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.

Special Tour of Westminster Abbey - July 2019

The highlight of our visit to Westminster Abbey was access to the Jerusalem Chamber which is part of the Dean’s private quarters and rarely open to anyone. This actual room, still much as it was, where Henry lV died and which Shakespeare conjured up in Henry lV Part ll. 

After falling ill whilst praying at the shrine of Edward the Confessor in the Abbey, Henry was taken unconscious to lie by the fire. He was en-route for Jerusalem where he was going to atone for his sins.  When he recovered consciousness, he asked where he was and being told "The Jerusalem Chamber", he realised that he was about to end his life according to a prophecy in the Holinshed Chronicles that he would die in Jerusalem.

Shakespeare says:

"It hath been prophesied to me many years,
I should not die but in Jerusalem,
Which vainly I suppos’d the Holy Land.
But bear me to that chamber, there I’ll lie,
In that Jerusalem shall Harry die."

The Jerusalem Chamber was also where the committee met regularly, who overlooked the creation of the beautifully written King James Bible - one of the most influential books ever written and where many celebrated people such as Isaac Newton were laid out before being buried in the Abbey.  

Our excellent guides, Patricia Braithwaite and Avril Gardener weaved us through throngs of visitors, highlighting the story behind the grave of the Unknown Soldier and the spaces reserved for scientific and literary figures irrespective of whether they were religious or not - including a recent arrival, Stephen Hawking.  Other new additions were the David Hockney stained glass window which includes a hawthorn bush in flower.  This is a resonant historical reference as hawthorn bushes almost certainly formed the brambles which gave Thorney Island its name.  At the end of the tour, some members enjoyed the fantasic views from the Triforium and fine exhibits in the Galleries.  Our huge thanks to the Dean and all those who made this tour so special.

Special Tour of Westminster Abbey - July 2019

 

 

Picnic in Victoria Tower Gardens - Tuesday 23rd July, 5pm to 7.30pm

Mission Invertebrate, The Green Park - 23rd August

This event is part of Mission: Invertebrate, a Royal Parks Project that aims to further understand, celebrate and protect the invertebrates that are in our parks and beyond! Find out more about us here: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/get-involved/missioninvertebrate
This event is suitable for over 18's only.

Grazing Power & Wildflower Meadows
23^rd August, 12.30pm - 1.30pm

Meet the rare breed woolly lawnmowers that visit The Green Park each year and learn about their importance for wildflower meadow management and invertebrates.  This is a FREE event but booking here is essential - Thank you.  Meeting point information will be given once you have booked.

If you have any additional questions please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Royal Parks offer a variety of invertebrate themed walks, talks and workshops across The Royal Parks throughout the year that are created for adults to enjoy. These events are for everyone, whether you are totally new to the invertebrate world and want to know more or you already have a keen fascination with them. There is something for everyone.

 

 

 Mission Invertebrate, The Green Park - 23rd August

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. 

This is a really fun project and we are working one Wednesday a month, from 10am to 2pm.  Next dates: 21st August, 18th September, 16th October and 20th November.

Go directly to The Royal Parks volunteering website to register CLICK HERE

                

 

Gems of Thorney Island, A Walk by Victor Keegan - July 2019

On a sun-soaked Saturday, committee member Victor Keegan led members on a guided walk around Thorney Island. It was the hottest day of the year in London and Victor heroically negotiated the group around a demonstration on Parliament Square, through the masses of tourists circling Westminster Abbey and kept a cool voice as helicopters whirred overhead.

Victor's two-hour guided walk of this unique area took the group to 20 places of historical interest reflecting vivid moments in the nation's story. Amongst other fascinating 'gems', we saw Oliver Cromwell facing Charles I and 'a grave above ground', both sites, commuters, tourists, residents and local workers walk by every day and fail to notice.

"Look up" we were urged and saw a white plaque to Ignatius Sancho, former slave, writer and symbol of the humanity of Africans, hardly visible on the vast expanse of Whitehall walls. Victor's scholarship made this a memorable experience for the group which ended at the Thorney Island Society archives in 'Devils Acre' and much needed cool drinks.

 

Gems of Thorney Island - A Walk by Victor Keegan, July 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.

Saturday 27th July, 11am          SORRY, SOLD OUT ! '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)

Monday 7th October, 11am        Visit to the Palace of Westminster and The Jewel Tower (Members Only) - £15pp

Sunday 27th October, 2pm            Tour of Methodist Central Hall including Organ Recital - £15-£20pp (Rescheduled from 16th June)

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)

 

 

Victoria Tower Gardens, poem by Elizabeth Witts

This Royal Park beside the River Thames
Is an oasis full of shady trees
Within the sound of Big Ben's steady chimes.

Young people have their picnics on the grass
Or sit on benches by the Embankment wall
To watch the gulls and cormorants fly by.

A fountain honours anti-slavery,
The children have a playground to themselves
And visitors go back to work refreshed
By all the peace and beauty of this place.

 

Victoria Tower Gardens, poem by Elizabeth Witts 2019

 

The Victoria Tower Gardens & The National Holocaust Memorial

UPDATE!   May 2019

ITS NOT TOO LATE TO RESPOND!  THE PLANNING APPLICATION IS NOW WITH WCC

Amendments to the planning application have been submitted. The changes are to the entrance pavilion and courtyard, but they make no difference to the fundamental problem that we have already identified with the scheme, which is to do with planning policies, loss of green space, diminution of the children's playground etc.  Our previous objections still stand.

The WCC comments page has now been swamped by brief 'support' comments enabled by an agency appointed by the government-run UKHMF.  This makes it all the more important that we all make reasoned objections AGAIN !

TO POST YOUR COMMENTS ON WCC WEBSITE.  REGISTRATION REQUIRED - CLICK HERE

 

READ OUR OBJECTION LETTER TO THE AMENDED APPLICATION - CLICK HERE

In the meantime, safety barriers displaying publicity were 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.

READ OUR FIRST OBJECTION LETTER - CLICK HERE

 

WE STRONGLY SUPPORT THE SAVE VICTORIA TOWER GARDENS CAMPAIGN. 

 

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