Talks programme for 2025:

Thursday 30 January

Carol Harris of Crofton Park History: A Good Night Out

How our families used to entertain ourselves before we had television.  Featuring those venues we still have like the Rivoli, and those long lost like the Gaumont and the Empire

Thursday 27 February (postponed to 25 September)

Andrew Mayfield, archaeologist: Community Archaeology in a Royal Park

A multi-million pound National Lottery Heritage Fund scheme, to restore and conserve Greenwich Park.  Covering work on sites across the park, from Saxon barrows to a Magnetic Observatory and from an air raid shelter to a Charles II landscape!

Thursday 27 March

The Society’s AGM: The usual formal business, plus discussion on potential change of meeting time and venue.  Full papers to be sent to members in advance.  All welcome but only members can vote.  After the AGM there will be a taster from Roger Mead about the Society visit to the Woolwich Royal Arsenal in April (see Other Events below), and an update from Dr John Price on progress with the Museum of Everyday Life.

Thursday 24 April

Dr John Price, Public and Community Historian: “A Splendid Specimen of Humanity” – Deptford’s Clergymen and the Communities they Served

At the turn of the nineteenth century there were at least ten Church of England vicars and around twenty nonconformist ministers serving Deptford.  Adopting a People’s History approach, this talk will examine some of these individuals and explore what they had to say about the local area and about the people and communities they served.

Thursday 29 May

Franki Webb on what archaeology in Lewisham is revealing about our borough (more detail to follow).  This talk was postponed from July 2024.

Thursday 26 June

St Dunstan’s College – from the City of London to Catford leafy suburb

Shea Hollis, St Dunstan’s Archivist and Alumna, will talk on the origins of St Dunstan’s College, how and when it came to Catford; featuring documents and artefacts from the College’s archives

Please note: this talk will take place in the St Dunstan’s College Theatre (access via the West Gate entrance), and NOT the Jubilee Pavilion.

Thursday 31 July

In the 150th anniversary year of the first county cricket matches being played by Kent at the Private Banks Cricket Ground (now the Jubilee Ground), Stuart Hallifax will give a talk on those early days

Thursday 25 September (postponed from 27 February)

Andrew Mayfield, archaeologist: Community Archaeology in a Royal Park

A multi-million pound National Lottery Heritage Fund scheme, to restore and conserve Greenwich Park.  Covering work on sites across the park, from Saxon barrows to a Magnetic Observatory and from an air raid shelter to a Charles II landscape!

Thursday 30 October

Not Forgotten – The Crooked Billet, a V2 attack on Bromley

A disaster, its aftermath and how its victims are remembered.  A story of great perseverance shared by Jennie Randall, with a Lewisham connection  too.

Other talks planned for Autumn 2025 (dates TBC)

Andrew Dawson: The Making of A Walking Guide to Algernon Road

This talk will examine the process of compiling the guide and some of the personalities discovered, as  well as the changing social character of the street over time.  (The Guide is part of a bigger video project entitled “Our Road, Algernon Road”)

Mike Brown (subject TBC)

Other events

Tuesday 8 April 2025: A range of fascinating items from the LLHS Museum Archive will be on display at the Salon of Curiosities event on 8 April 2025, 6.00pm to 9.00pm. There will be displays, demonstrations, and talks. More information and tickets available here https://bit.ly/4jWrOCI. LLHS members can get a 15% discount on tickets by entering the promo code LLHS25 at the checkout!

Saturday 26 April 2025: a tour of the Woolwich Arsenal for LLHS members by Roger Mead.  The tour will last from 10.00am to 12.30pm and places are limited. Members will receive full details along with the AGM papers, and are asked to book via Eventbrite.

Summer Events

The Society plans to have a stall at various local events during summer 2025, including:

• Hilly Fields Fayre: Saturday 21 June

• St Dunstan’s Festival: Saturday 28 June (provisional)

• Ladywell Society Summer Festival: Sunday 29 June (TBC)

• Brockley & Ladywell Cemetery Open Day: Sunday 13 July (TBC)

• Telegraph Hill Upper Park: Sunday 30 August (TBC)

Volunteers are always needed to help at these events – please get in touch!

If you have any suggestions regarding talks and/or speakers, please contact Tamsin Bacchus (see Contacts page) or visit our Facebook page.