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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 250+ members enjoy local visits & talks & more recently virtual on-line talks, of historic and other interest, social events and an archive of books, prints, plans and ephemera.

The Thorney Island Society sends condolences to Her Majesty The Queen and her Family

Events 2021 - New Programme of Talks via Zoom

Please CLICK HERE to view and book our new programme for 2021

Thank you to the members, guides, historians, authors and speakers for their help in putting this programme together.

Next Talk - Tuesday 27th April at 6.30pm

Rediscovering the Medieval Palace of Westminster - A Zoom talk by Dr Elizabeth Biggs

Historian and author, Elizabeth will explore the story of Westminster before 1512, using the three remaining buildings which have survived fire, bombs and floods. She will describe how, all at the same time, it was the King's most important palace, the home of royal administration and justice, and the meeting-place of Parliament.

Her book St Stephen's College, Westminster 1348-1548: A Royal Chapel and English Kingship (Woodbridge: Boydell, 2020) is now available in hardback and ebook format - CLICK HERE

Spring/Summer 2021 Newsletter

QUIZ QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: CLICK HERE

St Stephen's Church, Rochester Row, A Talk by John Turpin - April 2021

Member John Turpin, who attends St Stephen's, described how it was built in the mid-19th century to reclaim and improve the Devil's Acre, the Baroness Burdett-Coutts connection and later developments to the church. A fascinating talk adapted from a postponed in-person visit. A recording will be available on our You Tube channel 3 months after the event.

The definitive book on the history of VTG ......

You can purchase Dorian Gerhold's book via the PayPal “Buy Now” button below, for £12 + £3 p&p per copy. You can use a PayPal account if you have one, or you can pay by debit or credit card without needing a PayPal account.

Alternatively, please send a cheque for £12 + £3 p&p per copy (made payable to “The Thorney Island Society”) to TTIS, 10 Old Pye Street, London SW1P 2DG with your name and address.

To read description and our review:

The History & Restoration of The Queen Anne State Bed - A talk by Ian Block, March 2021

Master Upholsterer and Member, Ian Block, shared with us via Zoom, the history of this fine and rare Angel Bed. Its travels to America to be exhibited in Ford Motor Company Museum, then its journey back to England and its restoration by Ian and his team at A.T. Cronin. A recording will be available here 3 months after the live talk. Many thanks to Ian for this wonderful story.

Plague - A talk by author Julie Anderson, March 2021

Julie is extremely qualified to set her Westminster thriller in the Palace of Westminster and Whitehall having worked in a number of Government Departments. A self confessed history geek, Julie clearly enjoyed the research she carried out to enable accurate historic references to the banks of the River Tyburn, the plague pits, sewers and more (Reading List below). During this very enjoyable talk, Julie discussed how the layers of history and the unique legal position of the Palace of Westminster inspired her book.

Julie also created a self-guided walk to accompany the novel, starting at Bond Street Underground Station and concluding at the Thames on Millbank.

DO YOUR OWN 'PLAGUE' WALK: CLICK HERE

TO PURCHASE THE BOOK: CLICK HERE

JULIE'S BIBLIOGRAPHY / READING LIST FOR 'PLAGUE': CLICK HERE

St John's Smith Square Online Concert - Recording from 15th February 2021

THE PROGRAMME:

I) Brahms - Cello Sonata No.1 in E minor II) Op.38, Schumann - Romances III) Brahms - Cello Sonata No.2 in F major, Op.99

CLICK HERE TO WATCH RECORDING

Donations to the Save Victoria Tower Gardens Campaign can be made here: https://savevtg.org/

Raphael Wallfisch, world famous cellist, and son of Holocaust survivor, Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, kindly suggested that he would hold a fund-raising concert for the Save Victoria Tower Gardens Campaign and St John’s Smith Square hosted the concert. It will be available to view until mid-March.

Concert in aid of Save Victoria Tower Gardens Campaign - 15th February

The Buildings of Green Park, A talk by Andrew Jones, February 2021

At first sight it might seem strange to be talking about the buildings of The Green Park which doesn't actually have any buildings on it, but as soon as you look around the edges a whole new world springs up as Andrew Jones illustrated in his gripping talk to the Society on 2nd February, the first in our new series of virtual lectures.

He took us along Queen’s Walk, the southern part of which, near the Mall, contains some of the last aristocratic houses in London including Spencer House and Andrew’s favourite, Bridgewater House.

A high point was the circle of 13 plane trees in the park facing Spencer House which attract Druids and other alternative beliefs. Likened to the Pantheon in Rome of the exact same width with a gap in the trees acting as a portico to the house and the space in the canopy above echoeing the Pantheon's roof.

He took us to the northern end of Queen’s Walk guarded by the iconic Ritz Hotel, where among many other glamerous events, the exiled King Zog of Albania lived. His minder named - what else for the Ritz but - Mr Martini, would pay the weekly bills in gold.

From the numerous interesting buildings on the other side of Piccadilly, Andrew singled out the architecturally extravagant edifice which hosts the Hard Rock Café. Replacing Gloucester House where the Elgin marbles were displayed by Lord Elgin when they arrived in Britain.

It was news to most of us that the 4th Marquess of Hertford got Thomas Cubitt to rebuild 105 Piccadilly to house his paintings which were later to form the core of the wonderful Wallace Collection in Manchester Square. Although the Duke of Devonshire's palatial home (which ran almost to Berkeley Square) has long gone, the gates still form one of the entrances to The Green Park and the wine cellars are now the ticket office for Green Park station.

The talk was based on Andrew’s fascinating new book “The Buildings of Green Park” which will be published shortly but is available to purchase from Heywood Hill booksellers in Curzon Street. It is full of anecdotes, research, old photographs, artworks, is beautifully produced and highly recommended. https://www.heywoodhill.com/shop/the-buildings-of-green-park

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