| The City’s 1798 Response to the Silver Coin Shortage – the Dorrien-Magens Shilling (paper not available) R.T.D.Wilmot 31 January 2000 |
The shortage of silver coin during the 18th century, owing to the fact that silver coins were more valuable as bullion; only 3 issues of silver shillings between 1760 and 1800 (1763, 1787 and the Dorrien Magens shilling of 1798, the rarest and most valuable of all); failure of the Government’s 1797 silver coin issue; use of tokens and the Truck Shop system; Dorrien Magens’ and City merchants’ attempt to send £30,000 of silver bullion to be minted into shillings and the Government’s alteration of the law and destruction of almost all the shillings; the solution to the problem by the adoption of the gold standard and the issue of the gold sovereign in 1816. |
| The Reform of the Post Office in the Victorian Era and its Impact on Economic and Social Activity Deputy Anthony Eskenzi, CBE 5 June 2000 |
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. |
| The Office of Recorder of the City of London Sir Lawrence Verney TD, DL, MA 30 October 2000 |
The varying role and duties of the Recorder from the origins of the office in the 13th century to date |
| St Paul’s School Alderman Sir Alexander Graham GBE 26 February 2001 |
The history of the school from its foundation; association with the Mercers explored and explained; role of the school at the forefront of politics and religion, and, at the Reformation, its role in the revival of learning in England; endowment and financial issues. The talk also describes the contribution of each high master to the running of the school. |
| The funding of St Bartholomew’s Hospital, 1123-2001 Sir John Chalstrey MD, DSC, FRCS 11 June 2001 |
An account of the financial basis on which St Bartholomew’s Hospital has been run over the centuries, from mediaeval royal grants to private finance initiatives in the twenty first century |
| Fleet Street Deputy Christopher Mitchell Esq, OBE 29 October 2001 |
A summary history of Fleet Street, encompassing Fleet Marriages (1696-1753) and Sweeney Todd’s barber’s shop, but with a particular focus on the associations of the street with national newspapers. The impact of the introduction of the Koenig Steam Press in 1814, the power of the unions; the role of the Press Barons and the eventual move of the publication of newspapers away from Fleet Street are described in detail. |
| Local Government: the beginning or the end? Deputy Peter Rigby, CBE, JP 18 February 2002 |
An assessment of ‘British local government, its impact on the people it serves, its potential, its excesses and its failures.’ The talk investigates key changes in local government practice, including the introduction of party politics and various local government reorganisations including those of 1965 and 1986 in London. References to Tony Crossland’s famous phrase ‘The party is over’; the Redcliffe Maud and Widdecombe Enquiries; local authority budgets; Best Value. |
| The burning of the Jubilee Book 1376-1387 Professor Caroline Barron 17 June 2002 |
Abridged from a seminar paper, this talk attempts to explain the extraordinary events which led to the burning of the Corporation’s Jubilee Book in 1387. The significance of the book is investigated, an author is tentatively proposed and the contents of the book are suggested. Did it survive in copy form? |
| Life at the Mansion House at the end of the twentieth century Tommy Tucker 16 September 2002 |
A light hearted assessment of life at Mansion House, with sketches of all the Lord Mayors from Dame Mary Donaldson to Sir Clive Martin. |
| The role of the Chief Commoner in 2002 Jonathan Charkham Esq., CBE, MA 23 June 2003 |
Charts the political context in which the Chief Commoner has to operate, together with descriptions of ceremonial and social events in 2002. |
| History of the City Heritage Society 1973-2003 C. Douglas Woodward CBE 6 Oct 2003 |
Beginnings under the aegis of the Barbican Residents’ Association; changing views about conservation over 30 years; the growth of conservation areas; establishment as a registered charity and the inauguration of the City Heritage Award scheme in 1978; the battle between the Society and Peter Palumbo over the Mansion House Square/No. 1 Poultry site development schemes and the 3 public enquiries associated with them; other schemes opposed or backed by the Society; summary of the Society’s successes and failures over 30 years. |
| Robert Walpole and the City of London, 1721-1742 Dr James Cope 29 March 2004 |
An assessment of the relationship between Robert Walpole and the City during his Long Ministry: ‘Walpole’s twenty one years in power brought great benefits to the City, but its favourable influence was never readily available to him and its hostility at the end was a factor in his final defeat by his Tory opponents’. |
| The rebuilding of the Guildhall Art Gallery Richard Gilbert Scott 19 November 2004 |
An account by Richard Gilbert Scott, architect of the scheme, of the tortuous process which led to the rebuilding of the Guildhall Art Gallery. While it received planning permission in 1964 it was opened by Her Majesty the Queen in 1999. |
