occupant, William Henry, Duke of Clarence, later William IV. It is now the residence of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. During our guided tour, we shall see some of the late Queen Mother's famous art collection and fine Chelsea porcelain.

Meet: Visitors' entrance to Clarence House ( from the Mall), St James's Palace, SW1A 1BA (Nearest stations:, St James's Park, Green Park or Charing Cross) Time: 12.45pm for 1.00pm tour (Likely duration 1¼ hours ) (18 places) Fee: £10 The 15 minutes before the tour will be taken up by security checks.

Wednesday 22 August 115. King's Cross, St. Pancras and the Railway Lands On this walk Gillian Blachford will lead us from the two great railway stations of St Pancras and Kings Cross into the Railway Lands behind them. This huge area was once covered in thriving goods yards and warehouses, before becoming an industrial wasteland in recent years. It is now being transformed, with historic buildings alongside new commercial and residential accommodation, on a 67 acre site of which over 40% is public open space. During this walk we shall see the impact of the old and the new on this once neglected part of London.

Meet: King's Cross main line station concourse, outside the Little Waitrose (under the left-hand departure indicator and to the right of Platform 9¾).

Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1½-2 hours ) (20 places) Fee: £10

Sunday 26 August 116. Garden Party Come to Willesden Green, a ‘retired pleasant village, which appears as remote from London as at a distance of an hundred miles’ (1817). Come, 200 years later, for a fun afternoon in two adjacent gardens: finger buffet, strawberries, cream, drinks, and music. Jam-packed indoors if blisteringly hot or seriously wet.

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Meet: 109 Chatsworth Road, Willesden Green, NW2 4BH Nearest stations: Willesden Green (Jubilee) Brondesbury or Brondesbury Park (Overground) Bus: 98 (Deerhurst Road stop) 3.00-6.00pm (Likely duration 3 hours ) (80 places) Fee: £30 Time: Children 8-18: £15 (7 and under: free) Bookings may be made for members' guests . From Willesden Green station, cross road on zebra, turn right and Chatsworth Road is about 40 yards along on left. Venue then barely ten minutes, on left.

Thursday 30 August 117. Willesden United Jewish Cemetery Furniture to finance, politics to prayer; Willesden Jewish Cemetery. Our guide, Rachel Kolsky, will help us discover the many and varied members of the Anglo-Jewish elite for whom Willesden Cemetery is their last home. Their stories are fascinating, ranging from the first Jewish MP and first Jewish Peer, both Rothschilds, the discoverer of DNA, several diamond Randlords, the compiler of the first Singers’ Prayer Book and a furniture manufacturer once the largest in the UK.

Meet: Willesden United Jewish Cemetery, 26 Beaconsfield Road, NW10 2HR Near the Lodge by the gates to the cemetery. (Nearest Underground station: Willesden Green (Jubilee line). Cross on the zebra, and take a 260 bus going towards White City or a 266 going towards Hammersmith for an

8 minute ride to Beaconsfield Road. Walk b ack a few yards and go along Beaconsfield Road to the cemetery gates at the end. Car parking on site.) Time: 11.30am (Likely duration 2 hours ) (20 places) Fee: £10 There are toilets on site and many cafés near Willesden Green Station.

Thursday 30 August 118. Meet & Chat: The Ledger Building This event is not bookable, just turn up at The Ledger Building (a Wetherspoon's Pub) a few doors away from the Docklands Museum for a coffee or drink. Those who wish can have lunch. Prices are reasonable and everyone orders and pays for their own refreshments.

Meet: The Ledger Building (a few doors from the Docklands Museum) 4 Hertsmere Rd, Poplar, E14 4AL (Nearest stations: West India Quay (DLR) or Canary Wharf (Jubilee)

Time: 11.15am (Likely duration: Flexible )

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Saturday 1 September 119. LAS Walkers: Exploring the Capital Ring This event is not bookable. Please turn to page 47 for further information. Time: 10.30am

Sunday 2 September 120. Croydon Airport Society The terminal building, opened in 1928, was the world's biggest and most advanced airport. In 1978 the terminal building and Gate Lodge were Grade II listed. Croydon Airport served Britain in both war and peace. For the first years of commercial air travel during the 1920s and 1930s, it was a centre for impressive innovation and developments that form the foundations of today's global air transport network. Amy Johnson's record-breaking solo flight in 1930 to Australia began and ended at the Airport. As other London airports continued to grow, the decision was made to close the Airport and the last flight left on 30th September 1959. During our tour we shall learn more about the Airport's history and achievements.

Meet: Croydon Airport Visitor Centre, Airpo rt House, Purley Way, Croydon, CR0 0XZ (Nearest rail station: East Croydon from Victoria or Clapham Junction with Southern

rail, then 119 bus from outside the station to the Airport.) Time: 11.30am (Likely duration 1-1½ hours ) (14 places) Fee: £5 There are many stairs, but a lift is available except to the final floor. There is free car parking at The Colonnades, opposite Airport House.

Wednesday 5 September 121. St. Bartholomew's Hospital St. Bart's, as it is popularly known, has cared for the sick and injured in Smithfield for almost 900 years, although no buildings remain from the time of the hospital's medieval foundation. Our tour will take in the church of St. Bartholomew the Less, the hospital's square and North Wing, possibly the Great Hall, as well as Hogarth's famous biblical paintings. During our tour we shall hear more about the hospital's history.

Meet: St. Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, EC1A 7BE (Nearest stations: St. Paul's, Barbican, Farringdon or Blackfriars. Buses: 4, 6, 25, 56,

100, 172 & 242 pass nearby.) Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1-1½ hours ) (25 places) Fee: £7

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The Blue Book has changed – have you noticed?

* What to do if you have to cancel your place has changed (see page 4)

* The meaning of asterisked events has changed (see the end of the 'What to do’ section)

* The address for printed forms has changed (see any forms you have been sent)

Please take time to absorb this new information

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Thursday 6 September 122. Soho in the Fifties and Sixties Soho’s heyday was in the 1950s and 1960s when its pubs and clubs were the favourite haunts of writer Dylan Thomas, artists Lucien Freud and Francis Bacon, and many lesser luminaries. Crowds flocked to Ronnie Scott’s and the 100 Club to hear George Melly and Humphrey Lyttleton. Join writer and broadcaster Jonathan Fryer as he recaptures its Bohemian magic.

Meet: LUMEN, 88 Tavistock Place, WC1H 9RS (Nearest stations: King's Cross or Russell Square) Time: 6.00pm (Likely duration 1½-2 hours ) (60 places) Fee: £12 Bookings may be made for members' guests . LUMEN is a post war brick church 80 yards east of the traffic-light-controlled junction of Judd Street and Tavistock Place, before you get to the trees of Regent Square. Tea and coffee will be available from 5.30pm.

Friday 7 September 123. God's Own Junkyard and Walthamstow Walking Tour This walk and visit with tour guide Joanna Moncrieff explores Walthamstow, its name probably meaning the Welcome Place. We will visit Church End, still recognisable as a village with its Ancient House, alms-houses, church and churchyard, and the impressive tombs offering a clue to some of the wealthy people who lived there before the arrival of the railways. Our visit includes a tour of the neon splendour of Gods Own Junkyard tucked away in a now trendy industrial park. There will also be time to visit the Vestry House Museum housed in the former workhouse.

Meet: Outside Costa Coffee, 5 Station Approach, Walthamstow, E17 9QF (Nearest Underground station: Walthamstow Central (Victoria ). Turn right at top of the escalator and exit via the Overground trains to Liverpool Street platform. The café is next to the exit.) Time: 10.15am (Likely duration 2¾ hours ) (20 places) Fee: £13 We will be walking at least 1.5 miles to and from God's Own Junkyard, where there is a café.

Friday 7 September 124. Clementi House It was the London home in the second and third decades of the nineteenth century of Muzio Clementi, composer, pianist and "Father of the Pianoforte" in the words of the composer's plaque in Westminster Abbey where he is buried. Prolific as a composer, he was admired by Beethoven and celebrated throughout

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Europe as a brilliant pianist. The house to which Muzio brought his young family was owned by Dulwich College and James Allen's Girls' School. It became a magnet for visiting musicians, including Mendelssohn, Chopin, Vincenzo Bellini and Paganini. During our tour we shall hear more about the history of the house and see one of the fortepianos manufactured by Clementi's company, in the front hall.

Meet: Clementi House, 128 Kensington Church Street, W8 4BH (Nearest Underground station: Notting Hill then a 10 minute walk) Time: 2.00pm (Likely duration 1-1¼ hours ) (15 places) Fee: £10 There are lots of stairs.

Sunday 9 September 125. History Hunt Come and explore the Ely Palace arch and look for seats of sedition and political pamphleting. Bring a pen have a go at solving the clues and end up where you can get the answers and, if you fancy it, a drink and/or a Sunday roast lunch (not included in the price!) Don’t be naughty, no cheating with your phones.

Meet: Entrance arch of Waterhouse Square (the former Prudential Building) 138-142 Holborn EC1N 2ST (Nearest Underground station: Chancery Lane) Time: 10.45am-11.15am (Likely duration 2 hours) (50 places) Fee: £5 Bookings may be made for members' guests.

Monday 10 September 126. St Anne's Church and Kew Green In 1710 a group of residents led by Christopher Appleby raised £200 and petitioned Queen Anne to be allowed to build a chapel of ease. She gave her consent and also gave £200 towards its cost. It was a small building consisting of just three bays. The cost was £500, twice the original estimate. The building was rebuilt and extended in various stages from 1770 onwards. Until the 16th century Kew Green was an unimportant rural hamlet, but close to the river for fishing. In this century however, a number of noblemen decided Kew was an ideal place to have a villa, and it also became the residence for a number of the Royal family. Katherine of Aragon lived there before she married Henry VIII, and Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, owned Kew Farm for a short while. King George III made Kew his country retreat from 1772. During our tour with John Moses we shall learn more about the history of the Church and Kew Green. (Meeting details over the page)

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Meet: St Anne's Church, Kew Green TW9 3AA (Nearest Underground station: Kew Gardens (District or Overground), then a 15 minute walk or 319 bus along Sandycombe Road. Also trains from Waterloo to Kew Bridge station, then a 10 minute walk across the bridge.) Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1 hour ) (20 places) Fee: £9

Monday 10 September 127. Deutsche Bank's Art Where do ideas come from? This is done by the Bank surrounding themselves with art. International contemporary art plays its part in helping to navigate a changing world, to engage with different regions and cultures by featuring contemporary artists from all over the globe, as these artists connect us to their worlds. The Bank has been involved in contemporary art since 1979, and the “Art Works” concept is an integral part of their Corporate Citizenship programme. During our tour we shall see some of the Art which is displayed throughout their offices globally and hear more about the “Art Works” concept.

