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WCC say "No" (AGAIN!) to proposed sculpture outside Westminster Central Hall

 

UPDATE - January 2017

We regret to report that the Appeal has been dismissed by WCC.  Many of the arguments used by the Council to prevent this small sculpture from being placed at Central Hall (eg. within its Monuments Saturation Zone) would apply to the Holocaust Memorial but will they take the same view ?  We suspect not.

Appeal Decision Document - 9th January 2017

 

UPDATE - April 2016

Westminster City Council have disappointly turned down this application.  Read more here in a Guardian article.

To sign the on-line petition to overturn the decision, click here.

 

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We support this application for the installation of the sculpture 'Homeless Jesus' in front of the Methodist Hall on Storey's Gate.

The sculpture is very moving and is appropriate in this location, near where there is so much wealth and yet so many rough sleepers.

 

 

 

Westminster Fire Station

UPDATE:   December 2016

The Society is sorry to have to report that planning permission has been granted for the redevelopment of this important heritage building.

 Following a public exhibition in May, please see our response here or on the Planning page.

 

 

 

Vauxhall Bridge Road/Tachbrook St Draft Development Opportunity

November 2016

Out of our area, but important enough to comment on.  The block that contains the Queen Mother Sports Centre is being considered as a 'Development Opportunity' by Westminster City Council. They produced a draft document which can be viewed at: https://openforum.westminster.gov.uk/development-op-framework-UVBR.

Our response can be viewed here and on the Planning page.

 

 

 

 

June Stubbs 1927 - 2016


It is with great sadness to the Society that June Stubbs passed away on Friday 14th October, suddenly after collapsing at her nursing home.

June was a co-founder of the Society and for over 25 years was its Chairman and driving force. From her flat in Westminster Mansions, Great Smith Street, she was in an excellent position to keep a close eye on Thorney Island, and never missed an opportunity to represent the Society in public. She presided over many meetings, Christmas bazaars, parties and dinners. She was honoured with the award of an MBE in 2011 for services to conservation in the City of Westminster.  June moved several years ago to an excellent nursing home in the New Forest, close to her family and enjoyed her final years in comfort and rest.

To send condolences to June's family, please write to info@thethorneyislandsociety.org.uk, or by post to 10 Old Pye Street, SW1P 2DG and we will pass it on. The funeral was held on Thursday 17th November in Reigate, Surrey.

 

 

Visit to Tate Britain's Archives & Library, November 2016

With huge thanks to Derek Rice, Library & Archives Co-Ordinator for a fascinating visit behind the scenes. 

We were shown around the archives and store room.  Temperature controlled with tight security arrangements and flood protection in place.  Large moveable storage shelves and cupboards house the many treasures.  We were shown prints and documents relating to the Millbank Penitentiary on the present gallery site. Next we entered the library to see documents, books and computer displays about the Thames and its history, part of a special project that changes monthly called Show and Tell.  Finally Derek took us to view the Nash exhibition.  A fascinating visit.  

One of the many in the collection, here is a photograph of the gallery at the time of the 1928 Thames Flood.

 

 

 

AGM 2016 & the Panorama of The Thames Project

© 2015 Panorama of the Thames Ltd

 


© 2015 Panorama of the Thames Ltd

 

Our AGM was held on 9th November 2016 at the Grange Rochester Hotel, Vincent Square.  For further details and documents, please select the "Us" tab at the top of this page.

Following the business of the meeting, we were treated to a presentation and film of the project to restore Leigh's beautiful 1829 Panorama of the Thames and to create a current photographic panorama.

Highly recommended, please read further about this project.

http://www.panoramaofthethames.com

 

St Andrew's Club - 150th Anniversary, October 2016

 
 
 
The Thorney Island Society has just celebrated its 30th anniversary, so it was with a due sense of humility that we visited our next door neighbour, the Saint Andrew's club, on the occasion of the President's Reception to mark its 150th anniversary.  St Andrew's is the oldest youth club in the world. It pretty well invented them at a time when the social effects of the industrial revolution made life very difficult for young people. This was especially true in the area of Old Pye Street - which had been dubbed "The Devil's Acre" by Charles Dickens - and to which the club eventually moved (much later) from its first home in Soho. 
 
Today it is a thriving organisation, much bigger than a cursory look inside the door would suggest, occupying several storeys with a football pitch on the top floor. It engages 700 members in a variety of activities including boxing, football, karate, judo, cooking, graffiti art and theatre. Women make up around 25% of membership but have a much higher participation rate than the boys. 
 
The club is located in Old Pye Street at the junction with St Ann's Lane - just as we are - but is not tied to any of the local estates. It aims to give any youngsters confidence and self-respect, opening their lives to new options. It has nurtured plenty of successes including one youth, Ramsey, who told the gathering that St Andrew's turned his life around and enabled him to become a cameraman with Sky News.
Compared with St Andrew's, our archive is a tiny space. One of the women at the celebration remembers buying sweets from there with her 50p a week pocket money when it was a sweet shop. 
 
