Welcome
The Society was formed in 1985 to save from demolition London's first public library in Great Smith Street (above right). Since then we have kept a watchful eye on developments in this area, which includes the World Heritage Site encompassing the Abbey and Houses of Parliament. 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.
Visits & Special 35th Anniversary Celebrations 2020
We are not running our visits and events programme for the foreseeable future and dates have been moved to 2021 and our Archives are closed. In the interim we continue our local history research and respond to all planning applications. We are putting on new virtual visits too using Zoom.
Look out for our 36th Anniversary Party next year rather than the 35th we had planned!
Follow us on Twitter @ThorneyIslandSo and Instagram #thethorneyislandsociety
Stay well
Sue Ball
Chair
Consultation Begins - Southside, Victoria Street
Consultation Begins - Southside, Victoria Street
10 Greycoat Place - Developer's Consultation
There is a new public consultation on 10 Greycoat Place, opposite the Grey Coat Hospital (School) and as an exhibition cannot be held, it is available online at https://10greycoatconsult.
Our comment can be viewed on the Planning page via tab above.
Westminster Coroner's Court
Please see our response on our Planning page via the tab above.
Visit to the RHS Lindley Library
Our planned visit to the RHS Lindley Library in Vincent Square has been postponed to 2021. We will confirm the new date when the library staff return to work and we look forward to seeing the library and some of their marvellous collection.
St. James's and The Green Park Update and Movement Strategy - 10th July 2020
Read here the latest on loos, kiosks, road closures and more ! CLICK HERE
Caring for the Poor and Vulnerable on Thorney Island, Guided Walk
We were very much looking forward to Michael Marriott's walk though Thorney Island in July but it has now been postponed until Saturday 3rd July 2021. Bookings can be made through Eventbrite. See link and programme on our Events/Visits tab above.
Stephen Myers
Collecting fine bookbindings Zoom Talk - June 2020
Our first Zoom event was hosted by member, Anthony Davis who gave us an excellent talk on collecting fine books and bindings. He shared some of his most treasured books, including his first purchase as a schoolboy, a Prayer Book, printed in 1630. Amongst his other gems, what is believed to be King Charles II's own copy of the story of his royal escape from the parliamentary army and Elizabeth Cromwell's book of the life of Archbishop Usher, likely to have belonged to her husband Oliver Cromwell, judging by its modest binding.
Other books included the Chapel Royal's very large hand written musical manuscript of anthems (1685) likely to have been handled by John Blow and Henry Purcell whilst they worked at the Chapel Royal. Its poor condition being an indication of its hard working past. Anthony led us through the London streets of 1667 to Pall Mall where William Nott's bookshop was world renowned for its fine bindings. He described the craft of hand bookbinding and the tools still used today, heated for embossing gold leaf and sometimes silver onto the finest goatskin.
Anthony is a retired lawyer. He is a Council member of the Bibliographical Society and writes and talks about fine bindings and book collecting. He has served as a trustee of the Society of Antiquaries and he is also a qualified tour guide specialising in book related walks in central London and led a walk for our Society last year. His talk in conjunction with our visit to Shepherds Bindery in Rochester Row has been rescheduled for 15th June 2021. Many thanks to Anthony for this special talk and tour.
Collecting fine bookbindings Talk - June 2020