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.

Instagram Logo

Visit to Bonhams Auctioneers - May 2019

Our member Colin Sheaf, Deputy Chairman of Bonhams, gave a fascinating tour of the Bond Street salerooms and we viewed the beautiful objects in the upcoming sale of Fine Chinese Art. 

Colin, an international authority on Chinese art, explained how the Chinese have been creating works of art for 7,000 years - Before the Egyptians!  The three categories are:  That made for export to the West (a colourful pair of C18th goose terrines), that of archaeological significance (Tang horses for example) and that made for the imperial Chinese market of which we saw examples of beautiful porcelain, jadite and jade (jade having a spiritual significance).  The animal carvings were chosen for their ancient symbolic meaning and the colours ranging from 'spinach' green to pure white, semi-opaque. 

The highlight of the auction will be 'An exceptionally rare and large blue and white 'immortals' double-gourd vase', about 3ft high.  Colin explained that with the rise in the Chinese economy over the last 20 years and the emergence of more Chinese collectors, prices are always on the up!  A bowl with a green dragon embossed into the porcelain was valued between £10,000 and £15,000 but could well reach £200,000.  A very special priviledge visit and many thanks to our expert guide.

 Visit to Bonhams Auctioneers - May 2019

The Victoria Tower Gardens & The National Holocaust Memorial

UPDATE!   May 2019

Amendments to the planning application have been submitted to WCC.  We are in the process of responding and will post our comments shortly.

In the meantime, safety barriers displaying publicity have been put up in Victoria Tower Gardens around holes for geophysic and tree root examinations which display the Royal Parks logo when actually the Royal Parks objected to the scale and location of the memorial plus Learning Centre! 

On TV, 5 ex-prime ministers say it must be sited next to Parliament and never mention that the site chosen is a public riverside park.

 

 

ITS NOT TOO LATE TO RESPOND!

THE PLANNING APPLICATION IS NOW WITH WCC

Your comments and (hopefully) objections should be specific and can be made online (registration required) CLICK HERE
There is a lot of detail on the SVTG homepage, but we have identified a number of points and reference to at least two or three should be the basis of an objection.  Click READ MORE below
 
READ OUR OBJECTION LETTER - CLICK HERE


WE STRONGLY SUPPORT THE SAVE VICTORIA TOWER GARDENS CAMPAIGN. 

 

https://www.savevictoriatowergardens.co.uk/

Visit to Westminster Cathedral - May 2019

Many thanks to our guides John and Bernie and to the Cardinal Archbishop for the tour of this wonderful 'modern' Cathedral on Victoria Street.  Completed in 1903 in a neo-Byzantine style to be different from the Abbey and St Paul's, we were shown beautiful examples of Cosmati marble floors, Arts and Crafts carved furniture, lanterns copied from the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul and of course the famous mosiacs.  The views from the top of the Campanile tower were still wide reaching despite a grey day!

 

 Visit to Westminster Cathedral - May 2019

 

Visit to The Speakers House - April 2019

One of the delights of being a member of the Thorney Island Society is that we visit places that are not normally open to the public. On this memorable visit we we were shown around the hallowed crimson-tinted state rooms of the Speaker of the House of Commons. 

The walls are festooned with magnificent portraits of previous Speakers ranging from Lord Addington (the only one to be both Speaker and Prime Minister) to the present incumbent John Bercow who has broken with tradition by having an action/working portrait of himself in the Chair rather than a formal one in state robes.

Among the highlights were an impressive dining room and a magnificent bed which heirs to the throne have the right to sleep in before their Coronation if they so wish but which hasn’t been used since George lll, quite possibly because, as our guide discreetly pointed out, it is not ensuite. However, in the same room, a large standing mirror is used by the Queen when she dresses for the State Opening of Parliament.

These are formal state rooms in which the spirit of Pugin, who designed the interior, is apparent everywhere, though he never lived to see it for himself. The rooms can only be visited with the permission of the Speaker and his family actually live in separate accommodation upstairs. Our sincere thanks to the Speaker and his Trainbearer, our excellent guide Jim Davey.

 



Visit to The Speakers House - April 2019 

 

Visits & Events 2019

Our visits and events are open to all unless specified and we hope non-members will enjoy our programme and consider joining the Society.  To book and read further details, 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 your booking (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by post to 10 Old Pye Street, London SW1P 2DG)  A full description of visits is on our Events/Visits page.

