THE SOCIETY OF LONDONERS

Events programme spring/summer 2016 May

© Old Operating Theatre & Herb Garret X-ray revealing melted padlock and key from the Great Fire of 1666 © Museum of London Private tour and drinks reception: Drinks reception: The Old Operating Theatre and Fire! Fire! Object preview Herb Garret Wednesday 25 May Tuesday 17 May 6-7.30pm 6.15-7.30pm Museum of London 9a St Thomas Street 150 London Wall London SE1 9RY London EC2Y 5HN

Hidden in the roof space of an English Baroque Behind closed doors at the Museum of London, Church, the Old Operating Theatre and Herb objects from the Great Fire of 1666 are being Garret are the oldest examples of their kind in prepared and restored for the sensational Europe. Originally part of St Thomas’ Hospital, upcoming exhibition, Fire! Fire! This private, their entrances were blocked up in 1862 and curator-led evening reception will offer a forgotten about until almost 100 years later. The chance to hear about the exhibition design, evening will begin with a drinks reception followed view the architectural models and visit the by a private guided tour, accompanied by a conservation studio to see some of the molten curator’s talk on Victorian surgery. artefacts that survived the fire.

Limited to 15 people Limited to 15 people FREE to the Society of Londoners; £15 for their guests FREE to the Society of Londoners and their guests RSVP essential RSVP essential June

Yinka Shonibare MBE © All England Lawn Tennis Club

Living Londoners: Private guided tour: Yinka Shonibare MBE Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Club Wednesday 8 June Saturday 11 June 5-6pm 11am – 12.30pm Sunbury House, 1 Andrews Road Church Road London E8 4QL London SW19 5AE

The first in the Society of Londoners’ new Living With exclusive access to the Players’ Room, the Londoners talks programme, Yinka Shonibare Broadcast Centre and the Media Interview Room, MBE invites us to his studio to discuss how living this private guided tour goes behind-the-scenes in the capital influences his work. Shortlisted at Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Club, just two weeks for the Turner Prize in 2004, Yinka has exhibited before the 2016 Championships begin. Other more internationally at leading museums and galleries. iconic spots such as Centre Court and No. 1 Court He produced the first commissioned public art will also be included in the tour, followed by an work for the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square and opportunity to visit the club’s museum. was elected a Royal Academician in 2013. The visit includes a drinks reception and a chance to see Yinka’s Guest Projects space. Limited to 20 people FREE to the Society of Londoners; £20 for their guests RSVP essential Limited to 20 people FREE to the Society of Londoners; £20 for their guests RSVP essential June

© London Transport Museum © Patrick Baty

Private guided visit: Private guided tour: Aldwych Underground Station Lancaster House Monday 20 June Friday 24 June* 6-7pm 1.30-3pm 171 Strand Stable Yard London WC2R 1EP London SW1A 1BB

Opened to the public in 1907, Aldwych One of the few surviving great London townhouses, Underground station was never as heavily used as Lancaster House remains magnificently preserved originally intended and closed in 1994. The station and steeped in political history. Commissioned has had a varied history; it provided shelter to in 1825 by the ‘grand old’ Duke of York, the house Londoners during the Blitz and has been used for is now owned by the Foreign & Commonwealth film and TV shoots including Sherlock, Mr Selfridge Office and closed to the public. This private and Atonement. Visit the ticket hall, the original tour provides a rare chance to view the ornate lifts, abandoned platforms and tunnels, and grandeur of the house’s interiors and to learn inter-connecting walkways – many of which have about its various owners over the centuries. very rarely been seen by the public. *Due to the Government’s use of the building, there is a Access to the platform is by staircase only and there is no small chance that this date may change. working lift in operation. 160 steps connect the ticket hall level to the platform level – there is no step-free access. Limited to 20 people FREE to the Society of Londoners; £25 for their guests Limited to 15 people RSVP essential FREE to the Society of Londoners; £20 for their guests RSVP essential July

Blythe House © Alamy

Private guided visit: Private view: Blythe House The at the Tuesday 5 July 10-11.30am Wednesday 13 July 23 Blythe Road 8.15-10am London W14 0QX Tower of London London EC3N 4AB

Originally built as the headquarters of the Post Please meet at the West Gate. Office Savings Bank, Blythe House was purchased by the Government in 1963 and has since housed the stores and archives of the Science, British and View the world’s most magnificent and valuable Victoria & Albert Museums. Usually inaccessible to collection of crowns, coronation regalia and jewels the public, this private visit offers a last chance to during this exclusive tour of the Tower of London’s view the fascinating stores of the Science Museum . Among the exhibits are the Cullinan before their impending move to a new site. I diamond (the first star of Africa), the largest and most famous top-quality cut diamond in the world, the extraordinary Koh-i-noor diamond and Limited to 15 people the legendary Stuart . The visit will be FREE to the Society of Londoners; £20 for their guests followed by a breakfast buffet. RSVP essential

Limited to 15 people FREE to the Society of Londoners; £25 for their guests RSVP essential Dates for your diary

The Society of Visionaries Luminaries Londoners

History Dinners Exhibition launch: Fire! Fire! Director’s Lunch Friday 15 July Friday 17 June As our closest group of supporters, 6.30-9.30pm 12-2.30pm we are delighted to invite you to Museum of London, Museum of London, spend time with our Chairman, 150 London Wall, EC2Y 5HN 150 London Wall, EC2Y 5HN Clive Bannister, at our quarterly

Discover London before, during A special lunch hosted by Director History Dinners. Explore historical and after the Great Fire of 1666 in Sharon Ament. Discussion will focus and contemporary perspectives an interactive exhibition marking on the short listed architectural with celebrated historians, engage the 350th anniversary of this proposals for the design of the in lively and entertaining debate, infamous disaster. new Museum of London in and enjoy a wonderful three- West Smithfield. Guests will be course meal within the fascinating surroundings of the museum’s invited to view the New Museum Annual Celebration: The Society exhibition with our Director of galleries. of Londoners’ Hidden Treasures Transformation, David Spence, Next dinner: before continuing the discussion Tuesday 13 September Tuesday 28 June during lunch in the Terrace Gallery. 6.30-9pm 7-10pm Museum of London, 150 London Open to Visionaries and Guest speaker: Wall, EC2Y 5HN Luminaries only Lord Jonathan Sumption Invitations to follow Join us for an evening of Open to Luminaries only celebration at our annual RSVP essential Invitations to follow event. Hear from our curators and discover items from our RSVP essential collections, previously not on display.

Invitations to follow RSVP essential

The Society of Londoners The Society of Londoners is a group of people whose annual gifts generously support the Museum of London. The Society of Londoners By joining the Society of Londoners you will embark on a scintillating Development Office journey that uncovers hidden London. You will have the chance to get Museum of London 150 London Wall to know our collections, meet our experts and explore our archives – London EC2Y 5HN from one of the largest costume collections in the country to the very DNA of Londoners stretching back 2000 years. 020 7814 5740 To find out more about joining The Society of Londoners, please contact: societyoflondoners@ Laura Archer, 020 7814 5505 museumoflondon.org.uk [email protected] museumoflondon.org.uk museumoflondon.org.uk