Meet: Winchester House, 75 London Wall, EC2N 2DB (Nearest stations: Liverpool Street, Bank and Moorgate, then a 10 - 15 minute walk.) Time: 6.30pm (Likely duration 1-1½ hours ) (25 places) Fee: £6

Tuesday 11 September 128. Royal Gunpowder Mills This area is described by Historic England as The most important site for the history of explosives in Europe. It dates from the Civil War onwards, with over 20 listed buildings and a former top-secret research establishment. See where propellants and rocket motors were made, including some rare WW1 factory buildings, and intriguing structures and earthworks. We may be able to visit the northern part which is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest. We will have the site to ourselves and most of our tour will be undertaken by Land Train with a knowledgeable volunteer guide. Afterwards, members will be free to explore the main area on their own.

Meet: Waltham Cross railway station. We will then take a minibus or taxi to the Mills, fare included in the cost. Car parking available on site. Please indicate by email to the Registrar or on your printed form if you intend to come by car

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(Greater Anglia trains from Liverpool Street or Stratford go via Tottenham Hale

(Victoria Line) to Waltham Cross. Freedom Passes are valid to Tottenham Hale and

trains leave from there about every 15 minutes for a short ride to Waltham Cross.) Time: 10.55am (Likely duration 2-5 hours ) (20 places) Fee: £14 Sturdy footwear required. Bring some refreshment if you think you may wish to extend your visit. Waltham Abbey is well worth a detour before you leave the area. Unlimited tea and coffee will be provided but no food.

Thursday 13 September 129. Thames River Police Museum This is located in what was once the carpenter's workshop at Wapping Police Station, is situated within the headquarters of the Metropolitan Polices' Marine Police Unit, and offers a unique insight into the history of the world's first police force. Exhibits include uniforms and documents which trace the history of the Thames River Police from its inception in 1798 to the present day. There is also a fine collection of the everyday 'hardware' of policing from handcuffs to cutlasses. During our tour with Robert Jeffries, Hon. Curator, we shall learn more about the Museum's history.

Meet: Wapping Police Station, High Street, Wapping, E1W 2NE (Nearest Overground station: Wapping (on the Whitechapel to New Cross branch).

Exit to the left, and then about 300 yards on the left.) Time: 2.00pm (Likely duration 1-1½ hours ) (15 places) Fee: £2 There are many steps to be negotiated.

Friday 14 September 130. Charlton House This illustrates a phase in the evolution of the English country house, linking the sprawling style of the Tudor age with the compact geometrical character associated with Inigo Jones. The original oak staircase remains, as do many fireplaces and plasterwork ceilings. Built between 1607 and 1612, for Sir Adam Newton, tutor to the eldest son of James I, it remained a private home until 1925 when it became a public museum. With a rich and colourful history, Charlton House boasts striking architecture and beautiful interiors, and is one of the finest surviving Jacobean manor houses in England.

Meet: Charlton rail station booking hall (trains from London Bridge and Waterloo East), then a 20 minute walk. Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1 hour ) (20 places) Fee: £3

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Friday 14 September 131. Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance The School is in a detached villa, Clifton Lodge, probably incorporating part of an earlier orangery. It was built between 1852 and 1865 in Italianate style but the ground floor front rooms probably reused the remains of an early nineteenth century orangery. The service wing was extended soon after 1894, and was built of stock brick with stuccoed eaves, cornice and band between floors and hipped roof with brick chimney stacks. Interior details which include plaster ceiling roses, wooden window shutters, panelled doors and one of the chimney pieces to the front rooms are of mid-nineteenth century date. Clifton Lodge was a private dwelling and then part of the West London Institute Campus until 2005 when it became the home of the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance.

Meet: Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, Clifton Lodge, St Margaret's Drive, Twickenham, TW1 1QN (Nearest stations: St Margaret's then a 10 minute walk, or Richmond station. The H37

bus to Hounslow stops at both stations. Alight at St Margaret's Drive.) Time: 2.00pm (Likely duration 2 hours ) (20 places) Fee: £5 Refreshments have been promised.

Saturday 15 September 132. Fromage Foray Join Henry Eliot for a delicious tour of the more unusual cheeses of London. We shall eat lots of different cheeses at London’s cheesiest locations, taking in cheese art, cheese architecture, cheese comedy and cheese tragedy, as well as a potted history of British cheese. Henry is the co-author of Curiocity: In Search of London which Philip Pullman described as “the most ingenious, insightful, inspiring, intoxicating, and simply interesting guide to the great city that I have ever seen”.

Meet: Neal’s Yard Dairy, Borough Market SE1 9AB (Nearest Underground station: London Bridge) Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1½-2 hours ) (20 places) Fee: £10

Sunday 16 September 133. The House Mill This remarkable building is believed to be the largest tidal mill in existence in the world. It was originally built in 1776 on an existing pre-Doomsday mill site

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by Daniel Bisson, whose arms appear on the front. It's a timber-framed building clad in brick on three sides and is Grade I listed. In addition to flour-making, the mill served the famous distillery next door on Three Mills Island. The battle to prevent the demolition of the building began in the 1970s, and in 1989 the fabric of it was fully restored. During our tour we shall see traditional pre- restoration millstone furniture as well as an installation of a replica stone crane.

Meet: The Miller's House, Three Mill Lane, Bromley-By-Bow, E3 3DU (Nearest Underground station: Bromley-By-Bow (District, Hammersmith & City) then a 15 minute walk. Cross the road using the subway, turn left and then follow the

road to the right, pass Tesco (loos) and into Three Mills Lane. House Mill is over the bridge on the left.) Time: 1.45pm for 2.00pm start (Likely duration 1 hour ) (18 places) Fee: £4

Tuesday 18 September 134. Pub Lunch at The Old Bank of England In the 16 th and 17 th centuries, this was the site of two taverns, The Cock and The Haunch of Venison which were both demolished in 1888 to make way for the construction of the Law Courts branch of The Bank of England. The Bank of England traded here for 87 years, until 1975, when the premises were sold to a building society. The Old Bank of England also has a more grisly connection with the past, for it lies between the site of the barber shop owned by Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and the pie shop owned by Mrs Lovett, his mistress. It was in the tunnels and vaults below the present building that his victims were butchered before being cooked and sold in the pies to Mrs Lovett’s unsuspecting customers. As the former branch of The Bank of England, the basement still contains the original vaults used to store bullion, and indeed some of the Crown Jewels during the First World War. Whilst two safes have been changed to hold the pub cellars and kitchens, the main vault is intact and still contains the huge steel bullion cupboards.

Meet: The Old Bank of England, 194 Fleet Street, EC4A 2LT (Nearest Underground station: Temple then a 5 minute walk. The pub is next to the

Royal Courts of Justice.) Time: 1.00pm (Likely duration 1½ hours ) (15 places) Fee: Pay individually at bar This event is not bookable via the website or the postal forms. See page 47 for further details from Arthur Fordham.

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Wednesday 19 September 135. Zoroastrians The origins of Zoroastrianism (also known as Zarathushtrianism, or the Mazdayasni or Zarathushti religion) are lost to antiquity, but it has left a timeless legacy to world religious thought that is as relevant today as when it was received over three millennia ago. Zarathustra, prophet of the world's oldest revealed religion, lived in remote antiquity sometime around the dawn of the Iranian Bronze Age, circa 1,800-1,100 BCE. He preached the monotheistic religion of the one supreme God, Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord). His message is a positive, life-affirming one, which demands not so much belief, as reason and action on the part of every individual. His was not a prescriptive ethic, based on obedience, fear or love, but rather, an ethic of personal responsibility. He asked his listeners to think with a clear mind, and choose a life of intelligent reflection and active benevolence. We shall have a tour of the striking Grade II listed, art- deco style building with Malcolm Deboo and then a lecture on Zoroastrianism.

Meet: The Zoroastrian Centre, 440-442 Alexandra Avenue, Harrow, HA2 9TL (Nearest Underground station: Rayners Lane. (Metropolitan or Piccadilly line towards

Uxbridge.) The Centre is diagonally opposite the station and retains its cinema front.) Time: 4.00pm (Likely duration 2 hours ) (25 places) Fee: £6 Refreshments have been promised.

Thursday 20 September 136. The Model Railway Club It is the oldest in the world devoted to the hobby and since 1960 has occupied its own purpose-built club rooms. It has a comprehensive library of over 5,000 books and periodicals on railways and modelling topics. The Club's model was started in 1984, representing nearly a third of a century of work by members. They looked to the railways immediately to the north of the clubrooms for inspiration, thus basing the project on the approaches to King's Cross. The intention was to set the model railway into the context of the 'area of outstanding unnatural beauty' with the only green field being the small park on top of Copenhagen Tunnel. The scenery is set in the period of the '20s and '30s, but trains cover the period back to the 1900s. The layout features a tube line running underneath Caledonian Road at the front of the layout, which also features a working tramcar. We shall hear more about the Club's history, and then be free to look around the exhibition and ask questions of the members. We are welcome to bring model engines/trains to run on the test tracks.

Meet: The Model Railway Club, Keen House, 4 Calshot Street, N1 9DA (Nearest station: King's Cross then a 10 minute walk along Pentonville Road. Calshot

Street is on the left hand side.) Time: 6.45pm (Likely duration 1½-2 hours ) (20 places) Fee: £5

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Friday 21 September 137. London Archaeological Archive It is the world's largest archaeological archive and contains much of London's unseen historical and archaeological records. Here specimens are catalogued and prepared for display in the main Museum of London, or the Museum of Docklands, after recovery from eight and a half thousand excavations from the Greater London area. Our tour with Dan Nesbit, Assistant Curator, will include a visit to the social and working history of the collection, the glass and ceramic collection and, of course, the Archaeological Archive.

Meet: Museum of London - Mortimer Wheeler House, 26 Eagle Wharf Road, N1 7ED (Nearest Underground stations: Old Street or Moorgate, then bus 76 or 141 to stop

XR, Eagle Wharf Road) Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1-1½ hours ) (15 places) Fee: £13

Saturday 22 September 138. The Hellenic Centre The building, designed by architects Forsyth & Maule and completed in 1910, was commissioned by Allan Brown, a Swede who had practised in London in medical gymnastics and massage, and was called The Central Institute for Swedish Gymnastics. During the Great War of 1914-1918 the building became the Swedish War Hospital for British wounded. In 1920 Brown sold it to the London County Council and it became a teacher-training College of Physical Education. In later years, the College was run by the Inner London Education Authority, but with ILEA's abolition it closed in 1990. In 1992 the Hellenic Community Trust purchased the building and after refurbishment it opened in 1994 as The Hellenic Centre, a centre for the promotion of Greek culture through lectures, concerts, exhibitions and other events, most of them free to the public. Next year will be their 25th anniversary. Our tour will be taken by Agatha Kalisperas, Director of the Centre.

Meet: The Hellenic Centre, 16-18 Paddington Street, Marylebone, W1U 5AS (Nearest Underground station: Baker Street. Cross Marylebone Road, go down Baker

Street and then left into Paddington Street. 200 yards along on the left.) Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1 hour ) (25 places) Fee: £5 Refreshments have been offered. There are five floors to negotiate and the tour is not suitable for the physically handicapped.