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR WAITING LISTS WHERE SOLD OUT.

Wednesday 22nd May, 6pm      SORRY, SOLD OUT !   The Green Park Tree Walk with Royal Parks Arboriculturist Greg Packman - £15-£20pp

Sunday 16th June, 2pm            Tour of Methodist Central Hall including Organ Recital - £15-£20pp

Tuesday 25th June, 6.30pm      The Society's Summer Party, Grange Rochester Hotel - £14pp (Guests welcome)

Saturday 29th June, 11am        SORRY, SOLD OUT ! 'Gems of Thorney Island' - A Guided Local Walk by Victor Keegan - £15-£20pp

Thursday 18th July, 11am         Westminster Abbey Special Tour (Members Only) - £15pp

Saturday 27th July, 11am          'From Beer to the Bard' - A Guided Victoria Walk by Anthony Davis - £15-£20pp

Tuesday 6th August, 1.30pm     SORRY, SOLD OUT !  Tour of the Gardens of Buckingham Palace - £15pp (Members Only)

October date and time to be confirmed      Visit to the Palace of Westminster (Members Only)

Tuesday 12th November, 6.30pm      The Society's 33rd AGM and Talk, Grange Rochester Hotel (Guests welcome)

Tuesday 10th December, 6.30pm      The Society's Christmas Party and Raffle Draw, Grange Rochester Hotel - £14pp (Guests welcome)

 

 

Ann Carlton our Co-founder

With great sadness we report the death on the 9th March of Ann Carlton, who co-founded The Thorney Island Society with June Stubbs in 1985. Her funeral was held in Bury Port, Carmarthenshire on 30th March.  Please contact the Society if you would like to send condolences to her family.

 

Thorney Tales (17) Westminster Coke and Gas Company

In Great Peter Street, a stone’s throw from The Thorney Island Society’s archive up St Ann’s Lane, there is a plaque commemorating the site of the gasworks of the world’s first public supply of gas from coal.
 
This is only part of the story though. There were actually two huge gas holding tanks next to the company’s head office and the whole complex stretched from Great Peter Street to Horseferry Road. The Gas Light and Coke Company expanded rapidly eventually to become the company we know today as British Gas. 
 
It was all due to a German called Frederick Winsor (née Winzler) using disputed French patents.  On 4th June 1807 his carbonising furnace in Pall Mall dispatched gas along small pipes to illuminate gaslights in the nearby Carlton House, the home of the Prince Regent and a new industry was born.  
 
There had been instances of individual factories or houses using gas as a source of energy but these were one-offs. The kudos for creating widespread public lighting from a single central source must be given to Frederick Winsor.
 
In May 1808 he issued a prospectus to raise money which gives a clear idea of his project, “providing streets, squares, and houses with gaseous lights, by means of conducting tubes underground from distant furnaces, on the principles as houses are now supplied with water“.
 
The gaslights in Pall Mall burned brightly until recently when they were replaced as part of 'improvements' to the neighbourhood. But there are thousands of working gaslights in central London. The nearest ones are in and around St James’s Park.
 
Winsor died in Paris where he also worked and was buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery but he is remembered by Winsor Terrace near Beckton Gas Works in east London as well as the gas lights that still light up parts of central London to this day. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Duck Island Volunteer Project

ONGOING !  This exciting collaboration with St James's Park is calling for volunteers from TTIS to help restore and revitalise Duck Island. If you are interested in helping clear brambles and paths, raking and tidying the meadow area and lake edges, making log and deadwood piles, sorting and documenting artefacts in the barn or helping in the cottage garden, please get in touch to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or post us a note to TTIS, 10 Old Pye Street, SW1P 2DG.  We are currently working one Wednesday a month, from 10am to 2pm.  Please enquire for dates from now until August 2019.

IMG_0332IMG_0325

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring-Summer 2019 Newsletter

  1. Illuminated River
  2. Dolphin Square Redevelopment
  3. Townsend House, Greycoat Place
  4. Autumn-Winter 2018 Newsletter

In order to provide you with the best online experience this website uses cookies.

By using our website, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more

I agree