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.
Broadway & Carteret Street
The proposal being considered by the council for the site on the corner of Broadway and Carteret Street. We are objecting to the extremely 'heavy' and oppressive window surrounds in the mansard roof overlooking Broadway. See the Planning page for our full response.
Spring 2018 Newsletter
Thorney Tales (15) Henry Purcell's Birthplace
It has been believed for some time that Henry Purcell, one of Britain’s greatest composers, was born in St Ann’s Lane, Westminster in 1658. The problem is that no-one seemed to know exactly where. This is of particular interest to us because the archive of the Thorney Island Society is on the corner of St Ann’s Lane and Old Pye Street and there are in existence several versions of a sketch which place Purcell’s birthplace on this corner. Could it be on the site of our archive?
Alas no - but it looks as though the honour belongs to our esteemed neighbour, the St Andrew’s Club, which is literally a few yards away from us across the lane.
The evidence for this is the earliest version of a drawing that has recently come to light (see above) thanks to help from the Tate Gallery. It shows fairly clearly a road sign saying “St Ann’s Lane” on the corner of Old Pye Street which only makes sense if it is where St Andrew’s is now because you would have to turn left from Old Pye Street to enter St Ann’s Lane.
The sketch was done on April 15, 1845 by an artist called R W Withall and its reproduction in a book “The Great Musicians: Purcell” contains the following text: “Three ancient houses in Westminster; in the right hand one of which the great H Purcell was born, 1658 and passed his early life. They are now in the last state of ruin and have long been uninhabited. The houses adjoining that of Purcell are of modern date and project before the others, as well as encroach somewhat on Purcell’s doorway hiding one side of the doorframe. Of the old houses the windows and doorways were nearly all boarded up in the roughest manner, under which, however, the original panel doors are still to be partly found. The houses are of old red brick. The first door was the back way into the public house called the “Bell and Fish” kept by Mr Oldsworth who lost his license. The second door the entrance to the skittle ground. The third was Purcell’s house.”
Of course, the painting was done 150 years after the death of Purcell in 1695 so a lot must have been passed on by word of mouth. If anyone has fresh information or who knows anything about R W Withall, or indeed the Bell and Fish, please get in touch. The Society has been wanting to put a plaque up for some time but we have to be sure of our facts.
Visits & Events 2018
Our events and visits are open to all unless specified and we hope non-members will enjoy our programme and consider joining the Society.
To book events 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.
Friday 9th March, 2.30pm
Unveiling of a plaque dedicated to the Society's Co-Founder, June Stubbs, MBE. in St James's Park. Meet at the Boy statue just inside St James's Park at the Queen Anne's Gate entrance, a short walk from St James's Park Underground. Refreshments afterwards in the Park's offices in Storeyard. No booking required. All welcome.
Thursday 22nd March, 6pm
Grey Coat Hospital School Talk at Westminster City Archives, 10 St Ann's Street, London SW1P 2DE. Free of charge but booking essential directly with Westminster City Archives on 020 7641 5180 or to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tuesday 17th April, 11am
Tour of Watts & Co, Ecclesiastical Furnishers and Outfitters, 7 Tufton Street, London SW1P 3QE. £15pp. A tour of the workroom and archives of one of the most remarkable survivals of the Gothic Revival of the C19th.
Tuesday 1st May, 6.30pm
Volunteers Briefing for Duck Island/Thorney Island Society Project, St James's Park Office, Storeyard, Horse Guards Road, London SW1A 2BJ Free of charge. This exciting new collaboration with the 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 come along to the briefing where Mike Turner, Assistant Park Manager, will discuss the project and get an idea of people’s availability. Please register your initial interest by emailing the Secretary at 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
Wednesday 9th May, 6.30pm
St James's Park Tree Walk, Horse Guards Road, London SW1A 2BJ £15pp. Greg Packman, Royal Parks Arboriculturist, will take us on a tour of the special and ornamental trees of St James's Park. He will share his enthusiasm and knowledge of his subject and the park together with a history of its creation and development. Meet at the war memorial opposite Horse Guards Parade.
Thursday 31st May, 11am
Tour of The Institution of Civil Engineers, 1 Great George Street, SW1P 3AA £15pp. Number One, Great George Street is a Grade II listed Georgian building in the heart of the Thorney Island. It has been home to the Institution of Civil Engineers since 1913. Following the tour of this grand building there will be an opportunity to view the exhibition 'Invisible Superheroes' to explore projects that have already changed the world and will do so again. ICE have kindly let us use their cafe for lunch afterwards where hot meals, sandwiches, soups and salads are available to purchase.