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Monday 24 September 139. The Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers The Guild of St. George of the Armourers was instituted in 1322. The Company's present Charter was granted in 1708 by Queen Anne, giving the Brasiers, who had become involved with the Company, equal status with the Armourers. The Armourers' Hall was one of the very few which escaped destruction in the Great Fire of London in 1666. During our tour with the Company Secretary, Peter Bateman, we shall hear about the Company's history, view the collection of armour and weapons of both English and foreign craftsmanship, and see the Great Hall, Drawing Room and the elegant beautifully proportioned Court Room.

Meet: Armourers' Hall, 81 Coleman Street, EC2R 5BJ (Nearest Underground stations: Moorgate or Bank. Entrance on Coleman Street near

the corner with London Wall) Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1½ hours ) (30 places) Fee: £15 See also event number 165. Refreshments have been promised.

Monday 24 September 140. The Hippodrome Casino It is the UK's largest international-style casino and its busiest, having been opened by London Mayor Boris Johnson, and Westminster's City Council's Deputy Leader Robert Davis in July 2012. It had taken 36 months to rebuild and renovate the former Hippodrome Theatre, restoring and retaining the glorious fabric of this historic building. The Casino offers a mixture of dinner, theatre and gambling but also accommodates lunches, conferences, events and private parties. During our tour we shall learn more about its history dating back to 1900.

Meet: The Hippodrome Casino, Cranbourne Street, Leicester Square, WC2H 7JH (Nearest Underground station: Leicester Square) Time: 2.00pm (Likely duration 1-1½ hours ) (20 places) Fee: £5 See also event number 145. Tuesday 25 September 141. Committee Meeting Members are invited to send the Committee Secretary a note of any matters they wish the Committee to discuss. Any such note must reach the Committee Secretary by 18 September. His contact details are on page 2.

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Wednesday 26 September 142. Jewish Museum London Our visit to the History Gallery traces the story of the Jewish community in Britain from the Norman Conquest to recent times. Highlights during our tour with Collections Manager Katherin Pieren include medieval notched wooden tax receipts, eighteenth century portraits, a Queen Anne silver tray and loving cups presented to the Lord Mayor of London by the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue. Through an interactive map, we shall be able to plot population changes over the centuries.

Meet: Jewish Museum London, Raymond Burton House, 129-131 Albert Street, Camden Town, NW1 7NB (Nearest Underground station: Camden Town (Northern). At the 5-way junction, turn

right into Parkway and then second left into Albert Street. Buses: 31, 274, C2) Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1 hour ) (20 places) Fee: £7 Full facilities for wheelchair users.

Wednesday 26 September 143. Hubert von Herkomer, Royal Academician and Knight Cecil Rhodes and Baden Powell, Prime Minister Lord Salisbury, Viceroy Lord Curzon, and even Queen Victoria [on her Deathbed] - Hubert von Herkomer portrayed them all. He was both one of the most fashionable painters of Victorian and Edwardian England, and an avant-garde painter of the low life of peasants, prisoners and paupers. His works are to be found in London’s major galleries and many other leading galleries in England and abroad. The largest single collection is at Bushey in his former home. The largely self-taught son of a humble Bavarian woodworking immigrant to England he became a Royal Academician and a knight. Dr Isobel Williams tells his remarkable story.

Meet: Art Workers’ Guild, 6 Queen Square, WC1N 3AT (Nearest Underground stations: Holborn, Russell Square. Many buses stop nearby) Time: 2.30pm (Likely duration 1½ hours ) (90 places) Fee: £12 Bookings may be made for members' guests . Tea and biscuits will be served after the talk.

Thursday 27 September 144. Meet & Chat: The Ledger Building This event is not bookable, just turn up at The Ledger Building (a Wetherspoon's Pub) a few doors away from the Docklands Museum for a coffee

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or drink. Those who wish can have lunch. Prices are reasonable and everyone orders and pays for their own refreshments.

Meet: The Ledger Building (a few doors from the Docklands Museum) 4 Hertsmere Rd, Poplar, E14 4AL (Nearest stations: West India Quay (DLR) or Canary Wharf (Jubilee)

Time: 11.15am (Likely duration: Flexible )

Thursday 27 September 145. The Hippodrome Casino It is the UK's largest international-style casino and its busiest, having been opened by London Mayor Boris Johnson, and Westminster's City Council's Deputy Leader Robert Davis in July 2012. It had taken 36 months to rebuild and renovate the former Hippodrome Theatre, restoring and retaining the glorious fabric of this historic building. The Casino offers a mixture of dinner, theatre and gambling but also accommodates lunches, conferences, events and private parties. During our tour we shall learn more about its history dating back to 1900.

Meet: The Hippodrome Casino, Cranbourne Street, Leicester Square, WC2H 7JH (Nearest Underground station: Leicester Square) Time: 2.00pm (Likely duration 1-1½ hours ) (20 places) Fee: £5 A repeat of Event 140.

Friday 28 September 146. A Walk in Chiswick Ian Bevan will guide us round the Georgian village with its old brewery, the smallest square in London, the parish church of St Nicholas, and Chiswick House and gardens.

Meet: Outside Sir William Tite’s Chiswick railway station, London bound side. (Chiswick station is on Hounslow Loop, 6 trains an hour from Waterloo. Zone 3) Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1½-2 hours ) (20 places) Fee: £10 Chiswick House has a café. Do not confuse the meeting place with Chiswick Park station!

Saturday 29 September 147. LAS Walkers: Exploring the Capital Ring This event is not bookable. Please turn to page 47 for further information.

Time: 10.30am

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Saturday 29 September 148. London Museum of Water & Steam We shall see the massive historic engines that pumped Thames water to London's taps, and follow in the footsteps of Charles Dickens to explore London's watery past. Getting our hands-on to find out more about the gruesome details of the capital's watery past, and through the interactive Waterworks, see water's role in the Victorian battle for public health. In the Waterworks and the outdoor Splash Zone, we shall be able to test our muscle power as we have a go at water-pumping machines from throughout the centuries.

Meet: London Museum of Water & Steam, Gree n Dragon Lane, Brentford, TW8 0EN (Nearest stations: Kew Bridge (from Waterloo/Clapham, plus 5 minute walk), or Gunnersbury (District or Overground, plus 15 minute walk). From Kew Bridge

station, turn right into Brentford High Street. The entrance is in Green Dragon L ane, off the High Street. There is also a free on-site car park.) Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 2 hours ) (30 places) Fee: £9 About 85% of the Museum is accessible to wheelchair users via rising platform lifts. Stokers Café is situated at the Museum entrance and is open from 11am

Sunday 30 September 149. Around the Devil's Acre Anthony Davis will lead this literary walk around a part of Westminster fascinating for its social history and architecture. You will see two of London’s most beautiful early 18th century squares and the site of one of London’s worst slums, memorably described by Charles Dickens. You will look Queen Anne in the eye and peer (literally) through the windows of JS Mill and TE Lawrence, and hear about the effects of social housing and Nazi bombs.

Meet: St James Underground station, at the exit for Broadway and the Park, opposite the Old Star pub. If you cannot see the pub you are in the wrong place! Time: 10.30am (Likely duration 1½ -2 hours ) (20 places) Fee: £10

Monday 1 October 150. Beefeater Distillery We start with a self-guided tour where the history of Beefeater is entwined with the history of London Gin, which remains handcrafted to a recipe that is unchanged since the 1800s. International politics, exotic imports from the 21

British Empire, the Victorians and Americans were all involved in making gin the world’s favourite cocktail spirit. Following the tour, a guide will take us to the heart of the distillery to explain the hand-crafted production process. The event will end with a complimentary Beefeater Gin and Tonic or a soft drink.

Meet: Beefeater Distillery, 20 Mountford Place, London SE11 5DE (Nearest station: Vauxhall then a 10 minute walk along Kennington Lane. Mountford Place is on the right. If travelling from either Kennington or Oval stations then Mountford Place is on the left.) Time: 11.30am (Likely duration 1¼ hours ) (15 places) Fee: £10

Wednesday 3 October 151. Abney Park Cemetery Abney Park was opened in 1840 as a non-conformist garden cemetery and, uniquely in London, was originally laid out as an arboretum. Before its closure in the 1970s, a huge variety of people were buried there - from William Booth and Isaac Watts, to stars of the Music Hall. After decades of neglect its management was taken over by a charitable trust for the benefit of the local community as a heritage centre and nature reserve. The tour led by the Park Ranger, John Baldock, will cover its history, important burials, the chapel, symbolism on graves and biodiversity. This visit stands alone but it also complements very neatly the walk through Stoke Newington (on 22 November).

Meet: Abney Park Cemetery, 215 High St entrance, Stoke Newington N16 0LH (Nearest rail station: Stoke Newington, from Liverpool Street. Turn left from the station into Stamford Hill (becomes High Street.) The cemetery gates are then on your right. Buses: 67, 73, 76, 106, 149, 243 & 393) Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1½ hours ) (25 places) Fee: £5 There are toilets on site, and lots of pubs/café's close by.

Wednesday 3 October 152. The Clockworks This gem hidden away in West Norwood, was founded a few years ago as not- for-profit museum, workshop and library dedicated to the field of early electrical time-keeping. Dr. James Nye, its founder and owner, will take us on an in-depth tour of this amazing place. Please wear flat, comfortable shoes. We will be on our feet for quite a while.

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Meet: The Clockworks, 6 Nettlefold Place, West Norwood, SE27 0JW (Nearest rail station: West Norwood, then a 5 min walk. From the statio n turn right

along Knight's Hill (towards the church). Nettlefold Place is then on your left.) Time: 2.00pm (Likely duration 1½ hours ) (10 places) Fee: £7

Thursday 4 October 153. Garden of the Royal College of Physicians The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) was founded in 1518 by a charter from Henry VIII. The present Grade 1 listed building was designed by Sir Denys Lasdun in 1964. The RCP’s garden of medicinal plants is now well established since replanting and, amongst other plants, we shall see the plane tree in the lawn, a descendant of the tree under which Hippocrates taught his medical students on the island of Cos 2,400 years ago The tour will remind us of our long heritage of plants associated with medicine. Please note as this is a garden visit there will be a fair bit of standing around, mostly on brick paths but also on lawn.

Meet: Royal College of Physicians, 11 St Andrew’s Place, London NW1 4LE (Nearest Underground stations: Regent’s Park or Great Portland Street. Opposite th e

south east corner of Regent’s Park, in the Outer Circle just past St Andrews Place.) Time: 2.00pm (Likely duration 1½ hours ) (30 places) Fee: £5 Tea, coffee and biscuits in the college canteen at 3.30pm is £1.60 per head. Pay the canteen staff at the time.

Friday 5 October 154. Surrey Docks A walk with veteran guide Andrew Davies to discover the history and what remains of the famous Surrey Docks, plus fabulous river views.

