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
Refurbishment of 7 Millbank
Thorney Tales (20) A History of Parliament in Two Glimpses
History often comes in glimpses and few are more poignant than what you see from the main cloister of Westminster Abbey. If you go into the cloister, which is free and open to the public most days of the week (though not at the time of writing during 2nd lockdown) you will see the top of the Chapter House in the middle of the picture (below) at the back. This is where the monks used to meet daily to discuss the business of the day. In 1352 it became the first place where the King, whose Palace was nearby, formally met Parliament which usually meant he needed to ask for more taxes. In 1362 a statute established that Parliament must approve of all taxation.
View of the Refectory wall (right) with the Chapter House in the background.
In 1397 Parliament moved from there to the Refectory, or dining hall, of the monastery. A single remaining wall of that medieval refectory is still in existence and can be seen peeping above the wall of the cloister on the right of the photo (above).
The other side of the wall is part of Westminster School in the garden of Ashburnham House and can’t be experienced unless you are lucky enough to get on a tour. But it can be glimpsed if you go to the upstairs section of the Abbey’s Cellarium café where if you look out of the window you will see a small section of the medieval wall in all its pristine glory (photo below). The dining hall was much bigger than the Chapter House and more fit for purpose even though it was inconvenient for the monks to have to clear up to make room for King and Commons.
View from the Cellarium window
After the Reformation Parliament was moved over the road in Old Palace Yard to the chapel of St Stephen’s College after the monks were forced to vacate it as it no longer served any religious purpose. In 1547 the fiercely Protestant Edward VI gave the Commons full use of the chapel where they stayed for nearly 300 years until it burned down in 1834. The Commons retained the shape of the old chapel where monks faced each other in long lines which is why the design of today's Parliament is oppositional rather than circular as in many other countries.
The evolution of Parliament wasn’t quite as linear as it might seem. Assemblies of one kind and another - such as Witans - had existed for centuries. The first recorded use of the word “Parliament” was in 1236 under Henry III but it was not like the Parliament of today any more than Simon de Montford’s was in 1265 which involved imprisoning the king and packing parliament with cronies.
LIVE Carols & Thorney Christmas Quiz via Zoom - December 2020
Our normal Christmas party was cancelled because of Covid-19 so we had an experimental one instead in the lovely garden of the Wellington Hotel in Vincent Square. It started with a live carol performance by a small group from our own local South Westminster Community Choir singing to a Zoom audience such favourites as Silent Night, While Shepherds Watched and Ding Dong Merrily amongst others. There was strong brass instrumental accompaniment aided by an occasional bark from a chorister’s guide-dog and passers-by, including families with children and babies, gathered near the gate to enjoy the rare sight and listen.
After the break, the Zoom continued with a Thorney themed quiz with enough puzzling questions like “What caused the clock in the Elizabeth Tower to lose nearly 5 minutes in 1949?” to stump some of our finest Thorney Island scholars!
It was a special and very enjoyable evening and, hopefully, we will be back to normal next year.
CLICK IMAGE BELOW TO VIEW A SHORT CLIP:
Carols & Thorney Christmas Quiz LIVE via Zoom - Monday 7th December
The Society's 34th AGM & Talk via Zoom - Tuesday 10th November
Our AGM was held on 10th November. After the business of the meeting, we were pleased to welcome historian Dorian Gerhold to talk on The history of Victoria Tower Gardens - From Palace and Abbey to public park. Please click the image below for a recording of the talk. 
The Society's 34th AGM & Talk via Zoom - Tuesday 10th November
Save Victoria Tower Gardens - Planning Inquiry 6th October - 13th November
UPDATE! OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2020
The long awaited inquiry began at 10am on 6th October and ran until 13th November. Daily recordings of all Sessions can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQqDetL1R5aRgbNm8PDViNw We now patiently await the result which is not expected until the Appeal by the LGT (London Gardens Trust) has been heard.
Read more: Save Victoria Tower Gardens - Planning Inquiry 6th October - 13th November
Victoria Tower Gardens - Judicial Review brought by the London Gardens Trust
UPDATE ! 20th October 2020
The London Gardens Trust (Previously LPGT) will APPEAL the decision reached at the Judicial Review.
UPDATE ! 5th October 2020
The Judicial Review has now come and gone, a moment of great excitement that resulted in LPGT winning one argument and losing another. The Government was castigated for not having implemented sufficiently convincing “handling arrangements” to guarantee a total separation between its two internal functions (applicant and also decision-maker – It is considered this is a conflict of interest), but the judge sadly did not consider the arguments sufficiently serious to suggest that a final decision on this matter should be taken away from the Minister who is currently designated to make it. LPGT and SVTG (Save Victoria Tower Gardens Campaign) are of course troubled by this decision and currently very seriously considering an appeal….
Read more: Victoria Tower Gardens - Judicial Review brought by the London Gardens Trust
Autumn/Winter 2020 Newsletter
Click image to view
A History of St James's Park through Trees, Talk by Greg Packman - October 2020
"HENRY VIII - AN UNLIKELY PIONEER OF REWILDING! "
To watch, click image below:
A History of St James's Park through Trees - Talk by Greg Packman
Consultation Begins - Southside, Victoria Street
Consultation Begins - Southside, Victoria Street