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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 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.

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The Society's Summer Party - June 2022

Having waited patiently for 2 years, Members were finally able to enjoy our Summer Party on the balcony of Benugo's overlooking the lake in St James's Park.  With many thanks to all who attended, despite the tube strike and to Mark Wasilewski, Parks Manager for his talk and all the staff at Benugo's.  A lively and fun event in what must be one of the best locations in London on a summer evening.

 

 

Local Choir Sing for Jubilee!

The South Westminster Community Choir in association with The Thorney Island Society sang their hearts out in Christchurch Gardens contributing to the Platinum Jubilee events this June.

 

Events 2022

Please see below our 2022 Programme of Events.  Full details and descriptions can be found via our Events/Visits tab at the top of this page.

Plus! Our 2021 Talks can now be viewed on our YouTube channel. 

Please book via 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 cheque and post to 10 Old Pye Street, London SW1P 2DG) 

2022

Tuesday 5th July, 6.30pm - Looking at Commemorative Public Art on Thorney Island, a talk via Zoom by Melissa Jo Smith and Montaz Marché. 


Tuesday 19th July, 12.30pm - Mudlarking on the Thames Foreshore, below Victoria Tower Gardens, Guided walk by Claire Harris, Senior Community Archaeologist of The Thames Discovery Programme hosted by MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology)

Tuesday 4th October, 3pm - Visit and tour of the RUSI Library (SOLD OUT - waiting list)  Details via our Events/Visits tab.

Tuesday 1st November, 12.30pm - Lunch at the Westminster Kingsway College by students and Tour, Following the success and oversubscription of the lunch in May, we are pleased to be revisiting the College.

Tuesday 8th November, 6.30pm - The Society's 36th AGM and talk by Ptolemy Dean on the new Sacristy works at the Abbey - Blue Orchid Wellington Hotel, Vincent Square

Monday 5th December, 6.30pm - The Society's Christmas Party - Details to be confirmed.

 

Disclaimer:  The views and opinions expressed at the Society's events are those of the speakers and guides and do not necessarily reflect the stance of The Thorney Island Society.

 

PREVIOUS EVENTS:

 

Recordings of previous talks & events can be viewed on our YouTube channel 3 months after the live event:     

CLICK HERE

 

 

 

Spring/Summer 2022 Newsletter

 CLICK FRONT COVER BELOW TO READ FURTHER.

 

 

Act of Queen Victoria rescues Victoria Tower Gardens

8th April 2022

The London Gardens Trust, which has been fighting so valiantly against the construction of the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre in Victoria Tower Gardens, has just heard that the High Court judge found in their favour. 

Although the judge did not agree with the points made over planning issues, she did find that the 1900 Act prohibited construction in the park. She decided that 'the appropriate remedy is to quash the decision, so as to enable further consideration of the implications of the 1900 Act'.

Read the court judgement in full

Read summary of court judgement

 

London Gardens Trust Heads To The High Court

22nd February 2022

To read updates CLICK HERE

 

PHOTOS FROM THIS MORNING !!

 

From 9-10am there willl be a ‘gentle’ demonstration outside the Law Courts (“the Royal Courts of Justice”) on The Strand.  You will see the gates just by the zebra crossing.  After which you’ll have the option of heading inside to watch the hearing. Do bring anyone and everyone who is interested in showing the press our support.

This High Court case is scheduled to continue on 23rd February, but the decision may take a few weeks. We’ll update further when we have news.

In the meantime.....

Rowan Moore has written another excellent piece for The Observer (click link) interviewing Martin Stern, a Holocaust survivor.  The piece couldn’t have come at a better time and elegantly reinforces Rowan Moore’s great interview with Anita Lasker-Wallfisch (click link) from December 2020.

Also read here (click link) superb joint letter to The Secretary of State from the Rt Revd Dr Rowan Williams (former Archbishop of Canterbury, theologian, Chancellor, University of South Wales) and Dr Irene Lancaster (historian of Jewish thought, Holocaust scholar and child of Holocaust survivors)

 

Tuesday 22nd February - London Gardens Trust head to the High Court!

 

 

Europe's 6th Most Gorgeous Park - February 2022

Very exciting news... Fodor's Travel have listed Victoria Tower Gardens as Europe's 6th most gorgeous park.  Whether it would stay on the list after the views have been blocked is another matter entirely !!!
 