(Glass lantern slide from the ICE Archives illustrating the principle of the cantilever, as used in the design for the Forth Railway Bridge)
Wednesday 6th June, 2pm
Thorney Island Sources Tour at Westminster City Archvies, 10 St Ann's Street, SW1P 2DE £15pp. Westminster archivist Alison Kenney will show us her specially chosen items in the Search Room, the Conservation Studio and the Strong Rooms. Alison will also discuss the social history of the area from the 18th to 20th centuries. This definitive tour should not to be missed by any Thorney Island enthusiast.
Saturday 23rd June, 6.30pm (5.30pm Drinks at the Archives) - Members Only
The Purcell Club Musical Tour of Westminster Abbey, 20 Dean's Yard, SW1P 3PA Tickets via ballot £45pp. Former Abbey choristers will sing and narrate their way around the Abbey and through history. This is a unique opportunity to be in the Abbey at night and this ‘four yearly’ exclusive tour is for Members and one guest only. Our Chair invites you to drinks before in the Archives at 10 Old Pye Street at 5.30pm. Please apply with names, telephone number, number of tickets and a stamped self addressed envelope to the Secretary, TTIS, 10 Old Pye Street, SW1P 2DG or by email giving full details to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Please apply by 30th April 2018 and we will notify you soon after whether you have been successful. Payment can then be made by cheque or BACS and tickets will be posted to you 2-3 weeks before the event.
Tuesday 26th June, 6.30pm
The Society's Summer Party, Grange Rochester Hotel, 69 Vincent Square, SW1P 2PA (entrance in Vane Street) £14pp. With the generous support of Grange Hotels
Friday 6th July, 2pm
Tour of Westminster School, 18 Dean's Yard, SW1P 3PF £15pp. Westminster is an ancient boarding and day school, the only long-established school to remain on its original site in the centre of London. Its origins can be traced to a charity school established by the Benedictine monks of Westminster Abbey. Situated in Little Dean’s Yard the school inhabits a varied collection of buildings, many of which were formerly part of the monastery. Meet outside the School Offices at 18 Dean's Yard or inside if raining.
Thursday 2nd August, 10.30am
Tour of The Church House, Dean's Yard, SW1P 3PF £15pp. A rare look inside this historic building. The tour will be hosted by the Chief Executive Chris Palmer and will include a history of the site, the first building and its significance and the architecture and use of the current building. We will be shown the principle rooms placing them in their historical context of Parliament during WW2, the War Crimes Tribunal, the United Nations and Government occupation and national inquiries.
September (date to be confirmed)
Tour of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries (Triforium), Westminster Abbey, SW1P 3PA Due to open to the public on the 11th June, we will be given a private tour of this exciting much anticipated new exhibition space and museum in the early Autumn. The date will be announced in the Summer.
Tuesday 13th November, 6.30pm
The Society's 32nd AGM & Talk, Grange Rochester Hotel, 69 Vincent Square, SW1P 2PA (entrance in Vane Street) With the generous support of Grange Hotels
Tuesday 11th December, 6.30pm
The Society's Christmas Party, Grange Rochester Hotel, 69 Vincent Square, SW1P 2PA (entrance in Vane Street) £14pp. With the generous support of Grange Hotels.
Townsend House, Greycoat Place
6th February 2018 Ref: 18/00024/FULL 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.
Read our full response here and go to the Planning page for a link to WCC to view the planning application :
The Victoria Tower Gardens & The National Holocaust Memorial
5th November 2017 THE UPDATE ON THE PETITION WEBSITE AGAINST THE USE OF VTG - CLICK HERE
24th October 2017 Read below of the Jury's decision, the winner and what happens now.
28th September 2017 Prince William visits the Imperial War Museum to discuss new Holocaust galleries. Read Daily Mail article, CLICK HERE
21st September 2017 "What the jury heard" - The Architects' Journal 18/9/17 CLICK HERE
18th September 2017 Members of the Thorney Island Society joined a large group of residents who live near Victoria Tower Gardens to discuss the threat to this local park from the proposal to build the new Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre there (see earlier blog entries below). Nobody in the room objected in any way to the creation of a new Memorial, and there was tentative agreement that a modest Memorial in the park would be acceptable, but all were united in condemning the proposed site for the Learning Centre. There are many reasons for this, not just the loss of much of the park, but also the added security risk and the increase in vehicular and pedestrian traffic in an already congested area.
