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.

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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 in 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.

 

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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.

Monday 29th April, 2.30pm       SORRY, SOLD OUT !   Visit to The Speaker's House, Palace of Westminster - £15pp (Members Only)

Thursday 9th May, 11.15am      Tour of Westminster Cathedral including Campanile Tower - £15-£20pp

Tuesday 14th May, 3pm             Bonhams Auctioneers, Fine Chinese Art Preview and Curator Tour - £15-£25pp

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)

 

 

Spring-Summer 2019 Newsletter

Illuminated River

We have been consulted about this interesting new project, the Illuminated River. The idea is to enliven all 15 bridges between Albert Bridge and Tower Bridge at night with a lighting scheme that celebrates each particular bridge’s characteristics. Because LED lights will be used the total energy consumption will be less than the current lighting schemes and will also be less intrusive to the wildlife in the river, which depends on natural darkness.

If you want to read more about the project, and watch an animated visualisation go to: https://illuminatedriver.london/project#about-project

 

 

 

Dolphin Square Redevelopment

Residents of Pimlico are very concerned by the threat to Dolphin Square from a development that plans to make significant alterations to the buildings and threatens the garden. They would welcome support in fighting this proposal - initially by signing their petition at Change.org:

https://www.change.org/p/westminster-city-council-save-dolphin-square-and-its-beautiful-listed-grade-ii-gardens

The issue is of Westminster-wide concern because the increased density proposed, in what is already a high density development, is setting a dangerous precedent.

 

 

The Victoria Tower Gardens & The National Holocaust Memorial

UPDATE!    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/

 

Townsend House, Greycoat Place

UPDATE !   

 

February 2019    Whilst we are still sorry to see the demise of the present Edwardian building, we think the new version, without the metallic upper floor, is a big improvement on the first submission last February 2018.  Read our full response on the Planning page.

 

January 2019  This application has been backwards and forwards to WCC with various changes over the past year.  The current proposals for the latest planning application were unveiled at a public exhibition on site on Thursday, 17th January. 

 

6th February 2018   We are sad that this attractive brick-built building is to be demolished; it is surprising and unfortunate that none of the surrounding conservation areas cover this small area, which includes the nearby Grade 2 listed Greycoat Hospital School.

 

  1. Autumn-Winter 2018 Newsletter
  2. AGM 2018
  3. Centenary of Armistice Cenotaph Service and Exhibition in St James's Park
  4. Relocation of Emmeline Pankhurst statue from Victoria Tower Gardens

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