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.
Suffragist Millicent Fawcett - First women honoured in Parliament Square ?
July 2017: Following an announcement in April 2017 (Read BBC article here), a planning application has now been made. Millicent Fawcett may have pipped Lady Thatcher to the post ! See our Planning page for link to WCC to make a comment.
Our response to the planning application: "Although we have no objection to the subject matter of this statue, which is not controversial, we have strong reservations about the current rapid increase in the number of monuments in an area that has been declared a Monument Saturation Zone. This Westminster City Council policy should be adhered to, both now and in the future."
Visit to St Margaret's Church - July 2017
Thirty Thorney Island members were delighted to be shown around St Margaret's Church, Westminster, by Blue Badge guide Ian Godfrey. St Margaret's church is full of history and interesting people, the only downside being that it is almost touching Westminster Abbey and is largely ignored by tourists. On the day of our visit on July 11 there were huge queues for the Abbey yet no one but ourselves in the church.
More's the pity because, as Ian pointed out, as the church is a treasure trove of memories.
William Caxton, the pioneer of printing in Britain, who worked a stone's throw from the church has a dedicated stained glass window, or rather the remnant of one, and is buried there as is Sir Walter Raleigh who was executed around the corner in Old Palace Yard yet promptly given a prime burial place under the altar.
Many interesting people are commemorated in the church including Olaudah Equiano, a freed black slave, who became a celebrity in London and a leading light in the anti-slavery campaign. Members were pleasantly surprised at the number of Americans who had helped finance stained glass windows and other memorials including Cubby Broccoli of James Bond fame and Frank Sinatra.
The church was built in the perpendicular style and dedicated in 1523 though virtually nothing of the original stone work remains. One of the reasons for its proximity to the Abbey is that the Benedictine monks did not want parishoners interrupting their prayers and other activities inside the monastery as they had traditionally done.
The oldest part is probably the huge stained glass window commemorating the marriage of Henry VIII's elder brother Arthur to Catherine of Aragon which was added later. St Margaret's - named after Margaret of Antioch - also has a large crypt which, we were told, is full of dust with a skull or two and, sadly, not open to the public. Our heartfelt thanks to Ian for a very entertaining visit.
Proposed memorial statue to Lady Margaret Thatcher in Parliament Square
UPDATE ! July 2017 STATUE BLOCKED ?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-40529770
May 2017 - Our response to Westminster City Council (Nelson Mandela statue details corrected 7th July 2017)
We acknowledge 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 before he died 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)
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 your reservation.
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
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
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
Spring/Summer 2017 Newsletter
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