Black Arts Timeline:

Tue 1st Sept at 19:00

This year, 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning began the process of cataloguing and digitising its 30 year archive. Black Arts Timeline is a sample of that excavation and reflects 198’s dedication to supporting both emerging and established artists in their practice and to creating thought-provoking and critical exhibitions. The presentation highlights a lineage of black artists who in part, have made 198 what it is today.

This event is hosted by 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning.   Book here

Come round any old time - Brixton's music hall community:

Wed 2nd Sept at 19:00

At this, the first of the Music Hall Wednesdays talks running through September, Sue Mckenzie looks at how and why Brixton was home to so many people from music hall, early cinema and variety in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She will also tell the stories of some of the performers, their careers and their fortunes in what was a precarious and unpredictable world.

This event is hosted by the Brixton Music Hall Project. Book here

Down Lambeth Way, part 1:

Fri 4th Sept at 11:00

This is the first of a two part mini series. Using the London Fire Brigade Museum's fascinating film and photo archives, the curators will be illustrating the Brigade’s history and presence in Lambeth from the Albert Embankment Fire in 1918 to the present day.

To access this  premiere screening, which will only become available at the time above, click on View here

This event is hosted by the London Fire Brigade Museum. 

Militant activity - Chess in Victorian Lambeth and Beyond:

Fri 4th Sept at 19:00

While it began as a game for the elite, during the second half of the 19th century people from all classes discovered the joy of chess, and vigorous chess clubs got going in Brixton and Streatham. This talk follows their early development, and meets the colourful characters, real and mechanical, who played the royal game locally: Howard Staunton, Isidor Gunsberg, Mephisto and others. Chess would never be the same again. 

This event is hosted by the Streatham Society. Book here

Clapham Ghost Signs Walk: 

Sun 6th Sept at 14:30

This virtual walk from Clapham North to Clapham Common explores the fading remains of old advertising, typically found painted on walls. In a one mile stretch, we will discover the remains of 12 signs and hear about the research into the companies advertised. The walk was developed by Sam Roberts (aka Mr Ghostsigns) with photographs and sign reconstructions by local photographer, Roy Reed.

This Clapham Society event is hosted by Lambeth Archives. Book here

Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens - a place to see and to be seen:

Mon 7th Sept at 19:00

Before the days of amusement parks and fairgrounds, Londoners enjoyed an evening in a pleasure garden. Famous for their entertainment, and notorious for the fun and frolics that went on there, London's pleasure gardens were the places to see and be seen. Take a stroll through Vauxhall,  the most famous of them all, hear about its history, the people who frequented it, the scandal and the stories – and enjoy what goes on after dark!

This event is hosted by the Streatham Society. Book here

Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, a history:

Tue 8th Sept at 19:00

Author David Coke gives a brief introduction on how the book came about and his involvement with Vauxhall Gardens, the celebrated venue that from 1661 to 1859 offered entertainment and pleasure ranging from the noble and uplifting to the tawdry and downright vulgar. David's online talk is followed by an interview and discussion with the author and a Q&A session with audience. 

This Friends of Carnegie Library event is hosted by Lambeth Libraries. 

Book here

The Empress, Theatre of Varieties:

Wed 9th Sept at 19:00

As part of Music Hall Wednesdays, Bill Linskey will talk about the history of The Empress Theatre of Varieties. The building on the corner of Bernays Grove, opened in 1898 and quickly became one of Brixton’s best-known venues; it was described  as 'one of the finest of London's suburban music halls'. Bill's talk will draw on a variety of sources including contemporary newspaper reports.

This event is hosted by the Brixton Music Hall Project. Book here

Health in Lambeth:

Thur 10th Sept at 19:00

Health care and public health have been top of the national agenda for many months now. This talk by Len Reilly explains the evolution of care and public health in Lambeth, looks at the work of voluntary and public hospitals, medical education and research, GP care, public health, dispensaries, mental health and charities, and draws out the distinctive features that set Lambeth apart. 

This event is hosted by Lambeth Archives. Book here

A virtual perambulation around the Victorian Kennington Park:

Sat 12th Sept at 14:30

An illustrated virtual walk around Kennington Park as it would have looked in Victorian times, led by Marietta Crichton Stuart, chair of the Friends of Kennington Park. With tales of plants, politics, play, fountains, fitness and family homes, it won't be too arduous and there is a guarantee that you won't get rained on.

