Tuesday 1 August 2017
The Great Fire of London in 1666
Speaker: Barbara Askew
This lecture examines the devastation wrought by the fire and looks at the inspirational plans put forward for the rebuilding of the City.

Tuesday 5 September 2017
Les Parisiennes
Speaker: Anne Sebba
This lecture tells the story of how the women of Paris lived, loved and died in the 1940s, as epitomised by Coco Chanel and Geneviève de Gaulle.

Tuesday 3 October 2017
Chatsworth House and the Devonshire Collections in the Modern Age
Speaker: Simon Seligman
The lecture describes Derbyshire’s treasure house in the modern age.

Tuesday 7 November 2017
Inspired by Stonehenge
Speaker: Julian Richards
Julian will examine Stonehenge’s architecture, the production of stone tools and the beliefs that may have driven its development.
This is a bring-a-friend-free lecture. Bring as many friends as you’d like!

Tuesday 5 December 2017
Ghosts!
Speaker: Susan Owens
Susan tells the fascinating story of ghosts in English art and entertainment.
Following the December lecture, the committee invites you to stay for drinks and mince pies.

Tuesday 6 February 2018
Paul Gauguin – Genius or Madman?
Speaker: Eveline Eaton
Gaugin’s teacher said: “This boy will either be a genius or a madman”. This lecture will discuss whether this prediction is true.

Tuesday 6 March 2018
Cracking Glass: The Story of Britain’s ‘Big Four’postwar glass companies
Speaker: Mark Hill
An overview of Britain’s ‘Big Four’ postwar glass companies, Whitefriars, King’s Lynn (Wedgwood), Caithness and Dartington. The current glut of Whitefriars fakes is covered, including tips on how to spot them!

Tuesday 3 April 2018
Murder, Sex and Mayhem in English Churches
Speaker: John Vigar
This lecture discuses murder and mayhem from across the country and explains both the stories behind them and their relevance to particular periods of history.

Tuesday 1 May 2018
Mosaics in Ravenna
Speaker: Christopher Herbert
The mosaics of Ravenna were created during great political turmoil. In the fifth and sixth centuries, invaders played havoc with the western Roman Empire. In spite of this, artists and church leaders created churches of astonishing beauty.
This is a bring-a-friend-free lecture. Bring as many friends as you’d like!

Tuesday 5 June 2018
At Rest in Kew – Johann Zoffany
Speaker: Frances Hughes
It is 200 years since the death of Johann Zoffany, prolific painter of the theatre and a superb recorder of English society in India in the 1780s.

Tuesday 3 July 2018
AGM at 7.30pm
Lecture at 8pm
18th Century Georgian Furniture
Speaker: Janusz Karczewski-Slowikowski
This lecture traces the development of elegance through style in relation to the design and construction of furniture during the 18th century.

Click here for this year’s lectures.

Click here for the 2016/17 lectures.