Click image below:
 
 
 
 

News ! Victoria Tower Gardens

JANUARY 2022

The Save Victoria Tower Gardens campaign continues:
 
The London Gardens Trust have been given permission to take the Government to court to challenge some aspects of the decisions of the Secretary of State and the Planning Inspector. Meanwhile we are putting pressure on Westminster City Council to do all they can to impede this development, which will cause so much harm to one of their open spaces.
 
If you would like to write personal letters following up on issues arising from the planning application we would be very pleased. Here are three documents describing the issues that we feel should be raised with the Government, Westminster City Council and the Foundation.  
 

NOTES FOR SUBMISSION TO WCC on flooding and planning conditions in VTG

NOTES FOR SUBMISSION TO WCC on building site boundaries and trees in VTG

NOTES FOR SUBMISSION TO DLUHC (and United Kingdom Holocaust Memorial Foundation)

 

Contractors do ground penetrating radar work in Victoria Tower Gardens, hoping to start excavations in February.  We object to the Government's proposal to build a Holocaust Memorial and underground Learning Centre on this Grade 2 listed park.  We support the London Gardens Trust whose legal case will be heard also in February.

 

22nd NOVEMBER 2021

GRANTED LEAVE TO APPEAL!  Read more CLICK HERE

 

29th OCTOBER 2021

The London Gardens Trust (LGT) have at last heard that their appeal against the decision to grant planning permission for the Holocaust Memorial in Victoria Tower Gardens (VTG) is to be heard in the High Court.  The judge has ruled that there is a case to answer on two of the six grounds: one is to do with the meaning of 'substantial harm', which  LGT say will be caused to the grade 2* Buxton Memorial as well as the Grade 2 gardens themselves. The second is the fact that no alternative sites were seriously considered and weighed up against VTG.

 
There were four other grounds which the judge dismissed, but we think there are some good arguments for including some of them, such as the fact that an unrepealed 1900 Act of Parliament obliges the gardens to be 'maintained ... for use as a garden open to the public'.
 
Meanwhile the new Holocaust gallery at the IWM has opened and demonstrates how much more powerful such an exhibition is when it can draw on the huge collection held by the IWM. The proposed exhibition at VTG will be largely digital and could not be anything else because the building runs a considerable risk of flooding.
 
 
 

Thorney Tales (22) - Rosamund's Pond

 

 

Everyone knows and loves the lake in St James’s Park but not everyone knows that there was another one before that called Rosamond’s Pond which was just as famous, indeed infamous, in its day and a source of delight for poets. 

Pope, in “The Rape of the Lock” summed it up:

"This the blest lover shall for Venus take, 

And send up vows from Rosamonda's lake."


Bishop Warburton was even more succinct, describing it as "long consecrated to disastrous love and elegiac poetry". 

The pond was situated at the Buckingham House end of the park stretching from near the end of the existing lake, then a canal, to St James’s Street (now Buckingham Gate) in front of Tart Hall (long since demolished). There was also a vineyard nearby.

 

 

Often referred to in contemporary comedies as an assignation for married ladies with fashionable lovers but it also had a darker side which Fanny Burney hinted at in her writings, as a place where thwarted lovers drowned themselves in it. It was filled-in around 1770 when the Crown purchased Buckingham House and turned it into a palace.

Who was Rosamund? She is sometimes supposed to be ‘Fair Rosamond” Clifford, the favourite mistress of Henry ll who was later painted by Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Burne-Jones and was the subject of many poems and myths (such as that she was murdered by Henry’s wife Eleanor of Aquitaine). A less flattering contemporary description came from the Welsh chronicler Gerald of Wales who dismissed her as 'that rose of unchastity.'

It seems that everyone can make their own images of Rosamond just as Hogarth did of the pond in his painting (above) which has Westminster Abbey with elongated wings posing between conveniently separated trees. 

 

 

Autumn/Winter 2021 Newsletter

 

 

  1. The Stag Brewery, Palace Street - Collection of Photographs held at the Westminster Archives
  2. Thorney Tales (21) - Aphra Behn, playwright, poet, feminist, spy - Ahead of her times (1640-1689)
  3. The Victoria Tower Gardens & The National Holocaust Memorial & Learning Centre
  4. The definitive book on the history of VTG ......