This Friends of Kennington Park event is hosted by Lambeth Archives. 

Book here

Draw Lambeth Creative History Workshop 1:

Sun 13th Sept at 14:30

Illustrator Nina Carter with history writer Naomi Clifford will lead the first of two 90-minute online workshop exploring Lambeth's rich heritage. They will guide your journey to some well-known - and not so well-known - landmarks, chosen by people in the community. You will hear about their remarkable histories and then make some quick-fire sketches. Afterwards, your drawings will be compiled into a narrated animation – a lasting souvenir of your virtual trip. Suitable for all ages and all drawing abilities. Requirements: Paper, pencil, internet connection.

This Draw Lambeth event is hosted by Lambeth Archives. Book here

How to give a heritage walk:

Mon 14th Sept at 19:00

Many Lambeth organisations, including the South London Botanical Institute, run walks in the local area, looking at buildings, plants or other subjects. How many of these are fully accessible to those with disabilities – people with hearing/sight difficulties as well as mobility issues? And how well do we publicise their accessibility? Tina Hodgkinson, a qualified London tour guide and Ambassador for Euan’s Guide, offers guidance about what more we can do.

This event is hosted by the South London Botanical Institute. Book here

Ted Hollamby's architectural legacy:

Mon 14th Sept at 19:00

Edmund Bird - heritage advisor to Transport for London, former Head of Conservation and Urban Design at Lambeth, and author of a series of books on Lambeth’s architecture between - will talk about the diverse range of buildings commissioned by Lambeth during the time (1964-1981) that Edward Hollamby was its Borough Architect and Director of Architecture, Planning & Development.

This event is hosted by the Brixton Society. Book here

Streatham's Theatrical History:

Tue 15th Sept at 19:00

When entertainment was not readily available or affordable, Streatham-ites have always made it themselves. The first building constructed with theatre in mind was opened in 1888, and within 40 years, the entertainment on offer in Streatham rivalled that of the West End. This online talk reflects the way in which professional and amateur theatre have complemented each other through the ages, and shows how talented amateurs became stars of the West End stage.

This event is hosted by the Streatham Society. Book here

Brixton Memories: Eight Walks, One Area:

Tue 15th Sept at 19:00

Making heritage engaging and accessible for young people is one of the final projects in the Brixton Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Lambeth Council. Working with Empathy Museum and Boldface, seven young people launched their investigation into the heritage of central Brixton and brought it to life through podcasting workshops. These immersive podcasts were created with three schools across Brixton during the pandemic. 

This event is hosted by the Brixton Project. Book here

Researching Brixton's Music Hall connections:

Wed 16th Sept at 19:00

As part of Music Hall Wednesdays,  Christine Beddoe and Tracey Gregory share some of the sources they have used to uncover the stories of Glenshaw Mansions, Brixton Road, the one time home of Charlie Chaplin, at the time when the area was a thriving hub for music hall people and when so many fascinating music hall people lived and passed through these buildings.

This event is hosted by the Brixton Music Hall Project. Book here

Community Banner making:

Thu 17th Sept at 19:00

The Friends of Tate Library has designed a banner based on the Local Heroes Initiative. As it is not yet possible to get together to create the banner, this talk will explore the tradition and history of banner making by diverse communities, with local, national and international examples. Speakers include Annick Alet and Rita Keegan, a local artist and archivist of the ‘Women of Colour Archive’.

This Friends of Tate Library event is hosted by the Brixton Society. Book here

Beating the Bounds part 1:

Thu 17th Sept at 19:00

Boundaries are important and in an age before maps, they had to be carefully marked to be remembered. Lambeth's parish boundaries were regularly checked by 'beating the bounds'. Now Lambeth's archivists re-enact this ancient ceremony online with a two-part, 23 mile digital perambulation. In part one Len Reilly walks south from the Thames at Broad Wall along the boundary with Southwark to the ancient marker at Vicars Oak, now Crystal Palace. 

This event is hosted by Lambeth Archives. Book here

Down Lambeth Way, part 2:

Fri 18th Sept at 11:00

This is the second of a two part mini series. Using the London Fire Brigade Museum's fascinating film and photo archives, the curators will be illustrating the Brigade’s history and presence in Lambeth from the Albert Embankment Fire in 1918 to the present day.

