Highlights from History
Discover highlights from our previous talks and learn more about key themes.
A Beginner’s Guide to Neo-Palladian Architecture
Have you ever wondered why so many grand buildings in London look like something out of ancient Greece or Rome? What is this architectural style, and when and why did it become so popular?
What is the English Landscape Movement?
The eighteenth-century phenomenon known as the English Landscape Movement can tell us about art, literature, politics, and empire.
Eels, Pies, Picnics and Banquets
Learn about the Macaroni Club’s pasta obsession, the first Hindustani coffee house in London, and how to get an invitation to the Picnic Academical Society!
Food in Gothic Literature
This video considers the gothic genre and the many roles that food and drink play in classic and contemporary gothic texts like ‘Frankenstein’, ‘Dracula’, ‘Rebecca’, and ‘Rosemary’s Baby’.
The Committee of Taste: Soane at Pitzhanger
This talk recreates the Soanes’ world of food and dining, and imagines what it would have been like to join one of their grand ‘intellectual banquets’ for a night.
A Return to the Fluorescent Banquet: Feasting at Orleans House Through the Eyes of an Artist
In this video, co-founder of Alice in Hackneyland, Jonathan Roson, journeys through centuries of feasting at Orleans House Gallery.
George III: The Mind Behind the Myth
This talk separates the man from the myth, exploring objects and spaces within Kew Palace that reveal the humanity behind King George III’s story.
Aphrodisiac Pies and Taffety Tarts: 17th Century Dining
Explore the rooms in Ham House where lavish banquets would have been prepared, and hear about fun 17th century recipes like chilli croutons and sweet potato aphrodisiac pie!
Medieval Estate to Community Garden: Centuries of Food Production at Gunnersbury
Walk through the many interesting chapters of Gunnersbury Park’s story, and the ways its owners have adapted the house and gardens over time.
After you with the salt, Dr Johnson!
This video is a glimpse into the unconventional gastronomic tastes of David Garrick and some of his contemporaries.
Posh Nosh
This talk will take you on a whistlestop tour of the diet of the Bishops of London from the medieval period through to the 19th century.
The Private Life of Chiswick House
Find out more about how reading historical sources creatively can give us new insight into the experiences of the 18th century Black community in London.
Wining and Dining with Alexander Pope
Find out what it was like to dine with Pope, and hear about the ‘Twickenham broccoli mafia’, luxurious pineapples and mutton pies at the Kit-Cat Club.
Henrietta Howard and Marble Hill House
This talk looks at Henrietta Howard’s role in Marble Hill’s creation and how it fits into her fascinating life story.
Drunk for a Penny
Throughout the first half of the 18th century, gin production and consumption swept through London at an unprecedented rate.
The Benefits of Befriending a Prince
In 1834, James and Jane Clitherow, the owners of Boston Manor House, became the first commoners to host King William IV and Queen Adelaide.