City Matters Edition 034

CITYMATTERS.LONDON 24 - 30 May 2017 | Page 15
Extra Matters
Giving the Capital a lesson
in its history
secrets to share: Tower Bridge is
home to a veritable feast of facts
that help tell the story of how
modern London came to be
HISTORY will be in the making on 31 May
when a campaign launched by Historic
England sweeps through the City.
Part of the ‘Keep it London’ movement
designed to encourage the Capital’s population
to celebrate and speak up for the heritage of
their city, the inaugural London History Day is
set to see 40 museums and galleries stage special
events and rare displays for one day only.
The date was chosen to coincide with the day
on which Big Ben first started keeping time in
1859.
From the treasures of the Thames to the
document which granted London its rights and
freedoms, family workshops to walking tours
and talks, London’s diverse history will be in the
spotlight in a plethora of mediums.
“This campaign is to highlight that London
is on the cusp of fundamental change,” said
Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic
England, when explaining why preservation of
the past was so crucial to future generations.
“We want that change to be right for London.
The city is home to some of the world’s most
treasured and special places.
“We want people to look at London afresh and
speak up for the amazing buildings, streets and
character of their city.”
A number of attractions in the Square Mile
are showcasing objects that played a part in the
City’s own diverse history: from London’s oldest
sporting venue to a 200-year-old hand drawn
copy of the Bayeux Tapestry.
“Our heritage is a source of pride, a reminder
of the city’s past, a foundation for its present,
and the building blocks for its future,” added Mr
Wilson. “We want to ‘Keep it London’.”
Here is where you and your family can get
up close and personal with London’s history on
31 May.
London’s History in Art
Guildhall Art Gallery will be displaying two
paintings that give very different portrayals
of London’s history. Paton and Wheatley’s
18th-century The Lord Mayor’s Procession by
Water to Westminster can be considered a fairly
conservative piece focussing on an iconic City
tradition. Meanwhile, Workman’s Chaos on
London Bridge is a much more jovial depiction
of the Capital’s congestion woes. In celebration
of London History Day, families will also be able
to partake in free activities, details of which are
available on arrival.
10am-5pm, free
Guildhall Art Gallery, Guildhall Yard
EC2V 5AE
Hand-drawn Copy of the Bayeux Tapestry
The London Metropolitan Archives (LMA) will
draw on its extensive collection for inspiration
when it hosts a series of craft workshops on
31 May, including the 22m, hand-drawn copy
of the Bayeux Tapestry. Produced in around
1816 for the 750th anniversary of the Battle of
Hastings, the tapestry is the longest piece in the
LMA’s stash of treasures and will take pride of
place.
10am-4pm, free
LMA, 40 Northampton Road EC1R 0HB
The Houndsditch
The deadliest day in the City of London Police’s
history – the Houndsditch Murders and the
subsequent trial at the Old Bailey – will go
under close examination at Guildhall Art
Gallery. People were fearing for their lives when
gun-toting anarchists fired at officers, who were
armed only with truncheons, and the horrors of
the day are still very much palpable more than
100 years on thanks to work of local historians.
Learn more about the murders from former
Inspector Peter Clarke and visit where the
stand-off took place on walking tour Bobbies,
Bombs and Blaggers: Policing London’s Square
Mile.
9.30am-7.30pm, free
Tour starts at 6pm (£5 plus booking fee)
City of London Police Museum, Aldermanbury
EC2V 7HH
Photo by tpholland
London’s Roman Amphitheatre
Join a free tour of London’s oldest sporting
venue – enhanced with futuristic Tron-like
visuals to help get the story across – and explore
what really went on in the imposing arena.
Midday, 1pm & 2pm, free
Guildhall Art Gallery, Guildhall Yard
EC2V 5AE
Reward of Merit
Guildhall Library will be helping to write
the first chapter of London History Day by
displaying two miniature books bound in one
volume: The History of Whittington and his Cat
and The History of Goody Two Shoes. Dating
from 1824, the works belonged to Londoner
Lettia Elley, and were kindly donated by
Whittington collector Ellery Yale Wood to help
keep them in the best possible shape for future
readers. Interestingly enough, the rags to riches
story of Dick was inspired by Mayor of London,
Richard Whittington, who himself was a major
contributor to the founding of the Guildhall
Library in the 1420s. Talk about going full circle.
9.30am, free
Guildhall Library Aldermanbury EC2V 7HH
Tower Bridge Interactive Model
Since this will be the first instalment of London
History Day, it is fitting that Tower Bridge chiefs
are going right to the start of the structure’s
extensive history. John Gass, the very first bridge
master, is the subject of the Tower’s celebratory
displays. Guests can also have a go at raising the
bridge themselves on an interactive model and
make their own bridge master hat to take home.
10.30am-4pm, tickets £9.80, concessions
£6.80, children £4.20 (event free with general
admission)
Tower Bridge Road SE1 2UP
cityoflondon.gov.uk/londonhistoryday
‘Dam’ good show from pupils
OVER 4,000 schoolchildren have already
taken part in a free outdoor education project
designed to get youngsters more involved with
nature.
The Corporation, which manages Hampstead
Heath, created the Ponds Project Education
Programme to take advantage of learning
opportunities provided by a dam-strengthening
engineering scheme on some of Heath’s ponds.
Activities, which will run until July, include
building mini-dams, investigating water
All pumped up
RUNNERS raked in £77,000 during the British
Heart Foundation’s (BHF) annual Tower of
London Run.
Some 1,500 entrants took on the challenge
to raise vital cash that will go towards helping
researchers to better understand how to prevent,
diagnose and treat heart and circulatory disease,
which currently affects around seven million
people in the UK.
Hayley Reynolds, event organiser at the BHF,
said: “Without the dedication and commitment
of our inspiring runners and walkers, we
wouldn’t be able to fund research that has
broken new ground, revolutionised treatments
and transformed the lives of millions of people
in the UK.”
engaging: and
offering support
quality, and exploring the properties of soil. The
sessions, both practical and classroom based,
are available to secondary schools and aim
to educate young people in a range of topics,
including science, geography and citizenship.
Susie Glover, education project officer at the
Corporation, said: “Our sessions provide insight
into a range of interesting scientific careers,
including engineering, ecology and geology.
“Students also get to apply their scientific
skills in an exciting real world context.”
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice of application to vary a Premises Licence under
Section 34 of the Licensing Act 2003
Notice is hereby given that Sparaton Ltd in respect
of Premises known as Harry's Bar, Abchurch Yard,
London, EC4N 7BA applied to City of London Corporation for
a Variation of a Premises Licence. The proposed variation is:
To amend the start time for the sale of alcohol
on Mondays - Sundays inclusive to 07.00. The terminal
time for all licensable activities is to remain as existing.
To delete the conditions detailed in the application lodged
with the Licensing Authority which relate to the
Licensing Act 1964 and which has been superseded
by the Licensing Act 2003. Any representations regarding
the above-mentioned application must be received in
writing by Licensing Authority, City of London Licensing
Authority, Markets and Consumer Protection, PO Box 270,
Guildhall, EC2P 2EJ no later than 13th June 2017 stating
the grounds for representation. The register of City of London
Corporation and the record of the application may be
inspected at the address of the council, given above,
during normal business hours or on the council’s website -
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false
statement in connection with an application. A person
is liable to an unlimited fine on conviction should such a false
statement be made.
Poppleston Allen
The Stanley Building, 7 Pancras Square, London, N1C 4AG