To access this  premiere screening, which will only become available at the time above, click on View here

This event is hosted by the London Fire Brigade Museum. 

National Theatre Archive: a history of disruption at the NT, and what you can access while we're dark:

Fri 18th Sept at 14:30

 This talk will take you through periods of disruption in the National Theatre's history from the very movement to found the theatre right up to the present day unprecedented closure. It will also highlight in what ways you can access and enjoy National Theatre content from home.

This event is hosted by the National Theatre Archive. Book here

Denmark Hill:

Sat 19th Sept at 19:00

Many from London’s well-to-do merchant class began to leave the City at the end of the 18th century and make their homes in the rural outskirts. Denmark Hill was an especially favoured location. In their talk and virtual walk, Ian McInnes and Laurence Marsh look at the houses, now long gone, that were built on the Lambeth side of the road and the very varied stories of some of their residents over 150 years.

This Herne Hill Society event is hosted by Lambeth Archives. Book here

A Virtual Walk around Stockwell Green:

Sun 20th Sept at 14:30

Take a virtual walk around the historic settlement of Stockwell Green. Within  such a small area you will encounter two places of worship, two schools, two breweries, and a vanished village green, lost to development in a landmark Victorian court case.

This event is hosted by the Brixton Society. Book here

Doing the Wildlife Walk: Nature:

Sun 20th Sept at 19:00

Using images, maps and case studies, Dr Iain Boulton from Lambeth's Parks explores the rich history of Lambeth's ‘natural heritage’, particularly as can still be found in our parks and commons. Iain considers the ways that wild flora and fauna have exploited, adapted to and integrated into the built or landscaped environment, and also looks at some of the ways we come into conflict with nature.

This event is hosted by Lambeth Archives. Book here

The I’Ansons ­– a dynasty of London Architects and Surveyors:

Mon 21st Sept at 20:00

The late Peter Jefferson Smith spent many years unravelling the lives of the three generations of Clapham based architects, all confusingly called Edward I’Anson. This talk will trace their careers throughout the 19th century from surveyors of sewers to city office designers, estate managers and developers to architects of local town halls, libraries, and a village school and church, with an emphasis on their legacy in south London.

This Clapham Society event is hosted by Lambeth Archives. 

Book here

Lambeth Palace Library:

Mon 21st Sept at 19:00

Lambeth Palace Library is one of the oldest libraries open to the public in England. The Church of England’s collection of books, manuscripts and historic records held there dates from the 9th century to the present day. Clare Wright, architect of the new library building scheduled to open in the grounds of Lambeth Palace early in 2021, tells us about the thinking behind the building's design.

This Friends of Durning Library event is hosted by Lambeth Libraries. 

Book here

Beating the Bounds part 2:

Tue 22nd Sept at 19:00

Boundaries are important and in an age before maps, they had to be carefully marked to be remembered. Lambeth's parish boundaries were once regularly checked by 'beating the bounds'. Now Lambeth's archivists re-enact this ancient ceremony online with a two-part, 23 mile digital perambulation. In part two Jon Newman heads west from the Vicars Oak at Crystal Palace before turning north and following the boundary with Wandsworth to reach the Thames at Nine Elms.

This event is hosted by Lambeth Archives. Book here

The Lambeth home of botany:

Wed 23rd Sept at 19:00

Discover the layers of heritage in the South London Botanical Institute in Tulse Hill. For the first time, you can enter its doors virtually, joining an illustrated talk and a recently filmed short tour of the interior of this beautiful Victorian building. The SLBI was founded in 1910, with an interesting colonial history, and has the same aims. 110 years later its aim of providing plant education to local communities remains unchanged. The speakers will be Roy Vickery and Helen Firminger.

This event is hosted by the South London Botanical Institute. Book here

Music Hall Jugglers of Lambeth:

Wed 23rd Sept at 19:00

As part of Music Hall Wednesdays, Charlie Holland's talk on music hall jugglers, featuring original props, posters, programmes and photographs, will draw you into the globe-trotting lives of Paul Cinquevalli, the Mongadors, and Hanvarr & Lee, all of whom were Lambeth residents for several years. 

