Events
The Victorian Society organises a wide variety of events. They are publicised first to members in the 'Blue Sheet' with our mailings in February, June and October. Some require booking, others you can just turn up on the day. When they are oversubscribed, a ballot is held, and members get first preference.
For events organised by our regional groups, please see the regional group pages.
Four Fabulous Churches around Gospel Oak
Saturday 11 July:
10am to about 4pm. A walk led by Fabian Watkinson focussing on four very different and exceptional churches.
Limited availability
AGM Weekend in Norwich and Great Yarmouth
Friday 24 July:
to Sunday 26 July. Based in Norwich, this year’s AGM weekend offers a varied programme of visits that will include country houses, churches, commercial premises and seaside entertainment venues.
Sold out
Churches in Dulwich and Herne Hill
Saturday 1 August:
10am to about 5pm. A day's walk led by Ken Powell looking at churches by Banks & Barry, G Fellowes Prynne, GE Street and JBS Comper.
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Supper Lecture: Western architecture and life in Shanghai in the nineteenth century
Thursday 6 August:
6.45pm for 7pm. A talk given by Frances Wood, Curator of the Chinese Collections at the British Library followed by supper.
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Pub Crawl: Kew Bridge to Chiswick
Monday 10 August:
6.30pm to about 8.45pm. Crawl from Kew Bridge to Chiswick led by Geoff Brandwood including pubs by Richard Norman Shaw and Nowell Parr.
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Sculpture Walk: The Albert Memorial and Kensington Gardens
Thursday 13 August:
6.30pm to about 8.30pm. A walk led by Philip Ward-Jackson including the Albert Memorial and sculptures by GF Watts, Frampton and Princess Louise.
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The Heath House Estate and Pugin’s St Giles, Cheadle, Staffordshire
Saturday 15 August:
10.30am to 5.30pm. An exclusive opportunity, organised and led by Kristian Kaminski, to visit Heath House and gardens, soon to be shown on Channel 4’s Country House Rescue. The imposing Grade II* Gothic Revival house (1836-8) is the chief work of the architect Thomas Johnson.
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Visit to Marlborough House
Tuesday 18 August:
10.30am to 12.30pm. A tour of Marlborough House designed by Christopher Wren with alterations by Sir James Pennethorne.
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Waterhouse in Cambridge
Sunday 23 August:
10.15am to about 5pm. A summer day out in Cambridge led by Colin Cunningham and a chance to see some lesser-known colleges with special access to interiors.
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Visit to the Royal Air Force Club
Monday 7 September:
2.30pm to about 4pm. A tour of the Royal Air Force Club, a gracious building of 1888 by Adolphus Croft of Gillow & Co. situated at 128 Piccadilly (adjacent to the Cavalry & Guards Club).
Book now
Arts and Crafts in Chipping Campden and Broadway
Saturday 26 September:
10am to 5.30pm. A day led by Alan Crawford in Chipping Campden and Broadway including visits to Court Barn Museum, the Old Silk Mill and the Gordon Russell Museum.
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Supper Lecture: Stonehenge
Thursday 1 October:
6.45pm for 7pm. A talk by Rosemary Hill based on her recent widely-acclaimed history of Stonehenge followed by supper.
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Lecture: Police Stations and Courts in Victorian and Edwardian London
Wednesday 7 October:
6.30pm to 8pm. A lecture by Susie Barson, Senior Architectural Investigator with English Heritage. First in our Pleasure, Punishment and Protection lecture series on Victorian and Edwardian building types organised by Geoff Brandwood.
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Lecture: Healing Troubled Minds: the Misunderstood and Majestic Victorian Asylum
Monday 12 October:
6.30pm to 8pm. A lecture by Sarah Rutherford, a garden historian with her own practice specialising in historic environment conservation plans. Second in our Pleasure, Punishment and Protection lecture series on Victorian and Edwardian building types organised by Geoff Brandwood.
Book now
Viollet-le-Duc and the Second Empire
Friday 16 October:
to Sunday 18 October. A weekend in Compiègne and Pierrefonds led by Dr Colin Cunningham will explore the rationale behind the ‘restoration’ of the château and park at Pierrefonds for Napoleon III.
Sold out
Pub Crawl: Kew Bridge to Chiswick
Monday 19 October:
6.30pm to about 8.45pm. Crawl from Kew Bridge to Chiswick led by Geoff Brandwood including pubs by Richard Norman Shaw and Nowell Parr.
Book now
Lecture: Patriotic Pleasures: Boathouses and Boating in the English Lakes
Tuesday 20 October:
6.30pm to 8pm. A lecture by Dr Adam Menuge, a Senior Architectural Investigator with English Heritage. Third in our Pleasure, Punishment and Protection lecture series on Victorian and Edwardian building types organised by Geoff Brandwood.
Book now
Visit to Bridgwater House
Monday 26 October:
2.30pm to about 4pm. A tour of Bridgwater House designed by Sir Charles Barry for Lord Ellesmere and constructed between 1847 and 1854.
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Lecture: ‘Where Shall She Live?’: the Accommodation of Working Women in London, 1880-1914
Wednesday 28 October:
6.30pm to 8pm. A lecture by Emily Gee, English Heritage’s Heritage Protection Team Leader for the South East and London. Fourth in our Pleasure, Punishment and Protection lecture series on Victorian and Edwardian building types organised by Geoff Brandwood.
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Lecture: Played and Made in Britain
Tuesday 3 November:
6.30pm to 8pm. A lecture by Simon Inglis, editor of English Heritage’s Played in Britain series.
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Conference: Courts and Capitals 1815-1914
Saturday 7 November:
10am to 5.30pm. The third Courts and Capitals Conference organised by the Society for Court Studies and the Victorian Society. The nineteenth century was one of the great eras of court culture and architectural patronage on a grand scale. Royal courts made huge contributions to cities and their planning but this has not received the attention it deserves. This conference highlights recent research and will shed new light on the influence of royal courts on the architecture and culture of some of the world’s great cities.
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Lecture: The Fight to Delight: Pleasure Palaces at the Victorian Seaside
Wednesday 11 November:
6.30pm to 8pm. A lecture by Dr Kathryn Ferry, our leading expert on British seaside architecture. Sixth in our Pleasure, Punishment and Protection lecture series on Victorian and Edwardian building types organised by Geoff Brandwood.
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Lecture: Board Schools and Beyond: Buildings for Education 1870-1914
Monday 16 November:
6.30pm to 8pm. A lecture by Elain Harwood, English Heritage historian. Seventh in our Pleasure, Punishment and Protection lecture series on Victorian and Edwardian building types organised by Geoff Brandwood.
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Lecture: Motoria: Victorian and Edwardian garages, car showrooms and motor houses
Monday 23 November:
6.30pm to 8pm. A lecture by John Minnis of English Heritage. Last in our Pleasure, Punishment and Protection lecture series on Victorian and Edwardian building types organised by Geoff Brandwood.
Book now