Chelsea College of Art & Design Collaboration
In October we started our collaboration with our neighbour Chelsea College of Art and Design. As part of their BA Interior and Spacial Design course, 20 students were given an orientation tour, covering the history, culture and architecture of The Thorney Island area. They then visited the Archives in groups with their tutor, Shibboleth Shechter, browsed and found an object that sparked their interest. From this they sketched, measured and photographed, then went away to research, plan and create a new piece of work based on the item.
We could hardly wait to see what they produced and eagerly accepted the invitation to their exhibition in early December. Attended by past and present tutors, including a curator at the V&A, each student presented their own and their group’s work and the tutors gave comment, praise and criticsm. There were a wide range of subjects that were well thought out, then skilfully and beautifully crafted.
Here are some of the exhibits and what inspired them:
From a 1950’s 'Bakelite-type' telephone, the 1953 Coronation Approved Souvenir Programme and souvenir cups, came an installation work; a 1950’s desk unit, complete with original tv footage of the Coronation playing on a fitted screen accompanied by other objects of the day and a study of the social significance of the first such public broadcast. From an embroidered purse, or wallet, containing a personalised invitation to Queen Victoria’s Coronation complete with seat number, a study of the owner, Lady Gerard and her journey from her home in Mortlake to the Abbey on 28th June 1838 and a 3D pop-up paper collage, displayed with an embroidered fabric book.
From an C18th drawing of Dr Busby’s (Headmaster at Westminster School 1638-1683) chair, a study and reproduction of the caricatures depicting English grammar on the chair. From a description of Devil’s Acre, a small hand bound illustrated children’s book entitled “The Story of Old Pye Street through the eyes of Tommy”. Tommy was a pickpocket and the work included items that Tommy might have in his own pockets! A study and architectural drawings of Millbank Penitentiary.
From an old photograph of once local Pulic Baths, a study of its use and a 3D pop-up cut out collage.
From a shoebox containing objects found on the Thames foreshore and on local building sites, a giant box containing 3 students work. One was a working jug made of mosaic of old glass and ceramic fragments. From a plaster model of Buckingham Palace, a number of same size reproductions in herculite, wax and clear Perspex, made from a rubber mould and a study of methods of fabrication and value depreciation caused by the mass production of souvenirs.
From a small wooden plaque carved with the words “For My Pet” found in the foundations of 50 Tufton Street, a study into the house, its inhabitants and possible pets! Also a model of the interior of the ‘original’ house. A pop-up book and study of the Abbey and The Chapter House. Copies of a newly created local newspaper full of Thorney Island articles and pictures. These were displayed in a lit case standing on carved legs copying the thorns in our logo.
A study of the Womens Suffrage Movement, their local meeting places and how letters from June Stubbs to an MP to save a building, showed modern womens’ continuing determination to be heard. Lastly a study of the Army & Navy Stores and comparison between a 1907 copy of their global mail order catalogue and the Argos catalogue and Amazon.
Apologies to those whose work is not described here due to lack of space, but we would like to thank all the students, Shibboleth, the tutors and Chelsea Local for making this collaboration such a success. We hope to exhibit this work again soon.
Introducing our New Chair
We are delighted that Sue Ball accepted nomination as Chair at our AGM in November 2017. Sue joined The Society after meeting June Stubbs at meetings of Westminster Police Community Consultative Committee and got to know members through Pippa Parsons' events programme. Sue has lived locally for 13 years and has a keen interest in Roman and London local history. She is Vice-Chair of the Cathedral Area Residents Group (CARG) and she looks forward to meeting many members in the coming months.
Thorney Tales (14) Siegfried Sassoon
If you walk down Bennett’s Yard off Tufton Street, you will be able to glimpse over the high wall a dignified, if lonesome, plane tree. It is located in what was the garden of the great First World War poet Siegfried Sassoon who lived there for over five years. It was believed to have been planted by Winston Churchill in memory of the poet, Col. d'Arcy Hall and their comrades of The Great War, though this has not been conclusively proved.
That it is there at all is thanks to a forceful campaign led by our co-founder June Stubbs, which failed to save the nearby houses (Sassoon’s house had been all but destroyed in the 2nd World War) but at least they preserved the tree, though sadly without public access. He lived for five productive years at 54 Tufton Street where he entertained many celebrated friends including T E Lawrence - Lawrence of Arabia - who lived nearby in Barton Street, E M Forster and W J Turner who lived with his wife in Sassoon’s house. Turner is not much known about these days but Yeats was “lost in admiration” at his work.
Sassoon is remembered by a plaque on the wall of the new house on the site which was sponsored by the Thorney Island Society and the City of Westminster.