This event is hosted by the Brixton Music Hall project. Book here

Blackamoors of Lambeth: symbolism, slavery and sugar in the 17th century:

Thu 24th Sept at 19:00

Since the 17th century, four African men have looked out over the River Thames from the rooftops of Lambeth Palace. These four men depicted on the weather vane of the palace's Great Hall are part of the coat of arms of Archbishop William Juxon and are just a few examples of the images of Africans inside the London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury. This talk by public historian Kelly Foster will explore her research into the heraldry of Archbishop Juxon and discuss the presence and representation of Africans in the early 1600s. 

This event is hosted by Kelly Foster. Book here

Van Gogh House: virtual tour 1:

Fri 25th Sept at 19:00

The artist Vincent Van Gogh's residence there in the 1870s put number 87 Hackford Road on the map. This virtual tour of the Van Gogh House, as told through the museum's collection, has been made collaboratively with our volunteers and curators. 

This event is hosted by Van Gogh House.

Book here

Van Gogh House: virtual tour 2:

Sat 26th Sept at 16.30

The artist Vincent Van Gogh's residence there during the 1870s put number 87 Hackford Road on the map. This virtual tour of the Van Gogh House, as told through the museum's collection, has been made collaboratively with our volunteers and curators. 

This event is hosted by Van Gogh House. Book here

The Florence Nightingale Museum: virtual  tour:

Sun 27th Sept at 14.30

2020 is Florence Nightingale’s bicentenary as well as the international year of the nurse and midwife. The Florence Nightingale Museum will take you through the highlights of the collection and its bicentenary exhibition; Nightingale in 200 Objects, People and Places. Learn about the life of Florence Nightingale from her early years and nursing in the Crimean war to her legacy and the people she inspired.

This Florence Nightingale Museum event is hosted by Lambeth Archives. 

 Book here

Brixton memories - virtual reality:

Mon 28th Sept at 19:00

Making heritage engaging and accessible for young people is one of the final projects in the Brixton Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Lambeth Council. Working with architectural heritage experts, Our Hut and the Independent Film Trust seven young people have created Virtual Reality films about Brixton’s built environment through a series of workshops.

This event is hosted by the Brixton Project. Book here

Pandemic, famine and war - how millers respond in times of crisis:

Mon 28th Sept at 19:00

Join us for Brixton Windmill’s response to the flour shortages and food poverty in the local community in 2020. Taking the history of Brixton's own windmill, we look at the way that mills have traditionally kept us baking bread through difficult times.

This Friends of Windmill Gardens event is hosted by Lambeth Archives.

Book here

South London and the 19th Century cycling boom:

Mon 28th Sept at 19:00

At the back-end of the 19th century, cycling was the craze sweeping the nation. Whether as a commuter, sports fan or entertainer; socialite, middle or working class; man or woman - in the 1890s the bike had something for everyone and everyone wanted in. Join Balham Cycling Club’s Paul Darby for a look at the South London cycling scene during this period.

This event is hosted by the Streatham Society. Book here

Draw Lambeth Creative History Workshop 2:

Tue 29th Sept at 19:00

Illustrator Nina Carter with history writer Naomi Clifford will lead this 90-minute online workshop exploring Lambeth's rich heritage. They will guide your journey to some well-known - and not so well-known - landmarks, chosen by people in the community. You will hear about their remarkable histories and then make some quick-fire sketches. Afterwards, your drawings will be compiled into a narrated animation – a lasting souvenir of your virtual trip. Suitable for all ages and all drawing abilities. Requirements: Paper, pencil, internet connection.

This Draw Lambeth event is hosted by Lambeth Archives. Book here

'Mapping lives':

Wed 30th Sept at 19:00

Join a live interactive performance and community debate about the Windrush Generation. We have been creatively working over the summer to explore all the issues around the Windrush Generation and their kin. We are living in a historic moment, join the 492 Korna Klub on the global stage for a virtual performance so that we can connect and dialogue about how we can move forwards celebrating and commemorating the Windrush generation. 

This event is hosted by 492 Korna Klub. Book here

International Music Hall:

Wed 30th Sept at 19:00

For the final event in Music Hall Wednesdays, a panel discussion on how music hall linked Brixton to the world and how performance names and personas disguised true identify. Featuring Alison Young (British Music Hall Society); Steve Martin, (Brixton based historian and author specialising in Black British history); Amy Matthewson, (Research Associate at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London).

This event is hosted by the Brixton Music Hall project. Book here