| The Corporation of London Cemetery and Crematorium Anthony Moss, Esq., MA 28 February 2005 |
A history of the Corporation of London Cemetery and Crematorium, designed by William Haywood. The contracts for enclosing the first 98 acres were let in 1854. When the first burials took place in 1856, they were on unconsecrated land, as the consecration of the burial areas could not proceed without untangling the financial arrangement with the 108 parishes of the City. The first cremation took place in 1905. With 200 acres, it is the largest cemetery in London and one of the largest municipal cemeteries in Europe. |
| Tales of the unexpected: the Corporation and Captives in Barbary Miss Betty Masters OBE BA FSA 27 June 2005 |
This paper investigates the City’s involvement in assisting with the ‘redeeming of captives in the dominion of Turkey’ especially on the Barbary coast of North Africa in the sixteenth century |
| St Paul’s and the City before 1300 Professor Derek Keene 24 October 2005 |
An account of the development of St Paul’s in the early centuries, from 604 to 1300. St Paul’s was a major focal point in the life of the City and a meeting place of the folkmoot, a political and judicial institution which faded away by 1300. |
| Nelson and the City Alderman David Wootton 13 February 2006 |
This paper charts the specific events which make up the relationship between Nelson and the City, from the celebration of three of the four major naval battles in which he took part (and which figure on the Nelson monument in the Great Hall at Guildhall) to his funeral on 9 January 1806. |
| The Rise and Decline of Guilds – with particular reference to the Guilds of Tylers & Bricklayers in Great Britain and Ireland. Tom Hoffman, LLB 19 June 2006 |
An account of the growth and decline of Guilds from the reign of Henry 1 to the Municipal Corporation Act of 1835 when almost all the guilds in the country were required to surrender the last remaining areas of control they still exerted over trade and industry. The paper uses Tilers and Bricklayers as a specific example, and references are drawn from all over the country. |
| Apollo’s Swan and Lyre Dr. Andrew Parmley, MusM 23 October 2006 |
The objective of this paper is to reflect the City’s long interest in the Arts by discussing the origins of drama and sacred and secular music in the City. It considers the early histories of the Parish Clerks’ and Musicians’ Companies and the City Waits as well as the Painter Stainers’ Company, — all historical custodians of the Arts in the City. |
| A ticket to attend: the laying of the first stone of the new London Bridge, 1825 John Bird, O.B.E. 22 January 2007 |
This paper described the ceremonies associated with the laying of the first stone of the New London Bridge in 1825. |
| The formation and early years of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Brian Harris 11 June 2007 |
This account shows how Mansion House, Guildhall and the City were involved in the foundation of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 1881 after several attempts. The paper also covers the crucial role played by Lord Mayor Sir William McArthur in its creation and its continuing role to this day |
| London’s role in the history of English porcelain James Sewell, O.B.E., M.A., F.S.A. 15 October 2007 |
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 evolution of UK pension funds: some observations and less familiar aspects Ken Ayers 11 February 2008 |
Starting with the first organised pension scheme for Royal Navy Officers in the 1670’s, this paper follows the historical development of pension provision, — from deferred annuities to final salary related schemes and thence to defined contribution schemes. The actuarial reasoning for the shift and its historical context is carefully appraised. |
| Ivan Luckin and the sale of London Bridge Archie Galloway 16 June 2008 |
A gently humorous account of Ivan Luckin’s role in achieving the sale of Rennie’s London Bridge in 1968 and its subsequent transfer to Lake Havasu City in the Arizona desert |
| The City of London’s Open Spaces Christine Cohen 13 October 2008 |
An account of the City of London’s Open Spaces, how they came into the City’s stewardship and recent developments associated with their management |
| The City’s Estates in the 17th century James Sewell, O.B.E., M.A., F.S.A 23 February 2009 |
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| Southwark: London’s Second City? Deputy Robin Sherlock 15 June 2009 |
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. |
| Smithfield: the in-between years Deputy Michael Welbank 26 October 2009 |
The history of Smithfield Market between 1837 (the date at which it was vividly described by Dickens in Oliver Twist as an overcrowded and poorly managed market) and 1868 (when William Davis’ peaceful and orderly depiction of the market was made). An important step in the resolution of the problem was the Smithfield Removal Act of 1852 which secured the City’s rights to build, at is own expense, run and retain the revenues of any new cattle market even outside the City boundaries. |
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