Welcome
The Society formed in 1985, saving from demolition, London's first public library in Great Smith Street
(above right).
We respond on behalf of residents and businesses to local planning applications. Our 350+ members
enjoy local visits & talks of historic and other interest, social events and an archive of books, prints, plans
and ephemera.
Parks: Our Shared Heritage - Exhibition
The Royal Parks present an exhibition in partnership with the Hearsum Collection and the Office of Public Works, Ireland
27 July - 11 August, 2017 at Mall Galleries, The Mall, London, SW1 Free of charge. For further details, please follow this link: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/be-involved/parks-our-shared-heritage
Spring/Summer 2017 Newsletter
Proposed memorial statue to Margaret Thatcher in Parliament Square
May 2017 - Our response to Westminster City Council
We acknowledges the significance of Lady Thatcher as the first female Prime Minister and the longest serving of the twentieth century, but we feel that the principle of leaving a ten-year gap between the death of a subject and the erection of a public memorial should in this case be adhered to. We note that the statue of Nelson Mandela was erected only six years after his death, but that should not set a precedent, especially as Mandela was an entirely uncontroversial figure, respected throughout the world. While Lady Thatcher was also widely respected it cannot be said that she was uncontroversial in this country. There is a strong case for the ten-year rule to be respected - there should be a decent interval before permanent statues are erected, especially when they are controversial enough to risk vandalism.
We also feel that the quality of the sculpture does not do justice either to the subject or the site. The understated and reverential character of the statue is disappointing given that the Churchill statue is so much more interesting. We understand that Lady Thatcher's daughter dislikes the statue.
For further details or to give your own comments to WCC, follow this link (CLICK HERE)
Consultation by WCC on Future Growth/Building Height
May 2017
Click here for details of the Consultation.
Although the 8 week Consultation period is officially over, you may share the views expressed in this open letter to WCC. If you would like to add your name, complete a short form at the end and click the SUBMIT button.
AN OPEN LETTER TO COUNCILLOR DANIEL ASTAIRE & WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL
Visits & Events 2017
To book events, please go to our Eventbrite page CLICK HERE.
If you do not wish to book online, please contact us and we will be happy to make a reservation.
Tuesday 11th July - Tour of St Margaret's Chuch, Westminster
Guided tour of this historic church built in the 11th Century for locals to pray without disturbing the monks in the Abbey. 6.30pm -
Tickets on sale £6pp
Tuesday 18th July - Tour of HM Treasury SOLD OUT!
Guided tour and history of this landmark building celebrating its 100th year in its present form. This tour includes a number of staircases 6.30pm - Tickets on sale £5pp
Thursday 14th September - Westminster Village Tree Walk
by Paul Akers, WCC Arboriculturist, start from the Archives at 6.30pm with refreshments - Tickets on sale £7pp
Tuesday 19th September - Tour of the Church of St James the Less, Pimlico
Although slightly outside our area, we could not resist a tour of this Grade 1 listed Gothic Revival Church, which was a favourite of Sir John Bejemin who campaigned successfully to save it. 6pm - Tickets on sale £6pp
Wednesday 15th November - AGM, followed by talk by Caroline Shenton on her new book "Mr Barry's War", sequal to "The Day Parliament Burned Down"
Grange Rochester Hotel 6.30pm - No booking required
Open Air Cinema in August
15th, 16th & 17th August. Please go to The Luna Cinema's website for further details and booking CLICK HERE
The Victoria Tower Gardens & The National Holocaust Memorial
27th April 2017 UPDATE! Due to the announcement of a general election, the Jury has had to be postponed. The London exhibition has also been postponed and will now take place at the V&A from Saturday 29th July until Tuesday 22nd August and the final decision will take place after this consultation period.
14th April 2017 Article in The Telegraph (Christopher Hope)
12th April 2017 Article on BBC website. See here
4th April 2017 It is thought that only a major issue like, traffic or security will stop this memorial in Victoria Tower Gardens. A decision on the chosen scheme will be made by NHMF jury in May. Still not too late to write to Sir Peter Bazalgetti, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please do!
2nd March 2017 30-40 local residents, interested parties and members of the House of Lords & Commons attended an exhibition in Westminster Hall of the 10 short-listed Architects submissions, followed by a meeting in the House of Lords chaired by Sir Peter Bazalgette of the Holocaust Memorial Foundation. With over 1,000.00 signatures on the petition now, the Foundation was left in no doubt of our opinions as to why this is the wrong site. READ MORE on the petition page.
More publicity for our cause, as it was featured in The Times on Saturday 25th February.
Read the article here http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/jewish-peer-criticises-holocaust-memorial-kwh3jjhfn.
9th February 2017 Sir Edward Leigh's adjournment debate in the House of Commons. Read Hansard transcript here.
PARK THREATENED !
To read more and SIGN THE PETITION - CLICK HERE
Here are some of the comments by those who signed CLICK HERE
5th February 2017 : Article in The Observer (Rowan Moore)
4th February 2017 : Article in The Guardian (Ian Jack)
27th January 2017 - On Holocaust Memorial Day, the Shortlist was announced. To view CLICK HERE
The organisers are requesting feedback so if you agree that another location should be found, please write to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
One of the submissions on the Shortlist :
Studio Libeskind and Haptic Architects
55 Broadway
UPDATE - APRIL 2017
Transport for London has decided not to sell its iconic headquarters at 55 Broadway for a luxury residential redevelopment. They will sell the building as an office investment via a sale-and-leaseback.
Thorney Tales (12) The Jerusalem Chamber
Westminster Abbey and its monastic surrounds have seen more great scenes of history than practically anywhere else but seldom more poignantly than the last visit of Henry IV. In 1413 Henry was on his way to the Holy Land in order to do penance for his misdeeds when he took ill, probably as a result of a stroke, while praying at the shrine of Saint Edward the Confessor in the Abbey.
He was carried unconscious to the Jerusalem Chamber in the Abbot's house and was seated by the fire. Much of the original stonework is still there as is the ceiling above and the walls behind the Victorian panelling. When he recovered his consciousness he asked where he was and was told the "Jerusalem Chamber". He realised then that he was about to end his life because of a prophecy mentioned in the Holinshed Chronicles that he would die in Jerusalem.
Shakespeare took the story further. In Henry IV Part 1, he allows Prince Henry, the future Henry V, to slip into the chamber and, believing his father to be dead, to try on the crown only for Henry lV to wake up in anger. Father and son, however, were soon reconciled and Henry IV realised that dying in this room fulfilled his destiny:
"It hath been prophesied to me many years,
I should not die but in Jerusalem,
Which vainly I suppos’d the Holy Land.
But bear me to that chamber, there I’ll lie,
In that Jerusalem shall Harry die."
The Jerusalem Chamber was also the place where the committee overlooking the writing of the beautifully written King James Bible met and where many celebrated people such as Isaac Newton were laid to rest before being buried in the Abbey. Today it is one of the private rooms of the Deanery - but it can be glimpsed from outside as it is the room above the Abbey bookshop adjacent to the main entrance. It is not open to the public except on certain open days but sometimes events and lectures are held there which are free to attend.