Meet: Outside Canada Water Underground station Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1½-2 hours ) (20 places) Fee: £10

Friday 5 October 155. Hand & Lock Embroidery Studios Hand and Lock is an embroidery company that in 2001 fused two great long established embroidery businesses. In 1767 Goldlacemen called "Hand", originally Huguenot refugees from Flanders, added embroidery to their range of laces, cords and braids. Their skills came from the entourage of Catherine de Medici when she married into the French Court in the 16th century. In 1898

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Phipps & Co. began an embroidery business which was joined in 1956 by a brilliant young designer Samuel Lock, after whom the company was renamed. The company reached new heights throughout the next 45 years working with couturiers including Christian Dior, Norman Hartnell and Hardy Amies. A Royal Warrant was awarded and Royal commissions have included Princess Anne's wedding ensemble. We shall have a guided tour of the Hand & Lock atelier, one of the oldest workrooms still in activity today, which contains an archive of embroidered work dating back to 1790. During our tour we shall see the specialised embroiderers working on actual projects. You will be shown stunning pieces and samples that have been provided for the fashion industry and the theatre, as well as examples of Diplomatic and Military Court dress.

Meet: Hand & Lock Embroidery Studio, 86 Margaret St, W1W 8TE (Nearest Underground station: Oxford Circus, then an 8 minute walk. At the corner of

Margaret Street and Wells Street.) Time: 12.30pm (Likely duration 1 hour ) (12 places) Fee: £13 Refreshments have been promised.

Sunday 7 October 156. Gilbert and Sullivan: A Most Ingenious Paradox There never were two such different people. Born in Victorian London into totally disparate circumstances, this iconic pair went on to make comic operas which are still revered and popular today. Come for drinks and nibbles and then hear all about their story with words and live music in a bijou cabaret room.

Meet: Lambeth North Underground station, near the exit Time: 5.30pm (Likely duration 2 hours ) (20 places) Fee: £19 Bookings may be made for members' guests. There are unavoidable stairs to negotiate at his venue. There is a repeat of this event on 28 October.

Monday 8 October 157. World City Highlights Tour This is the last in a series of eight private guided tours of the Museum of London’s main galleries, an unrivalled opportunity to get an overview of London’s history.

Meet: Entrance Hall, Museum of London, 150 London Wall, Lond on EC2Y 5HN (Nearest Underground stations: Barbican or St Paul's (then a 5 minute walk), or

Moorgate (then a 10 minute walk) Time: 10.50am (Likely duration 1 hour ) (20 places) Fee: £10 The Museum has two cafés and a restaurant. The entrance hall is on the upper walkway level.

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Tuesday 9 October 158. Four Seasons Hotel at Ten Trinity Square Ten Trinity Square has long been regarded as one of Britain’s finest architectural landmarks the 1922 headquarters of the Port of London Authority. Following a 6 year multi-million pound renovation, this Grade II listed building is now home to the 5-star luxury Four Seasons Hotel. Our visit is expected to include the public areas, restaurant, spa and ballroom. It is a smart hotel – please dress accordingly

Meet: Four Seasons Hotel, 10 Trinity Square, EC3N 4AJ (Nearest Underground station: Tower Hill (District & Circle) Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1 hour) (10 places) Fee: £10 See event number 179. Wednesday 10 October 159. Headstone Manor Four historic listed buildings and a 14 th century moat! The Great Barn had a major restoration three years ago and the Grade 1 listed Manor House has only just reopened after its own renovation. Apart from its intrinsic interest, the house contains exhibitions showing its place in English history. After meeting in the visitor centre we will have a video introduction in the small barn and then the group will split into two. One group will have a guided tour of the house whilst the other visits the museum, the great barn, if it’s free, and the gardens. Then the two groups will change over.

Meet: The Visitors Centre, Headstone Manor, Pinner View, Harrow, HA2 6PX

(Nearest station: Harrow & Wealdstone (Bakerloo or Overground ) Take the Wealdstone exit from the station, turn left and bear left. At the bus stop, take the H9

bus to Pinner View, cross the road and walk along Pinner View to the Manor. There is also a large free car park in Pinner View, just before the entrance.) Time: 2.00pm (Likely duration 2 hours ) (30 places) Fee: £8 The visit will start outside so please wear sturdy shoes. There is a good café on the site offering tea, cakes and light snacks. Please let us know if you will need to use the lift.

Wednesday 10 October 160. Picturing Forgotten London The London Metropolitan Archive has a temporary special display of paintings, photographs and film showing some of the Capital’s vanished architecture. The exhibition ranges from a huge Victorian map showing the sites of all the theatres and music halls to images of the Crystal Palace, Euston Arch, old

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riverside industries such as shot towers used to melt down lead for ammunition and continues to photographs of the Festival of Britain. Due to the size of the exhibition space, our group will be split in half, and while one has a guided tour, the other will be shown Collage (their on-line image database) which contains many additional images of forgotten London. There will be time for questions throughout and the opportunity to stay at the end to further explore the London Metropolitan Archive.

Meet: London Metropolitan Archives, 40 Northampton Road, Clerkenwell, EC1R 0HB (Nearest Underground stations: Farringdon (then a 15 minute walk) or Angel (then a

25 minute walk) Buses: 19, 38, 55, 63, 153, 243 & 341) Time: 2.00pm (Likely duration 1 hour ) (20 places) Fee: £5 Please note that we will be asked to leave our coats and bags in a secure room when we arrive and will be provided with clear plastic bags for valuables/ pencils and notebooks. Pens are not allowed.

Wednesday 10 October 161. Stone House This is a Grade II listed building, built in the Palladian style by George Gibson Senior, between 1771 & 1773. It is one of the oldest and most distinctive buildings in the borough of Lewisham. It stands out as a beacon of elegance in the midst of the boredom of the surrounding environment. We shall be given a talk about the history of the house, followed by a tour of this lovely building. To end our visit in style, we have been promised a cream tea. An afternoon not to be missed.

Meet: Stone House, 281 Lewisham Way, SE4 1XF (Nearest rail station: St John's, an 8 minute journey from London Bridge. Exit left from the station into St John's Vale. Walk up to Lewisham Way and turn right. Stone House is a short way along on the right hand side.) Time: 2.00pm (Likely duration 2 hours ) (25 places) Fee: £8 There are uneven floors and stairs within the house. Please wear flat, comfortable shoes.

Thursday 11 October 162. Ethnic Meal Persian Cuisine, tasty but not at all spicy, and exceptionally good value. The cost includes soup, an apparently limitless self-service buffet with a wide range of hot and cold dishes (many vegetarian), doogh (a most refreshing yoghurt

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beverage), a selection of desserts, Persian tea, and service. Please order any wine, beer or soft drinks separately and pay for them yourself.

Meet: Termeh Restaurant, 2 Canfield Gardens, London NW6 3BS (Nearest Underground station: Finchley Road (Jubilee or Metropolitan ) Turn right on

leaving station and restaurant is a few doors down on right.) Time: 1.00pm (Likely duration 2 hours ) (30 places) Fee: £18 As this is a self-service menu members who arrive early should be able to take their seats and start their meal without waiting for the whole group. And latecomers should be able to catch up!

Friday 12 October 163. The Supreme Court Established in 2005, it is the final court of appeal in the UK for civil cases, and for criminal cases from England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It hears cases of the greatest public or constitutional importance affecting the whole population. Designed by architect James Gibson, the building in Parliament Square is situated opposite the Houses of Parliament and is flanked by the Treasury and Westminster Abbey. He demonstrated a modern approach to its design by keeping it quite distinct in scale and style, so as to preserve its own individuality.

Meet: The Supreme Court (Inside main entrance), Parliament Square, SW1P 3BD (Nearest Underground station: Westminster (exit 6 for Whitehall west) Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1 hour ) (25 places) Fee: £7 Allow 10 minutes for airport-style security checks. There are no cloakroom facilities to store bulky items

Sunday 14 October 164. Sunday Lunch at The Silver Cross The Silver Cross is a superb example of a classic British drinking establishment. It is situated close to Trafalgar Square along Whitehall. You can be assured of a warm welcome and friendly atmosphere, despite the rumours of a resident ghost!

Meet: The Silver Cross, 33 Whitehall, SW1A 2BX about 50 yards on the left along Whitehall from Trafalgar Square. (Nearest station: Charing Cross)

Time: 1.00pm (Likely duration 1½ hours ) (15 places) Fee: £16 (main course only)

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Monday 15 October 165. The Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers The Guild of St. George of the Armourers was instituted in 1322. The Company's present Charter was granted in 1708 by Queen Anne, giving the Brasiers, who had become involved with the Company, equal status with the Armourers. The Armourers' Hall was one of the very few which escaped destruction in the Great Fire of London in 1666. During our tour with the Company Secretary, Peter Bateman, we shall hear about the Company's history, view the collection of armour and weapons of both English and foreign craftsmanship, and see the Great Hall, Drawing Room and the elegant beautifully proportioned Court Room.

Meet: Armourers' Hall, 81 Coleman Street, EC2R 5BJ (Nearest Underground stations: Moorgate or Bank) Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1½ hours ) (20 places) Fee: £15 See also event number 139. Refreshments have been promised.

Tuesday 16 October 166. Money, Meat and More Merriment In the City nowadays people work in offices and make money. In the past, many people lived in the City, producing goods and trading produce - whether it was milk, meat or honey. But throughout the centuries there have always been opportunities for enjoying oneself, and there still are. Join City Guide Debbie Pearson for more merriment. The walk will likely end with an opportunity to visit a city wine bar.

Meet: Outside Caffé Nero beside St Paul's Underground station.

Time: 2.00pm (Likely duration 1½ hours ) (20 places) Fee: £10

Wednesday 17 October 167. Angel's Costumes The tour is a wide ranging look behind the scenes of the world's largest Costumiers. We shall see the Tailors and Ladies Making departments where bespoke pieces are created for film, TV and theatre productions. This will be followed by the Alterations section, where costumes are altered to fit the specific requirements of the Costumes Designer. Then we shall go through the Costume Warehouse. This cavernous room contains over 8 miles of costume hanging rails with up to 5 million individual items. If time allows, there is a

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uniform section, plus fancy dress and jewellery departments. It should prove to be a most unusual afternoon.

Meet: Angel's Costumes Reception, 1 Garrick Road, London, NW9 6AA (Nearest rail station: Hendon (from St Pancras), then a 5 minute walk. Nearest Underground station: Hendon Central, then 10 minutes by 83 bus. At the corner of Garrick Road and Russell Road. Car parking is available on site.) Time: 2.00pm (Likely duration 1½ hours ) (15 places) Fee: £20 Please wear flat, comfortable shoes. The tour includes a lot of walking and some stairs.

Wednesday 17 October 168. LAS History 1 The London Appreciation Society’s fascinating story and its founder Bryant Peers notable contribution to tourism in London are surprisingly well documented. There’s quite a lot about the London Appreciation Club, its traumas in WW2, and its post war resurgence. We are setting up a small group to discuss and explore this history. The first two meetings are listed as events in this Blue Book. Please register for these events in the usual way. If you are interested but cannot attend these meetings please let the Secretary know as it may be possible later on to find times which suit you. Next meeting 21 November: if all goes well the group will continue to meet regularly in 2019.

