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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 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:
 

Read more: The definitive book on the history of VTG ......

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

 

 

 

 

  1. Refurbishment of 7 Millbank
  2. Thorney Tales (20) A History of Parliament in Two Glimpses
  3. LIVE Carols & Thorney Christmas Quiz via Zoom - December 2020
  4. The Society's 34th AGM & Talk via Zoom - Tuesday 10th November

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Articles

  • The Thorney Island Society sends condolences to Her Majesty The Queen and her Family
  • Events 2021-2022 Details
  • 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
  • Events 2021 - New Programme of Talks via Zoom
  • 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
  • Visit to the RHS Lindley Library
  • St. James's and The Green Park Update and Movement Strategy - 10th July 2020
  • Caring for the Poor and Vulnerable on Thorney Island, Guided Walk
  • 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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