City of London, City of Science

Opening of the Linbury Gallery Science City 1550-1800 at the Science Museum; growth of London in 16th century with influx of skilled instrument makers from Europe; establishment of Gresham College and Royal Society; growth of public scientific culture with lectures and experiments open to all; George III’s interest and enthusiasm and support for scientific projects; the establishment of London as the leading centre of science evidenced by the development of new instruments and new approaches to manufacturing during the 19th century.

How the Millennium Bridge saved the City of London Corporation

The developement on the north and south sides of the River Thames; the transformation of Southwark; creation of the public-private Cross-River Partnership; the re-generation of Bankside & the creation of the Tate Modern gallery; people, politics and problems with the decision and design of the bridge, and it’s ultimate success.

The War Lord Mayors: the Mayoralty and the Great War 1914-1918

Lord Mayors during the Great War.

David Hartley – Arsonist by Appointment? 1732 – 1813

Detailed description of obelisk erected in memory of David Hartley on Putney Heath in 1777; family origins of Hartley; education and early career including securing patent for protecting buildings from fire by use of iron plates.

Magna Carta, The City of London, and the ‘Special Relationship’

800th anniversary of the sealing of the Charter of the Barons as some call it, others Magna Carta, Great Charter.

Southward: London’s Second City?

This paper reviews the close links between Southwark and the City and the particular significance of the bridge which, from Roman times onwards, has linked the two areas.

London’s Role in the History of English Porcelain

The manufacture of porcelain in London developed with the advent of tea drinking from the seventeenth century onwards. The history of various London factories is examined here, demonstrating the importance of London in the history of English porcelain. Excerpts from a ballad about the damage caused by a bull in a London china shop in 1773 are provided as a conclusion.

The Funding of St.Bartholomew’s Hospital 1123-2001

An account of the financial basis on which St Bartholomew’s Hospital has been run over the centuries, from medieval royal grants to private finance initiatives in the twenty first century.

The Reform of the Post Office in the Victorian Era and its Impact on Economic and Social Activity

Rowland Hill’s reforms to the Post Office and the Act of 1839; Hill’s subsequent problems in reforming the PO until his retirement in 1864.