Meet: 109 Chatsworth Road, Willesden Green, NW2 4BH (Nearest stations: Willesden Green (Jubilee) Brondesbury or Brondesbury Park

(Overground) Bus:98 (Deerhurst Road stop) 2.15pm (Likely duration 1½-2 Fee: One-off fee of £5 for group Time: hours ) (16 places) membership Refreshments will be provided.

Thursday 18 October 169. Building Crafts College Established in 1893 by the Carpenters’ Company, the College is now a recognised centre of excellence in construction crafts. Courses are wide-ranging and cover furniture-making, carpentry and joinery and stone masonry skills as well as related subjects such as conservation and restoration. Mr Len Conway, Principal of the BCC, will give a digital presentation about the College and its aims. This will be followed by a tour of the busy workshops. It should be a most interesting and enjoyable visit.

Meet: Building Crafts College, Kennard Road, Stratford, E15 1AH (Nearest station: Stratford. Leave station by Stratford Town Cent re exit (at ground

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level near WH Smiths), bear right and walk for about 200 yards by the railway line. Cross over the railway by the bridge then cross over the cul-de-sac into Kennard Road. The BCC is on the right hand corner, about a 7 minute walk.) Time: 10.50am (Likely duration 1½ hours ) (20 places) Fee: £8 Refreshments have been promised.

Thursday 18 October 170. Refugees, Railways, a River and a Ram - Historic Wandsworth Wandsworth’s history has been shaped by its position on the River Thames and the less well known River Wandle. The Wandle’s mills were used for flour milling, copper working, gunpowder making and oil pressing. Its clean water was used for calico printing and for brewing. The famous Ram brewery produced beer at the centre of Wandsworth from1576 until 2006. We will see what are left of Young’s brewery buildings and learn of plans for their future. Hear too about the first railway in the world, the riotous Mayor of Garratt election, and the Huguenot refugees who contributed to the area’s industrial success. Diane Burstein will lead us along the Wandle to the Thames where well see the contrast between old industrial Wandsworth and the area’s new luxury riverside apartments.

Meet: Outside Wandsworth Town station (About six trains an hour from Waterloo, taking 16-17 minutes) Time: 2.00pm (Likely duration 1½ - 2 hours ) (20 places) Fee: £10 This walk ends at Putney Bridge, a short walk across the bridge to Putney Bridge Underground station on the District and Circle lines

Saturday 20 October 171. Normansfield - a talk, a tour and a hidden theatre Normansfield was the home of pioneering Victorian doctor, John Langdon Down (after whom Down’s syndrome is named). At a time when young people with learning disabilities would have been sent to an asylum, he (and his wife) took an exceptional approach. They taught their charges skills (there was a farm on site then) but also carpentry (you will see some remaining examples of works made) and they built a beautiful theatre, which you will visit. In addition there remains on site the largest collection of Victorian theatre scenery in this country. Archivist Ian Jones- Healey, will give an illustrated talk of the history of Normansfield, before taking you to see the theatre and downstairs to the scenery store and small museum. The theatre is considered to be one of the most

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important private theatres in the country and is also one of only two theatres with the original scene changing system in place.

Meet: Normansfield, 2A Langdon Park, Teddington, TW11 9PS. Enter the red front door of Normansfield, where you will be welcomed with tea or coffee and a chance to look at their small museum and photos on the walls prior to the talk and tour starting. (Nearest station: Hampton Wick then a 7 minute walk. Turn right into Upper Teddington Road. Normansfield is then on your right. Buses 281 and 285 stop outside Alternatively there is plenty of on-site parki ng. If you are driving from Kingston, drive past Hampton Wick station on the right and then take the first right after Normansfield Avenue. This isn’t named on the map but is Langdon Park. Tu rn

immediately right again and park in the one of the spaces marked “L.D.C. Reserved Parking.” Walk down the gravel path (edged with red brick) and you will come to a big red door on the left which is the main entrance i nto the building. If you are approaching from the Twickenham/Richmond direction, take the first left after Holmesdale Road into Langdon Park and then continue as above.) Time: 2.00pm (Likely duration 1½-2 hours ) (25 places) Fee: £8

Monday 22 October 172. Christie's Behind the Scenes Tour We shall be given an excellent and informative talk about the history of the company from its foundation in 1776 up to the present day, in the directors’ elegant boardroom. Refreshments will be served to members during that time. We will be given the chance to see Twentieth Century Design on view before a major sale takes place.

Meet: Christie's Reception Area, 8 King Street, SW1Y 6QT (Nearest Underground stations: Green Park, Piccadilly Circus, then a 10 minute walk,

or any bus along Piccadilly from Piccadilly Circus.) Time: 3.00pm (Likely duration 1½-2 hours ) (16 places) Fee: £26

Tuesday 23 October 173. Furniture Made in London With the hindsight of twenty eight years dealing at the top end of 18 th century furniture in Knightsbridge, our Chairman has offered another lecture on furniture, looking this time at the work of some of the greatest furniture makers based in the capital. He will also ask how London-made furniture might differ from that made elsewhere in the country. Of course, as a domestic necessity the history of furniture making in London goes back much further, with the City Guilds maintaining standards of quality and craftsmanship. In contrast, by the second half of the 19 th century, vast amounts of mass-produced and often

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poorly-made pieces were being produced in the East End for the middle class market. All this is part of the fascinating story.

Meet: Art Workers’ Guild, 6 Queen Square, WC1N 3AT (Nearest Underground stations: Holborn, Russell Square. Many buses stop nearby) Time: 2.30pm (Likely duration 1½ hours ) (90 places) Fee: £12 Bookings may be made for members' guests . Tea and biscuits will be served after the talk.

Wednesday 24 October 174. In Search of Belgravia We will stroll with City of Westminster Guide Alan MacDougall through the beauty of Belgravia and hear about the Grosvenor family. We will see the differing squares and housing designed and developed for different groups of society in the nineteenth century: see some of the hidden pubs which supplied the needs of the servants and workers, and hear about some of the famous people who lived in the area.

Meet: Grosvenor Hotel, 101 Buckingham Palace Road, on steps, or in foyer if weather inclement. (Nearest Underground station: Victoria) Time: 2.00pm (Likely duration 1½-2 hours ) (20 places) Fee: £10

Thursday 25 October 144. Meet & Chat: The Ledger Building This event is not bookable, just turn up at The Ledger Building (a Wetherspoon's Pub) a few doors away from the Docklands Museum for a coffee or drink. Those who wish can have lunch. Prices are reasonable and everyone orders and pays for their own refreshments.

Meet: The Ledger Bu ilding (a few doors from the Docklands Museum) 4 Hertsmere Rd, Poplar, E14 4AL (Nearest stations: West India Quay (DLR) or Canary Wharf (Jubilee)

Time: 11.15am (Likely duration: Flexible )

Friday 26 October 176. Tour of Old Vic Theatre This year the Old Vic Theatre celebrates its 200 th anniversary (their first performance took place on 11 th May 1818 when the theatre was called The Royal Coburg). Our tour is led by Ned their Stage Door Manager, who will take

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us all around The Old Vic, telling us about the venue and its history. Many famous actors have performed there- ranging from Edmund Keen in the 1830s to Sir Laurence Olivier, who was appointed first Director of the National there in 1962. So if we want to know what happened to the fourth level of the theatre or are there any ghosts lurking backstage, Ned is the person to enlighten us.

Meet: Foyer of the Old Vic Theatre, The Cut, SE1 8NB (Nearest stations: Waterloo/Waterloo East. Buses: 1, 68 , 168, 171, 172, 176, 188,

stop nearby in Waterloo Road) Time: 10.15am (Likely duration 1½ hours ) (20 places) Fee: £10 This tour involves climbing a number of stairs and there is only limited opportunity to sit down. Refreshments are not provided as part of the tour but there is a café in the basement (Penny’s) accessed from Waterloo Road, which opens by 9am for coffee and breakfast.

Saturday 27 October 177. LAS Walkers: Exploring the Capital Ring This event is not bookable. Please turn to page 47 for further information.

Time: 10.30am

Sunday 28 October 178. Gilbert and Sullivan: A Most Ingenious Paradox There never were two such different people. Born in Victorian London into totally disparate circumstances, this iconic pair went on to make comic operas which are still revered and popular today. Come for drinks and nibbles and then hear all about their story with words and live music in a bijou cabaret room.

Meet: Lambeth North Underground station, near the exit Time: 5.30pm (Likely duration 2 hours ) (20 places) Fee: £19 Bookings may be made for members' guests . There are unavoidable stairs to negotiate at this venue. A repeat of event 156.

Tuesday 30 October 179. Four Seasons Hotel at Ten Trinity Square Ten Trinity Square has long been regarded as one of Britain’s finest architectural landmarks the 1922 headquarters of the Port of London Authority. Following a 6 year multi-million pound renovation, this Grade II listed building is now home to the 5-star luxury Four Seasons Hotel. Our visit is expected to include the public areas, restaurant, spa and ballroom. It is a smart hotel – please dress accordingly. (Meeting details over the page)

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Meet: Four Seasons Hotel, 10 Trinity Square, EC3N 4AJ (Nearest Underground station: Tower Hill or Tower Gateway) Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1 hour ) (10 places) Fee: £10 A repeat of event 158. Thursday 1 November 180. Mall Galleries - Federation of British Artists The Federation is an incorporated charity founded in 1961 to promote the visual arts in Britain. One of its activities is its commissioning service, encouraging business, industry, national institutions and members of the public to commission or buy works of art by living students. We shall hear more about the history and work of the Federation, and then be able to view the current exhibition.

Meet: Mall Galleries, The Mall, SW1 (Nearest station: Charing Cross. Near the Trafalgar Square end of the Mall) Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1-1½ hours ) (25 places) Fee: £3 There is another visit on 30 November. There is a café located in the main gallery space.

Monday 5 November 181. The Worshipful Company of Fishmongers It is one of the Twelve Great Livery Companies in the City and amongst the most ancient of the City Guilds, with an unbroken existence of more than 700 years. The Fishmongers of London are known to have been an organised community long before Edward I granted them their first Charter. This provided that no fish could be sold in London except by the Ministry of Fishmongers. The 14 th century secured for the Company a complete monopoly of the sale of fish. The Fishmongers appear finally to have lost their monopoly in the 15th century but under a Charter of James I, officials of the Company (known as Fishmeters) still examine all fish coming into Billingsgate Market. During our tour of the Hall, we shall hear more about the work and history of the Company.

Meet: Fishmongers' Hall, London Bridge, EC4R 9EL (Nearest Underground station: Monument then a 5 minute walk to the City side of

London Bridge) Time: 2.00pm (Likely duration 1-1½ hours ) (30 places) Fee: £12 Refreshments have been promised.

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Wednesday 7 November 182. The Zoological Society of London Library and Archives The Society is a charity devoted to the world-wide conservation of animals and their habitats. It was established in 1826 by Sir Stafford Raffles, and has been on its present site for over one hundred years, in a corner of London Zoo. It holds extensive collections on all aspects of animal zoology and conservation with a particular emphasis on zoo-related material. During our tour with Librarian, Ann Sylph, and Archivist, Sarah Broadhurst, we shall be able to view a selection of their historical photographic collection including images of famous zoo animals, some sadly now extinct. We shall also have the opportunity to see some of the beautifully illustrated historical books, manuscripts and art works kept in the Library.

