News & Events

Dickens, Death & Disease in Victorian Westminster

Saturday 25 February 2012: 10.30am - 3pm

City of Westminster Archives Centre

Join us for a day of free talks and tours exploring Dickensian Westminster! To book a place, please contact Westminster City Archives

Programme of events



10.30             Subterranean Westminster in the mid-Victorian Period

Antony Clayton, author of Subterranean City, Beneath the Streets of London (new ed. 2010) will talk about developments in Westminster in the 1850s and 1860s including Joseph Bazalgette and the construction of new sewers, building the Victoria Embankment and other subterranean subjects.

12.00            Dickens & The Workhouse, Oliver Twist and the London Poor

Dr Ruth Richardson will talk on Dickens and Westminster, particularly the Cleveland Street workhouse, to coincide with the publication of her book on the subject by Oxford University Press. 

14.00            Dickens & The Devils’ Acre: a guided walk

Mike Murphy, a City of Westminster Guide, will lead a guided walk of the local area, which so inspired Dickens. 

New photocopying policy introduced in the Archives Search Room

From 1 November 2011 we will be operating a revised photocopying policy in the Archives Search Room. These changes are being introduced to ensure the best care for our collections.

As a result, some materials that were previously available for photocopying will now not be able to be copied in this way. In order to acquire images of these materials you may need to place an order with our scanning service. Alternatively, you may use your own camera for a small fee with one of our self-service photography permits

Read the Photocopying Policy or find out about our scanning service 

200 years of theatre history published online for the first time

The Annals of the Haymarket are a series of four extraordinary volumes on the history of the Haymarket, compiled by Alexander Meyrich Broadley (1847-1916). Spanning over 200 years of activity in the Haymarket, they are filled with portraits, cartoons, playbills and manuscript letters, offering a remarkable insight into the history of London's theatre industry.

The letters in the collection shed light on the thoughts and experiences of the major players – actors, singers, dancers, managers and impresarios – involved in London’s vibrant theatre industry from 1700 to the turn of the 20th Century.

Volunteers and staff at Westminster City Archives have just completed the first phase of project to transcribe and publish these letters online. The first instalment is now ready for free download: Selected Letters from A M Broadley's Annals of the Haymarket Vol II

We're currently researching biographical notes for the rest of the Annals of the Haymarket series, and these will also be published shortly on the Westminster City Archives website.

LONDON STAGE IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY

An exciting new publication by Robert Tanitch, author of London Stage in the 20th century

 

Robert Tanitch's London Stage in the Nineteenth Century is an illustrated record, year by year, decade by decade, day by day, of great actors, famous performances, major premieres,celebrated revivals, and spectacular productions. With lively period detail, witty quotations and evocative images from the archives of the City of Westminster, each page of this book brings to life the thrilling story of London’s nineteenth-century theatreland.

Robert Tanitch has widespread knowledge of the theatre, having personally seen over 7,000 productions. His expertise is employed to excellent effect in this invaluable reference book for theatre lovers and theatre practitioners alike.

The book is available from our Local History Shop and major bookstores, priced £24.99.

Buy your copy now        

WEST END AT WAR

An exciting new website exploring the story of the blitz in Westminster

Westminster City Archives has launched a new community website to mark the 70th anniversary of the Blitz.  The site, www.westendatwar.org.uk features never before seen colour film, summaries of bomb incidents, eye witness accounts of the Blitz and a large collection of contemporary art works commissioned to record the impact of  the Blitz.

Sign up with West End at War now to contribute your memories of London at war.

Animation Workshops at City of Westminster Archives

On 25 and 26 August, BFI animator Tom Hillenbrand led a popular animation workshop for children aged 7 to 13.  

Through a series of animation techniques children have helped to create a picture of life in Westminster during the blitz as seen through the eyes of Ita Ekpenyon, an inspirational Air Raid Warden from Nigeria. The animations will appear on the West End at War website www.westendatwar.org.uk 

PADDINGTON THROUGH THE AGES

The latest CD-ROM of maps from Westminster City Archives and Manuscripti has now been released. This new disk explores the fascinating development of Paddington through 11 maps and plans ranging from 1742 to 1901, accompanied by a short history and bibliography by Alison Kenney. Explore the network of roads, railways and canals running through the grand stucco terraces of Bayswater and Maida Vale and discover the charming artisans' houses of Queen's Park through this wonderful collection of historic maps.

The disk is available now from our Local History Shop, priced £18.00. Buy your copy now

PEOPLE'S RECORD PROJECT - Westminster

Celebrating the Cultural Olympiad and the 2012 Olympic Games

The People’s Record Project - Westminster has been awarded the Inspire Mark from the LOCOG Committee as an exceptional education and community project. It aims to celebrate the Cultural Olympiad and take full advantage of the benefits of the 2012 Olympic Games. 

The project focuses on involving local communities such as primary schools in teaching pupils the ideals of the Olympic Games, including competition, dedication and team work. The projects creates opportunities for elderly community groups with reminiscence sessions on the 1948 Olympic Games and for people with disabilities with celebrating the 2012 Paralympic Games. A comprehensive education pack has been produced for the project. 

A recent Peoples Record art workshop

It is hoped that this project will create a lasting legacy for residents after the 2012 Games and serve as a symbol of a balanced and creative social way of living. 

Lots of people have already shared their memories of the Olympics with us, and you can read and listen to their experiences on Westminster's Olympics project webpage 

We would like to hear from people with memories of the 1948 Olympic Games. If you want your story to go down in history, contact Georgia Vossou.

Tel 020 7641 5162 or gvossou@westminster.gov.uk