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Articles

  • The Society's Summer Party - June 2022
  • Local Choir Sing for Jubilee!
  • Act of Queen Victoria rescues Victoria Tower Gardens
  • Europe's 6th Most Gorgeous Park - February 2022
  • Thorney Tales (22) - Rosamund's Pond
  • News ! Victoria Tower Gardens
  • The Stag Brewery, Palace Street - Collection of Photographs held at the Westminster Archives
  • Thorney Tales (21) - Aphra Behn, playwright, poet, feminist, spy - Ahead of her times (1640-1689)
  • Events 2022 Details
  • Proposed destruction of Victoria Tower Gardens - Background to our Opposition
  • Caring for the Poor & Vulnerable on Thorney Island, a Zoom talk - July 2021
  • CoExistence - Elephants in the Parks, June/July 2021
  • The IncrEDIBLE Collections at the RHS Lindley Library - A talk via Zoom by RHS Librarian Susan Robin, July 2021
  • The Gardens of Westminster Abbey - A talk by Jan Pancheri, June 2021
  • A Military Musical Spectacular - July 2021
  • Events 2022
  • Westminster's Royal Aquarium - A talk by Victor Keegan, May 2021
  • In the Shadow of St John's Smith Square - A Talk by Rosalind Vincent, May 2021
  • Rediscovering the Medieval Palace of Westminster, Talk by Dr Elizabeth Biggs - April 2021
  • St Stephen's Church, Rochester Row, A Talk by John Turpin - April 2021
  • The History & Restoration of The Queen Anne State Bed - A talk by Ian Block, March 2021
  • Plague - A talk by author Julie Anderson, March 2021
  • St John's Smith Square Online Concert - Recording from 15th February 2021
  • The Buildings of Green Park, A talk by Andrew Jones, February 2021
  • LIVE Carols & Thorney Christmas Quiz via Zoom - December 2020
  • Thorney Tales (20) A History of Parliament in Two Glimpses
  • Refurbishment of 7 Millbank
  • The Society's 34th AGM & Talk via Zoom - Tuesday 10th November
  • The definitive book on the history of VTG ......
  • A History of St James's Park through Trees, Talk by Greg Packman - October 2020
  • Westminster Coroner's Court
  • 10 Greycoat Place - Developer's Consultation
  • St. James's and The Green Park Update and Movement Strategy - 10th July 2020
  • Stephen Myers
  • The Truth behind the National Holocaust Memorial in Victoria Tower Gardens
  • Bearskins, Bayonets and Bravery - New Guards Museum podcast
  • Victoria Tower Gardens - Judicial Review brought by the London Gardens Trust
  • Two Africans with strong links to Thorney Island escaped slavery to become role models in London over 250 years ago
  • Collecting fine bookbindings Zoom Talk - June 2020
  • RUSI, The Royal United Services Institute, Whitehall
  • London History Day, 31st May 2020 - 10 Old Pye Street
  • Urban Tree Festival 2020 - Online
  • Live Video of Feeding St James's Park Pelicans
  • St Stephen's Church, Rochester Row
  • Westminster Kingsway College
  • Save Victoria Tower Gardens - Planning Inquiry 6th October - 13th November
  • Thorney Tales (19) Revd James Palmer and Palmer's Village
  • Workshop by Jens Jakobsen, Master Florist at the Blewcoat School - March 2020
  • Consultation Begins - Southside, Victoria Street
  • Ignatius Sancho, Short Talk by Victor Keegan - February 2020
  • Christchurch Gardens Reconstruction Short Talk - January 2020
  • Christmas Party 2019
  • 55 Broadway - Planning application
  • Richmond House, Whitehall - The Northern Parliamentary Estate
  • 20mph Throughout Westminster ? YES !
  • The Society's 33rd AGM, 12th November 2019
  • Visit to the Palace of Westminster & Jewel Tower - October 2019
  • Thorney Tales (18) The Buxton Memorial Fountain
  • Mission: Invertebrate, The Green Park - August 2019
  • Tour of Buckingham Palace Gardens - August 2019
  • From Beer to the Bard - A Victoria Walk by Anthony Davis - July 2019
  • Special Tour of Westminster Abbey - July 2019
  • Gems of Thorney Island, A Walk by Victor Keegan - July 2019
  • The Guards Museum, Wellington Barracks - Volunteers
  • Victoria Tower Gardens, poem by Elizabeth Witts
  • The Green Park Tree Walk - May 2019