Meet: Zoological Society of London , Regent's Park, NW1 4RY (Meet in the main office, outside the Outer Circle 200yds east of the Zoo Main Gate) (Nearest Underground station: Camden Town then a 15 minute walk or 274 bus.) Time: 2.00pm (Likely duration 1-1½ hours ) (20 places) Fee: £7 Refreshments have been promised. There are lots of stairs and standing.

Friday 9 November 183. Met Collection Police Heritage Centre The collection started in 1945 when the Chief Superintendent of Bow Street decided to mark the bicentenary of the Bow Street Runners and, in an article in The Times, appealed to the public for suitable donations. Sufficient donations were made to mount an exhibition, and as the collection continued to grow, a suitable place was found in 2009 for a permanent exhibition at Empress State Building where the artefacts could be displayed to the public. Inside is a small sample of the history of the MPS - uniforms, medals, truncheons, photographs and old records, one example being a complete set of Police Orders from 1857- 1990. There are records relating to all police officers from 1829 including warrant number 1 to the present day. There is even a set of tiger claws. The tour will focus on two centres - The Wild Life Crime Unit and about the general history of the Met.

Meet: Heritage Centre, The Annexe, Empress State Building, Lillie Road, SW6 1TR (Nearest station: West Brompton. (District or Overground) Cross the road and turn

left. The entrance is by the bus station.) Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1 hour ) (15 places) Fee: £5 Event repeated on 24 November.

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Saturday 10 November 184. Westminster Memorials The City of Westminster is richly endowed with twentieth century war memorials. They illustrate both the changing nature of war itself and how war is commemorated. Skilfully navigating a route to sidestep Whitehall’s seasonal diversions and ceremonies Maureen McCarthy will explore these memorials and their significance.

Meet: Westminster Central Hall, Storey’s Gate, in the café. (Nearest Underground stations: St James’s Park or Westminster. Both are about 3

minutes away but the route from St James’s Park is easier.) Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 2 hours ) (20 places) Fee: £10 The walk finishes at Trafalgar Square.

Monday 12 November 185. Museum of Fulham Palace The site of the Palace was first acquired by Bishop Waldere around 700AD and continued as a residence of the Bishops of London until 1973. The present Grade I listed building forms a fascinating mixture of architectural styles - the Tudor Courtyard with its mellow brick - the restrained elegance of the Georgian East Front - the Tudor Revival Victorian Chapel. Weather permitting, the tour starts outside, looking at the history of the buildings and the gardens. It continues with a visit to the Great Hall, Chapel, Bishop Sherlock's Room, the Terrick Rooms and the Drawing Room, ending with a visit to the Museum.

Meet: Museum of Fulham Palace, Bishop's Avenue, SW6 6EA (Nearest Underground station: Putney Bridge, then a 15 minute walk through Bishop's

Park, beside the cycle path.) Time: 11.30am (Likely duration 1½-2 hours ) (25 places) Fee: £8 There is a café.

Tuesday 13 November 186. The Garrick Club This famous club was founded in 1831 and named after the great 18 th century actor, David Garrick. It possesses a remarkable collection of theatrical paintings and memorabilia. Frances Hughes, an expert in art and theatre history, will show us round and point out the highlights in all the main rooms. Coffee will be served in the Morning Room and the tour ends in the Library which houses a rich historical collection.

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Meet: The Garrick Club, 15 Garrick Street, London WC2E 9AY (Nearest Underground stations: Covent Garden or Leicester Square) Time: 10.00am (Likely duration 2 hours ) (25 places) Fee: £15 There are several internal staircases. Please wear flat shoes. No cameras are permitted.

Thursday 15 November 187. The Puppet Theatre Barge It started as a touring company called Movingstage in 1978, specialising in Marionette theatre. After several years of touring the UK and the world, the company acquired and converted a 72 foot-long Thames lighter into a permanent puppet theatre. The stage was specially designed to put on shows using string marionettes, and the seating raked to ensure a good view from every seat. For the first few years, the company's Puppet Theatre Barge was based in Camden Lock and toured the Grand Union Canal in the summer. In 1986 it moved its winter base to Little Venice, and each summer went on the River Thames, sometimes as far as Oxford. We shall hear more about its history which will be followed by a demonstration of various types of puppet.

Meet: The Puppet Theatre Barge, Little Venice, opposite 36 Blomfield Road, W9 2PF (Nearest Underground station: Warwick Avenue) Time: (Likely duration 1½ hours ) (20 places) Fee: £8 There are public toilets in Rembrandt Gardens close to the Barge. There is a toilet on board for emergency use only. Coffee, tea, fruit juices and biscuit bars can be purchased on the Barge.

Friday 16 November 188. St. Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey The church was built in the latter part of the eleventh century and was dedicated to St. Margaret of Antioch, a third century martyr. St Margaret's is proud to be known as ‘the parish church of Parliament’, and after each general election a special service is held there to mark the re-opening of Parliament. We shall learn from the Verger more about its history and after the talk we shall be able to look around the church independently.

Meet: St. Margaret's Church, St. Margaret's Street, SW1P 3PA (Nearest Underground stations: Westminster or St James’s Park. Buses: 11, 24, 159,

211) Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1 hour ) (20 places) Fee: £5

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Saturday 17 November 189. Kirkaldy Testing Museum 99 Southwark Street was purpose-built to house David Kirkaldy's huge all- purpose testing machine, workshops, laboratory, offices and museum. We shall begin the visit with a short video, followed by a tour of the Museum.

Meet: Kirkaldy Testing Museum, 99 Southwark Street, SE1 0JF (Nearest Underground station: Southwark) Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1½ hours ) (20 places) Fee: £5 Some of the machinery is oily and greasy. The floors are uneven and the tour is not recommended for anyone who is unsteady on their feet. There are no toilets.

Monday 19 November 190. Benjamin Franklin House It was opened to the public for the first time on Franklin's 300 th birthday in January 2006, and has been brought back to its eighteenth century lustre as a museum and educational facility. Dr. Benjamin Franklin - scientist, diplomat, philosopher, inventor and Founding Father - lived there between 1757 and 1775. During this period his main occupation as a colonial agent was mediating unrest between Britain and America. The house was built circa 1730, and the work-a-day Georgian building holds a Grade I architectural listing for its extensive original features, including fourteen fireplaces, ceilings, panelling, shutters, floors and a central staircase which Franklin claimed to use for daily exercise. In his words - "Faith is then the ground floor, hope is up one pair of stairs". During our tour we shall learn more about the work he did during his London tenure, all the while forging a hearty social life and close friendships with leading figures of the day.

Meet: Benjamin Franklin House, 36 Craven Street, WC2N 5NF (Nearest Underground stations: Charing Cross or Embankment) Time: 11.45am for noon start (Likely duration 1 hour ) (15 places) Fee: £6 Access is limited for those with mobility needs. There are three flights of stairs and the floors and stairs are uneven in places. There are also few seats available in each room.

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Tuesday 20 November 191. Pub Lunch at The Cittie of Yorke The Cittie of Yorke is a grade II listed public house on High Holborn. The current building is a rebuilding of the 1920s incarnation; the previous buildings on this site have been pubs since 1430. Some features include the Hennekey's long bar located in the grand hall-like back room, a late-Georgian or Regency era triangular metal stove, and Victorian-style cubicles. The Welsh poet Dylan Thomas penned an impromptu ode to the pub when it was called Henneky's Long Bar. The top of the poem reads "This little song was written in Henneky's Long Bar High Holborn by Dylan Thomas in 1951."

Meet: The Cittie of Yorke, 22, High Holborn. WC1V 6BN (Nearest Underground station: Chancery Lane) 1.00pm (Likely duration 1½ Fee: Payment made individually at Time: hours ) (15 places) the bar. This event is not bookable via the website or the postal forms. See page 47 to obtain details from Arthur Fordham.

Wednesday 21 November 192. LAS History 2 See event number 168 for full details.

Meet: 109 Chatsworth Road, Willesden Green, NW2 4BH (Nearest stations: Willesden Green (Jubilee) Brondesbury or Brondesbury Park

(Overground) Bus:98 (Deerhurst Road stop) Time: 2.15pm (Likely duration 1½-2 hours ) (16 places) Fee: see event 168 Refreshments will be provided.

Thursday 22 November 193. Explore Stoke Newington Blue Badge Guide Tim Kidd will lead a 90 minute walk along Church Street explaining its links with Daniel Defoe, why the Town Hall still has WW2 camouflage paint on it, why the enormous parish church by Sir George Gilbert Scott had to be built, and the story of Clissold Park. This walk stands alone but it also complements very neatly the walk through Abney Park Cemetery on 3 October

Meet: Stoke Newington Church Street, eastern end, between The Three Crowns pub and La Duchesse Coffee shop. (Church Street is about 10 minute walk from Stoke Newington Station. 73, 276, 393

and 476 buses stop at the Town Hall in Church Street.) Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1½ -2 hours ) (20 places) Fee: £10

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Thursday 22 November 194. Met Collection Police Heritage Centre The collection started in 1945 when the Chief Superintendent of Bow Street decided to mark the bicentenary of the Bow Street Runners and, in an article in The Times, appealed to the public for suitable donations. Sufficient donations were made to mount an exhibition, and as the collection continued to grow, a suitable place was found in 2009 for a permanent exhibition at Empress State Building where the artefacts could be displayed to the public. Inside is a small sample of the history of the MPS - uniforms, medals, truncheons, photographs and old records, one example being a complete set of Police Orders from 1857- 1990. There are records relating to all police officers from 1829 including warrant number 1 to the present day. There is even a set of tiger claws. The tour will focus on two centres - The Wild Life Crime Unit and about the general history of the Met.

Meet: Heritage Centre, The Annexe, Empress State Building, Lillie Road, SW6 1TR (Nearest station: West Brompton. (District & Overground) Cross the road and turn

left. The entrance is by the bus station.) Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1 hour ) (15 places) Fee: £5 A repeat of the event on 9 November.

Friday 23 November 195. The Royal Courts of Justice The Courts, designed by George Street, were opened by Queen Victoria in 1882 and became the then permanent home of the Supreme Court. This consisted of two courts: the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal. During our tour we shall hear more about the art, architecture, history and the working of the Courts.

Meet: Inside the main hall reception area, The Royal Courts of Justice The Strand, WC2 (Nearest Underground station: Temple. Buses 4, 11, 15, 23, 26, 76, 341 stop outside.) Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1½-2 hours ) (30 places) Fee: £10 There are several staircases to be negotiated. Wheelchair users can be accommodated. Photography is not permitted inside.

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Saturday 24 November 196. LAS Walkers: Exploring the Capital Ring This event is not bookable. Please turn to page 47 for further information.

