On Saturday 13 September 2025 the Thorney Island Society opened its archive at 10 Old Pye Street to visitors attending the London Open House Festival. This city-wide celebration of architecture and heritage sees hundreds of buildings and organisations open their doors each September, giving the public free access to spaces usually closed or overlooked.
Known primarily among enthusiasts for its role as a guardian of Westminster’s history, the Society’s public opening offered a rare chance to delve into the physical memory of “Old Westminster Village”. Guests came from near and far, eager to explore this hidden corner of the city. What struck organisers most was the astonishing depth of interest shown by visitors – whether long-time locals or Open House participants discovering Westminster for the first time.
The Thorney Island Society, founded in 1985 originally to save the Old Westminster Public Library and now acting as a local conservation and amenity group, has long maintained an archive of books, prints, maps, plans, postcards and ephemera connected to the area around Westminster and the Royal Parks. On the day, the Society’s resident historian Victor Keegan hosted two talks on local history, drawing more than thirty members of the public who joined to hear stories of Westminster’s past.