  • Visit to Bonhams Auctioneers - May 2019
  • Visit to Westminster Cathedral - May 2019
  • Visit to The Speakers House - April 2019
  • Ann Carlton our Co-founder
  • Thorney Tales (17) Westminster Coke and Gas Company
  • Duck Island Volunteer Project
  • Illuminated River
  • Dolphin Square Redevelopment
  • AGM 2018
  • Centenary of Armistice Cenotaph Service and Exhibition in St James's Park
  • Visit to The Queen's Jubilee Galleries, Westminster Abbey - September 2018
  • Thorney Tales (16) College Hall, Westminster Abbey / School
  • Relocation of Emmeline Pankhurst statue from Victoria Tower Gardens
  • Visit to The Church House - August 2018
  • "The Devil's Acre before Peabody" Talk - August 2018
  • Visits to Westminster School - July 2018
  • Purcell Musical Tour of Westminster Abbey - June 2018
  • Reception to mark the opening of The Queen's Jubilee Galleries, Westminster Abbey - June 2018
  • Proposals for Christchurch Gardens, Victoria Street - June 2018
  • Thorney Island Sources Tour of Westminster Archives - June 2018
  • Visit to the Institution of Civil Engineers - May 2018
  • St James's Park Tree Walk - May 2018
  • Unveiling of Millicent Fawcett Statue in Parliament Square - April 2018
  • Visit to Watts & Co, Ecclesiastical Furnishers & Outfitters - April 2018
  • Broadway & Carteret Street
  • Thorney Tales (15) Henry Purcell's Birthplace
  • AGM 2017 & Talk
  • Townsend House, Greycoat Place
  • Thorney Tales (14) Siegfried Sassoon
  • Chelsea College of Art & Design Collaboration
  • Introducing our New Chair
  • Lambeth Bridge Roundabout
  • Tour of St James the Less church in Pimlico - September 2017
  • Local Tree Walk with Paul Akers, WCC Arboriculturalist - September 2017
  • Visit to HM Treasury building - July 2017
  • Thorney Tales (13) - Elizabeth Woodville
  • Suffragist Millicent Fawcett - First women honoured in Parliament Square ?
  • Visit to St Margaret's Church - July 2017
  • Parks: Our Shared Heritage Exhibition - July/August 2017
  • Consultation by WCC on Future Growth/Building Height
  • Proposed memorial statue to Lady Margaret Thatcher in Parliament Square
  • Thorney Tales (12) The Jerusalem Chamber
  • 61-71 Victoria Street
  • Vauxhall Bridge Road/Tachbrook St Draft Development Opportunity
  • Visit to Tate Britain's Archives & Library, November 2016
  • Thorney Tales (11) - The Abbey Garden
  • St Andrew's Club - 150th Anniversary, October 2016
  • June Stubbs 1927 - 2016
  • Henry V's Chantry Chapel Visit, October 2016
  • Thorney Tales (10) - Oliver Cromwell v Charles I
  • The Victoria Tower Gardens & The National Holocaust Memorial & Learning Centre
  • Old War Office, 57 Whitehall
  • Our visit to Parliament's hidden medieval places, 28th July 2016
  • Westminster Fire Station
  • Thorney Tales (9) - Governor of Duck Island
  • Thorney Tales (8) Westminster Opera House
  • Fundraising Gala Dinner September 2016
  • Fundraising Gala Dinner September 2016
  • New Scotland Yard, 10 Broadway
  • What is Thorney Island ?
  • Millbank Tower grows taller
  • Welcome
  • Thorney Tales (7) - Storey's Gate
  • Thorney Tales (6) - St Margaret's Church, the amazing history of a window
  • Paddington Tower
  • WCC say "No" (AGAIN!) to proposed sculpture outside Westminster Central Hall
  • Objection to proposed cycle stands in Queen Anne's Gate
  • A visit to the hidden archives of Westminster Abbey, 4th November 2015
  • Visit to new Parliamentary Education Centre, 28th October 2015
  • Thorney Tales (5) - Westminster Hall Roof
  • Thorney Tales (4) - The tomb behind one of Britain's biggest fortunes
  • Thorney Tales (3) - The Jewel Tower
  • Visit to the RHS Lindley Library, 14th July 2015
  • Thorney Tales (2) - The River Tyburn
  • The Garden Bridge Controversy
  • Visit to Bridgewater House
  • Queen's Walk Cycle Route, The Green Park
  • Thorney Tales (1) - Britain's Hidden Treasure Trove
  • AGM 2016 & the Panorama of The Thames Project
  • Annual Review 2014-15

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