Time: 10.30am

Monday 26 November 197. Lambeth Palace Library It is the historic library and record office of the Archbishops of Canterbury, and the principal repository of the documentary history of the Church of England. Its collections have been made available for research since 1610. The records date from the 9 th century and their scope reflects the office of Archbishop as head of the Province of Canterbury, his national and international roles in leading the Church of England and the Anglican Communion worldwide, and the wealth and power of Archbishops in past centuries which enabled them to collect books and manuscripts of the highest quality and significance. James I described the Library as 'a monument of fame' in his kingdom. Peter the Great, who visited in 1698, is recorded as saying that nothing in England astonished him as much as Lambeth Palace Library; he had never thought there were so many books in all the world. During our tour we shall learn more about its history.

Meet: Lambeth Palace Library, Lambeth Palace Road, SE1 7JU (Nearest rail stations: Vauxhall (Victoria line) or Waterloo, then a 15 minute walk. By

Lambeth Bridge.) Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1½-2 hours ) (30 places) Fee: £5 There are winding steps to the Conservation studio.

Tuesday 27 November 198. Guildhall Library It is the Library of London history, the largest library collection in the world devoted to the history of a single city. It holds printed and manuscript resources from the 15 th to 21 st centuries on all aspects of life in London, past and present, and on national, local and social history. Our visit will include a short introduction to its history and a look at some material from its special collections followed by a tour of the reading room and printed book store.

Meet: Guildhall Library, Aldermanbury, EC2V 7HH (Nearest Underground stations: Moorgate (Exit 9), Bank (Exit 9) or St. Paul's) Time: 2.00pm (Likely duration 1½ hours ) (15 places) Fee: £5

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Tuesday 27 November 199. Armistice: Voice and verse: a tribute in words, music and imagery Lance Pierson, Belinda Yates and Heather Chamberlain return to mark the 100 th anniversary of the end of the First World War. The trio present the conflicts stirring music and poetry, as well as eyewitness accounts. The performance reflects the changing mood back home as well as the experiences of those on the front line. The songs include Take Me Back to Dear Old Blighty, Keep the Home Fires Burning and Oh, It’s a Lovely War. And there are poems by Rudyard Kipling, Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon among others.

Meet: Art Workers’ Guild, 6 Queen Square, WC1N 3AT (Nearest Underground stations: Holborn, Russell Square. Many buses stop nearby) Time: 2.30pm (Likely duration 1½ hours ) (90 places) Fee: £12 Bookings may be made for members' guests. Tea and biscuits will be served after the talk.

Thursday 29 November 200. St. Bride Printing Library Opened in 1895 as a technical library, it was from the beginning one of the great collections of the historical literature of printing. Since 1992 it has built on its internationally-recognised position as the world's foremost printing and graphic arts library. During our tour with Journeyman Compositor, Nick Clayton, we shall learn more about its history and the work it does.

Meet: St. Bride Printing Library, Bride Lane, Fleet Street, EC4Y 8EE (Nearest station: City Thameslink; Blackfriars and St. Paul's are close. Buses: 4, 11,

15, 26, 45, 63, 76 & 172 pass nearby.) Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1-1½ hours ) (20 places) Fee: £20 Climb the flight of steps outside the building from Bride Lane to the Institute's main entrance in Bride Passage. There is step-free access to Bride Passage via Fleet Street and Salisbury Court.

Thursday 29 November 201. Meet & Chat: The Ledger Building This event is not bookable, just turn up at The Ledger Building (a Wetherspoon's Pub) a few doors away from the Docklands Museum for a coffee or drink. Those who wish can have lunch. Prices are reasonable and everyone orders and pays for their own refreshments.

Meet: The Ledger Bu ilding (a few doors from the Docklands Museum) 4 Hertsmere Rd Poplar E14 4AL (Nearest station West India Quay/Canary Wharf) Time: 11.15am (Likely duration: Flexible)

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Friday 30 November 202. Mall Galleries - Federation of British Artists The Federation is an incorporated charity founded in 1961 to promote the visual arts in Britain. One of its activities is its commissioning service, encouraging business, industry, national institutions and members of the public to commission or buy works of art by living students. We shall hear more about the history and work of the Federation, and then be able to view the current exhibition.

Meet: Mall Galleries, The Mall, SW1 (Nearest station: Charing Cross. At the Trafalgar Square end of the Mall Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1-1½ hours ) (25 places) Fee: £3 See event number 180. There is a café located in the main gallery space.

Sunday 2 December 203. Advent Carol Service at the Tower of London The Chaplain, the Reverend Canon Roger Hall MBS has invited us to take part in this beautiful service at the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula, inside the precincts of the Tower of London. The choir is superb, and this is a rare opportunity to see inside this fine church, the last resting place of many famous Tower residents. There will be a collection for charity during the service. After the service you will be able to stroll in the Tower grounds.

Meet: Outside main gate to Tower of London, in the pedestrian part of Tower Hill. (Nearest stations: Tower Hill or Tower Gateway) Time: 10.30am for 11.00 am service (Likely duration 1 hour ) (30 places) Fee: £5

Tuesday 4 December 204. Billingsgate Roman House and Baths The remains were first discovered in 1848 and more fully revealed in several additional phases of excavation, showing a modest bath house preserved within the courtyard of a much larger structure, possibly an inn. In the late 2 nd century the building would have had a waterfront location with easy access to the river. We can see the remains of the east wing with its underfloor heating and the bath house. During our private tour, our City of London guide will explain the importance of the house as one of the few recorded Roman buildings continuing in use in London until the 5 th century. (Meeting details over the page)

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Meet: Billingsgate Roman House and Baths, 101 Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6DL (Nearest Underground station: Monument. Head towards the Monument itself. Follow Monument Street down to Lower Thames Street and turn left. Number 101 is 60 yards on the left.) Time: 2.00pm (Likely duration 1 hour ) (25 places) Fee: £12 There is no café at the Baths but there are pubs and coffee shops near Monument station.

Wednesday 5 December 205. The Postal Museum and Train Ride The main museum collection spans five centuries of history, covering everything from ground breaking design and quirky technology to the intimacy of personal letters. There is a film of the trains which lay disused and derelict for almost 20 years and other P.O. films e.g. The Night Mail. The rail ride is separate from this exhibition and is across the road, and downhill. For the ride itself, which lasts 20 minutes, all bags are held in lockers. The museum points out that the trains are very small and those who suffer from claustrophobia or have access difficulties should be aware of this. There is also an exhibition about the trains on the station platform.

Meet: The Postal Museum, 15 - 20 Phoenix Place, London WC1X 0DA The Museum is in two buildings, one on each side of Phoenix Place. Meet in or near the café in the main exhibition building on the west side of the road, where your tour leader will distribute tickets for the train ride. (Phoenix Place is off Calthorpe Street which runs between Farringdon Road & Gray's Inn Road. Many buses pass along these two roads and Rosebery Avenue; Bus 63 runs from near Farringdon Station.) Time: 2.30pm (Likely duration 2 hours ) (20 places) Fee: £14 There is a café with fresh, uncomplicated food at the main museum.

Friday 7 December 206. The Borough Until the 18 th century London Bridge was the only connection between the south bank of the Thames and the City of London. It follows that Borough High Street, which leads directly to the Bridge, has a history as old and as fascinating as the City itself. On this walk with Gillian Blachford we shall crisscross the street to find evidence of its rich history, some in plain sight and some hidden away in the lanes and alleyways which lie behind the noise and bustle of the main highway.

Meet: Borough Underground station Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1½-2 hours ) (20 places) Fee: £10

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Monday 10 December 207. Festive Footsteps Get into the festive mood by joining Helen Coleman for a leisurely stroll through the West End as it prepares for Christmas. Pause at two churches with special Christmas connections and enjoy the lights in Regent Street. Choose a suit in Savile Row, goggle at Fortnum and Mason’s special Christmas display and marvel at the splendid Norwegian Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square.

Meet: Outside Amba Hotel (the former Charing Cross Hotel) in the forecourt of Charing Cross station. Time: 3.00pm (Likely duration 1½-2 hours ) (20 places) Fee: £10

Tuesday 11 December 208. Underground Cathedrals: The Architecture of the Jubilee Line Extension The Jubilee Line extension launched a new era in London’s traffic infrastructure, six entirely new stations and five remodelled, each with its own architect. John Morgan will lead this exploratory journey from Westminster to North Greenwich. You will need a Freedom Pass, Oyster Card, Travelcard or Contactless payment card. As we shall also be looking at the exteriors of stations please be aware there will be some steps to climb.

Meet: Westminster Underground station, outside W. H. Smith’s in the main concourse Time: 11.00am (Likely duration 1½-2 hours ) (20 places) Fee: £10 There are pay toilets at the station, or free toilets and a café at Westminster Central Hall, 200-300 yards from the station.

Thursday 13 December 209. Christmas Lunch After a cheerful, convivial lunch last year we are going again to The Ledger for our Christmas lunch. It’s a few yards past the Docklands Museum, and the Ledger Building was where they kept the paper work for all the cargoes arriving in the West India Dock. Its loos alone are worth a visit!

Meet: The Ledger Building, 4 Hertsmere Road, London, E14 4AL (Nearest stations: West India Quay (DLR) or Canary Wharf (Jubilee) Time: 12.30pm (Likely duration 2 - 3 hours ) (60 places) Fee: £25 Bookings may be made for members' guests. Cost includes a welcoming glass of wine or soft drink, coffee and tips. We will need to pre- order from a menu which will be circulated later.

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Wednesday 19 December 210. One Holborn Man Murders Another Two centuries ago one of the country’s more obscure Prime Ministers achieved instant fame as the only Prime Minister to be assassinated. Local historian Lester Hillman will explore this remarkable incident and its local connections.

Meet: Art Workers’ Guild, 6 Queen Square, WC1N 3AT (Nearest Underground stations: Holborn, Russell Square. Many buses stop nearby.) Time: 2.30pm (Likely duration 1½ hours ) (90 places) Fee: £12 Bookings may be made for members' guests.

LAS WALKERS 2018

The Capital Ring

This autumn LAS Walkers are embarking on a new project, the Capital Ring. The Capital Ring is an amazing circular walk round London, about 75 miles altogether, much of it along waterside or through about 50 green spaces.

LAS Walkers will tackle the Capital Ring in about 15 or 16 easy stages usually on the last Saturday in each month, so please reserve 1 September, 29 September, 27 October and 24 November. We usually meet at a station at 10.30, walk for a couple of hours, break for lunch, and end the walk at another station by mid-afternoon.

Each walk is self-contained and new members are always welcome. Do join us whenever you can. You will get clear notes about the arrangements for each walk once you have registered your interest. We’re a friendly group and you will be amazed how open and interesting London is.

For further details about each walk please contact:

John and Margaret Mann 109 Chatsworth Road London NW2 4BH 0208 459 5419 [email protected]

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PUB LUNCHES

We are proposing to lunch at a pub on the following dates:

18 September at The Old Bank of England – see Event 134

20 November at The Cittie of Yorke – see Event 191

Payment is made individually at the bar.

If you are interested, please contact me on 01708 749594 or email at [email protected] and I will give you more details about the arrangements.