Although the club is thriving at the operational level, it also faces challenges as so many voluntary organisations do these days.  It gets no financial assistance from government or local councils and is always looking out for new sponsors and donors. If you are interested contact them or donate via their website standrewsclub.com
 
With the help of a Heritage Lottery Fund grant the club is in the throes of digitising its archive including the history of youth clubs in general and all the issues of its own newsletter, The Chronicle, going back to 1883! The archive can be found at standrewsclub.com/heritage
 
We wish our neighbour every success for the future.
 
 

Henry V's Chantry Chapel Visit, October 2016

When Henry V died in France in 1422 aged 36, he had left instructions for a Chantry Chapel to be built in Westminster Abbey so prayers could be said in perpetuity for the repose of his soul. It has only rarely been opened to the public but as part of the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt, the Abbey kindly invited members of the Thorney Island Society to visit the chapel.
 
It was a delight worth waiting for. We climbed up a very narrow spiral staircase to the bijoux chapel situated immediately above Henry's tomb. It is open on three sides to the rest of the Abbey - though you would never know that walking around downstairs  –  and affords spectacular views of the other tombs and down the nave of the Abbey itself. 
 
On the fourth side is the altar under which Henry's wife Catherine of Valois is buried - having been moved several times to different resting places in the Abbey on account of marrying beneath her station after Henry's death.  Above are six resplendent statues of patron saints of England and France including St George (with his spear penetrating the dragon), St Denis of France and on the right St Edmund carrying his head in his arms having reputedly been beheaded by Ivar the Boneless.  The blank plinth in the middle was probably of the Trinity but did not survive the iconoclasm of the Reformation.  At the very top of the Chapel there is a shaft of light from Henry VII's Chapel illuminating a charming stained glass window of kings of England. Sadly, photos are not allowed inside the Abbey. 
 
As if this was not enough our expert guide, the verger Ben Sheward, sprang a surprise  - a visit to the Jerusalem Chamber, the actual place - if Shakespeare is to be believed - where the future Henry V tried on the crown of England thinking his father Henry IV was dying, only for him to wake up in anger. Father and son were reconciled and Henry IV realised that dying in this room fulfilled his destiny:
 
"It hath been prophesied to me many years,
I should not die but in Jerusalem,
Which vainly I suppos’d the Holy Land.
But bear me to that chamber, there I’ll lie,
In that Jerusalem shall Harry die."
 
Our thanks to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster Abbey for a most memorable visit.
 
 
 
 

Thorney Tales (10) - Oliver Cromwell v Charles I

Most Westminster walkers are familiar with the statue of Oliver Cromwell peering imperiously from his plinth on Cromwell Green, in front of Westminster Hall. It was erected in 1895 at a cost of £500 against furious opposition from Ireland. But not many people are aware of who is looking at him from immediately across the road. It is none other than a lead bust of Charles I, who was executed on Cromwell's orders. It is affixed to the side wall of St Margaret's Church. One of two busts of him found in a Fulham salvage depot in 1945 by Hedley Hope-Nicholson, secretary of the Society of King Charles the Martyr, one of which he donated to the church in 1950. The other is now at the Banqueting House further up Whitehall, where Charles was executed. Curiously, the statue of Charles I on horse back at the southern tip of Trafalgar Square is looking towards both his place of execution and the second bust of him. Cromwell is not being allowed to forget.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fundraising Gala Dinner September 2016

 


Many thanks to all who attended and supported us on Monday 26th September at The Cinnamon Club, The Old Westminster Library.  With special thanks to the Hon Jacob Rees-Mogg MP for his speech, describing growing up in Smith Square, using this building as a public library and the huge refurbishment project planned at the Palace of Westminster.  Also many thanks to Colin Sheaf, Chairman of Bonhams UK & Asia who auctioned some unique lots and raised an excellent amount for our Archives refurbishment.  Finally, thank you to all those who donated items for the auction, as follows : 

Belgrave Communications - Tour of the Old War Office, Whitehall

Bonhams UK - Lunch and a glass of champagne for 2 at Bonhams Michelin starred restaurant in Mayfair

The Cinnamon Club - Champagne breakfast for 2

Claudia & Nobuko Bespoke Hair @ Headonizm, Page Street - 2 ladies or gents haircuts

M Wines, Victoria Street - £50 private wine tasting voucher

Joanna Moncrieff - Westminster guided walk

Catherine Slater - An illustrated history of your London house/flat and street

St James's Theatre, Palace Street - 2 tickets to 'The Pianist of Willesden Lane'

St John's Smith Square - £100 voucher for a SJSS Concert

Taj St James's Court Hotel, Buckingham Gate - The Shakespeariance Dinner for 2

The Royal Parks - Rare opportunity to feed the pelicans in St James's Park, a tour of Duck Island, Cottage & Duke of York's Column.

  1. Old War Office, 57 Whitehall
  2. Our visit to Parliament's hidden medieval places, 28th July 2016
  3. Thorney Tales (9) - Governor of Duck Island
  4. Thorney Tales (8) Westminster Opera House

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Articles

  • The Royal Parks Panel - Sign Up!
  • 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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