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From the Chairman:

As usual this Newsletter is distributed with our quarterly visits list. The highlight of the programme is our annual Banister Fletcher Lecture on 4th December. Our lecturer, Ptolemy Dean, is well known as one of the presenters on the BBC’s Restoration programme. He practises as an architect in London and his expertise is acknowledged by his service on English Heritage’s London Advisory Committee. He has a long-standing special interest in the work of Sir John Soane, on whom he has published a number of works, including Sir John Soane and London, the subject of this year’s lecture. It promises to be a fascinating evening and there is a reception afterwards in which we can continue discussion and enjoy some pre-Christmas social cheer. I hope to see many of you there.

We had an enthusiastic turn-out for our mystery slide show evening on November 5th with lively contributions from the floor about the whereabouts of some of the unknown items. If any members wish to follow this up with further research, or to look at the slides more closely, please contact librarian Gayne Wells via the Society office.

This time last year we notified members of changes in our system for allocating tickets for visits, to try to give as many members as possible a chance to participate in our events. The new system seems to have improved matters. We have since added a cancellation telephone number; this is to provide a greater chance of those on the waiting list being offered a last minute place when members have to cancel a visit they have booked. Please use it if you have to and help us to spread the benefits of membership as widely as possible.

One long-running planning saga is coming to a close as I write. After several false starts a public inquiry has opened into a large development at Smithfield. Late listing of the historic cold store has meant that it will survive, but the General Market Building is still under threat. The Society is unable to be represented at the inquiry where the lead in opposition to the proposals is being taken by English Heritage and SAVE Britain’s Heritage. We are writing to give general support to their opposition.

And as Smithfield draws to a conclusion a new saga is opening at Victoria where proposals which would involve improvements to the District Line platforms and ticket hall are linked to large areas of demolition and redevelopment including two towers of over 40 storeys. Quite apart from the tall building issues we are concerned that a scheme based on proposed improvements to the transport interchange appears completely to ignore the other tube lines, buses and taxis. We are writing to Westminster City Council to voice our objections.

Sir John Soane’s Museum has in recent years widened access and developed a programme of exhibitions that means that queues now sometimes form in the street outside 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields. For Londoners there is currently an exhibition of particular interest, Vaulting Ambition, which explains the work of Robert Adam and his brothers in building at the Adelphi and elsewhere in London. For those interested in what is currently being built there is an exhibition of current school building in London at New London Architecture at the Building Centre in Store Street. Another exhibition which may be of interest, though not so closely focused on London, is that which celebrates the 300th anniversary of the Society of Antiquaries of London whose premises at Burlington House we used as a venue for our Annual General Meeting in 2004. The exhibition is in the galleries of the Royal Academy immediately adjacent.

John Hill, our secretary, has told us that he wishes to retire from his post after next year’s AGM. John has laboured ceaselessly on the Society’s behalf for well over five years and it is entirely due to his quiet efficiency that our Society functions so well. He has made a notable contribution to bringing the Society into the 21st century by putting most of what we do into a form which can be managed on computer. We are looking for someone who is computer literate and can offer two to three days a week looking after the day-to-day running of the Society. Though some work can be done from home most would be done in the Society’s office at Mortimer Wheeler House in Eagle Wharf Road. Mortimer Wheeler House is reasonably accessibly by public transport and anyone working there would have the benefit of mingling with the Museum of London’s archaeologists and archivists who also work there. If you are interested, or know of any who may be, please contact John or me as soon as possible.

With best wishes,
Frank Kelsall