Arthur Fordham

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SOME LONDON EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS YOU MAY WISH TO ATTEND

You may meet kindred spirits if you go to an event in good time and carry your Blue Book prominently. For some events the exact dates and times were not available when we went to press, but when possible these notes include contact telephone numbers or email addresses.

CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

September 2018 The Mayor’s Thames Festival: Totally Thames Thames Waterside This annual Festival includes scores of events along the London Thames. Some of these events are included in the list below. Further details from www.thamesfestival.org or [email protected] or 020 7928 8998

Until 23 September Aftermath: Art in the Wake of World War One Tate Britain

Until 30 September: Tours of the State Rooms Buckingham Palace

Until 30 September: London Wonderground Jubilee Gardens, South Bank Festival of cabaret, music, circus and oddities

Until 28 October Roman Dead: Burial and Belief in Roman London includes recent finds such as Roman artefacts and skeletons and a sarcophagus Museum of Docklands

Until 11 November London Nights: City after dark from photos Museum of London

Until 6 January 2019: Votes for Women Museum of London

Ongoing

NLA, Building Centre 66 Store Street WC1E 7BT Transforming the Boroughs: what’s happening in your own patch and a fascinating interactive model of Central London.

Beyond Documentary: Experimental Photography in London 1976-2006 Museum of London

Diana: her Fashion Story a display which changes from time to time Kensington Palace

EVENTS

Sunday 26 to Monday 27 August: Carnival Notting Hill

Saturday 8 September: Great River Race Millwall to Ham 300 boats row 21+ miles. Riverside festivities at Richmond from noon

Saturday 8 September: Proms in the Park Hyde Park 5.00 pm: BBC’s rousing alternative to the Last Night of the Proms: £20 concessions

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Sunday 9 September: Angel Canal Festival next to City Road Lock 11am-5pm, details from [email protected] or 0121 244 5439

Sunday 9 September: Fire Fighters’ Remembrance Service St Sepulchre After a service at 12.15 at St Sepulchre-without-Newgate, Holborn Viaduct, Fire Fighters process to the Memorial at Carter Lane Gardens EC4M 8BX for their Wreath Laying Ceremony at about 1.50pm. More from www.firefightersmemorial.co.uk

Saturday 15 September: Bermondsey Street Festival Bermondsey Square Annual festival from 11am. More from www.bermondseyfestival.org.uk

15-23 September: London Design Festival Victoria and Albert Museum etc Almost 400 events in venues across London

Sunday 16 September: London Duathlon Richmond Park Starting at intervals from 8.45am various races all involving a mix of running and cycling. Best viewing from Richmond Gate. More at [email protected]

Friday 21 September: Christ’s Hospital School St Andrew’s Holborn to Guildhall On St Matthew’s Day uniformed pupils and their band process from St Andrews to Guildhall. Phone 01403 211 292 for more details

Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 September: Darbar Festival Southbank Centre The best of Indian classical music, Indian street food, beer and cocktails

Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 September: Open House Many venues across London Full details and advance booking for some houses from www.londonopenhouse.org.uk

Sunday 23 September: Great Gorilla Run Mincing Lane to Tower Bridge Hundreds of people in gorilla suits run to raise funds to protect this endangered species. 10.30 from London Underwriters Centre off Mincing Lane, through City to Tower Bridge and back

Sunday 23 September: Horseman’s Sunday St John’s Church Hyde Park From 11.30 about 100 riders and their horses, some in fashionable 18C riding kit gather outside St John’s Church, Hyde Park Crescent, ready for the service at noon. More details from www.stjohns-hydepark.com

Sunday 30 September: Worshipful Company of Woolmen: Sheep Drive London Bridge City Freemen assemble from 11am to drive sheep across London Bridge, an annual privilege.

Sunday 30 September: Pearly Costermongers Harvest Festival Guildhall to St Mary le Bow. The Pearly Costermongers assemble at Guildhall from 1pm and leave at about 2pm to parade along Gresham Street, Princes Street and Cheapside for a service at 3pm at St Mary le Bow. Marching bands, donkeys, and lots of glitter. More from www.pearlysociety.co.uk

1-31 October: Restaurant Festival Across London Look out for foodie events and special menus. Try the Gourmet Odyssey or the Tapas Tour

October Fishmongers’ Festival [date to be confirmed] St Mary at Hill

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October: Harvest of the Bakers [date to be confirmed] St Mary at Hill Try [email protected] or www.stmary-athill.org.events for more details

October Wine Harvest [date to be confirmed] St Olave’s Hart Street The Vintners and Distillers celebrate the wine harvest. More details from 020 7388 4318 or sanctuaryinthecity@me,com

October: Painter-Stainers’ Procession [check date] St James Garlickhythe Try www.stmarygarlickhythe.org or 020 7236 1719 for more details

Tuesday 2 and Wednesday 3 October: RHS Harvest Festival RHS, Elverton Street Free. Details from 0845 260 5000 or [email protected]

Thursday 4 October: Ceremony of the Quit Rents and Services: Royal Courts of Justice Eight centuries old, this is probably the City’s oldest ceremony. The Corporation of London presents to the Queen’s Remembrancer a blunt knife and a sharp one as rent for some land in Shropshire, and six horseshoes and 61 nails as rent for the forge in St Clement’s Danes. Details from 020 7947 8877

Sunday 7 October: Harvest of the Sea Service St Martin in the Fields The Pearly Kings Harvest Festival when fish is displayed in the church porch from 10am until 2pm and given to a charity after the service. More from 020 7766 1100

Friday 13 to Saturday 14 October: Chocolate Show Olympia West The climax of Chocolate Week. Admission £12.50, but there are great deals

Sunday 14 October: Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon Hyde Park Starts Hyde Park, via Buckingham Palace, Houses of Parliament, Blackfriars Bridge, and back, Wellington Arch, Green Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Royal Albert Hall, to Hyde Park again. Also Brakes Food and Fitness Festival in Hyde Park from 8am-4pm

Thursday 18 October: Lion Sermon St Katharine Cree, Leadenhall St This annual sermon, at 1pm, commemorates the founder of the Levant Company, Lord Mayor Sir John Gaynor who prayed when a lion circled him. It did not attack him, and disappeared. All are welcome and there are refreshments. Details from 020 7488 4318

Sunday 21 October Trafalgar Commemoration On Trafalgar Day, 21 October, wreaths are laid at Nelson’s tomb in St Paul’s and on board the Victory at Portsmouth. At 11am on Sunday Sea Cadets put on a display in Trafalgar Square before marching to Wellington Barracks in Birdcage Walk. Meet on National Gallery steps from 10.30. Details from www.sea-cadets.org.uk Sunday 21 October October Plenty October Plenty is an Autumn harvest celebration held annually in Southwark. Beginning by Shakespeare's Globe, October Plenty mixes ancient seasonal customs and theatre with contemporary festivity, joining with historic Borough Market, Southwark and Borough Market's Apple Day.

Wednesday 24 October: Basket Makers Procession St Margaret Pattens More details from www.clerkbasketmakersco.org or phone 02392210923

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Sunday 28 October: Diwali Festival Trafalgar Square Floating lanterns, light displays, dance and story telling. More from www.diwalilondon.com

Monday 29 October to Sunday 4 November: Spirit of Christmas Fair Olympia Do all your Christmas shopping under one roof?

Saturday 3 November: Motor Show Regent Street Regent Street is closed from Piccadilly to Oxford Circus on the day before the Veteran Car Run to provide an opportunity to see, at no cost, 300 cars spanning 125 years

Sunday 4 November: London to Brighton Veteran Car Run Apsley Gate, Hyde Park About 500 cars set off at dawn [7am]. More details from www.veterancarrun.com

Sunday 4 November: Submariners Parade and Service Victoria Embankment Submariners leave HMS President at 10.50 for a service at the Middle Temple at 11am

Monday 5 November: Bonfire Night Victoria and Battersea Parks, Southwark, Alexandra Palace Pyrotechnics all over London, notably in some of the parks and on the South Bank

Thursday 8 November: Royal British Legion Garden of Remembrance St Paul’s Service at 11am in St Paul’s Cathedral churchyard. Details from 0808 802 8080 or [email protected] rg.uk

Friday 9 November: Installation of the Lord Mayor of London Guildhall Past and present notables lunch at the Mansion House and then process to Guildhall for the formal installation. The ceremony at 3pm is open to the public by ticket obtainable from the Remembrancer’s Office, City of London, Guildhall, EC2P 2EJ

Saturday 10 November: Lord Mayor’s Show Mansion House to Royal Courts of Justice At 11am the Lord Mayor in his State Coach accompanied by bodyguards in medieval costume, joins acrobats, marching bands and colourful floats in a procession to the Royal Courts of Justice where he swears loyalty to the sovereign. Later there is a spectacular firework display at 6pm. Best views from St Gabriel’s Wharf and the Embankment.

Sunday 11 November: Remembrance in the City St Paul’s Cathedral The Lord Mayor and City Aldermen attend a remembrance service, open to the public, at 10.15. After the service at about 11.30 there is a wreath laying ceremony at Royal Exchange with the band of the Honourable Artillery Company and Royal British Legion standard bearers. Details from www.britishlegion.org.uk

Sunday 11 November: Remembrance at the Cenotaph Whitehall Remembrance Service at 11am

Wednesday 21 November: Festival of St Cecilia St Paul’s Cathedral The choirs of St Paul’s, Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral join each year to support the Musicians Union’s charitable work. A service at 11am is preceded by a procession representing many of the Livery Companies and is followed by a lunch at the Banqueting Hall, Whitehall. Details from [email protected] or 020 7239 9100

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Late November to January 2016: Winter Wonderland Hyde Park Fairground, circus, ice rink, and Christmas market transform the Park. For better, or worse?

Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 November: Christmas Fair Chelsea Physic Garden 10am to 4pm Jewellery, clothes, pottery, handmade chocolates etc.etc. Hot breakfasts and seasonal treats in the cafe. Details from www.chelseaphysicgarden or 020 7349 6465

Sunday 2 December: London Santa Run Battersea Park At 10am a fun run in Santa costumes to raise funds to help disabled people take part in winter sports. The £20 fee buys a Santa suit for the runner. Details: www.209events.com/index.phc

6 December to January: Christmas Tree Trafalgar Square Norway’s annual thank you for the help Britain gave Norway in WW2. Carols under the tree every evening until Christmas

Saturday 8 December: Great Christmas Pudding Race Covent Garden About 150 entrants race around a course strewn with balloons, foam jets and other obstacles while trying to balance a Christmas pudding on a flimsy plate. Details from www.xmaspuddingrace.org.uk or 07900 680 653

31 December: New Year’s Eve Fireworks South Bank and elsewhere

For Up To Date News on Exhibitions, Events, and Activities www.londontown.com/LondonEvents up to date information on a wide range of activities, including many of the events mentioned above. www.visitlondon.com the official visitors guide to what’s on www.cityevents.co.uk includes details of recitals and concerts in City of London churches www.london-footprints.co.uk details of over 60 walks in and around London www.ianvisits.co.uk a weekly list of things to do in London

Bishopsgate Institute: for courses, talks and walks about the East End. Details from [email protected] or 020 7392 9200

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