LBHF ARCHIVES

Japanese British Exhibition

On Tuesday 19 Feb Kath Shawcross the LBHF Archivist gave us an overview of the background to and current services provided to the public. One of the major benefits of the move to Hammersmith Library has been improved access to the local history collection much of which is now available to browse whenever the library is open and Kath is there on Mondays and Tuesdays to assist and deal with requests for items from the archive.  For family historians, electoral registers, Ancestry UK, Census, photograph collection and newpapers on microfiche are a terrific resouce. A major achievement has been the addition of a public website search of the Archive Catalogue  Kath also talked about the work of volunteers, recent acquisitions, museum objects, special collections – such

William Morris Pipe and Bag

as  William Morris and the Art collection.  An example of the latter is the loan of a nude sketch by Archibald Standish Hartrick to the Tate for the current Van Gogh exhibition.  More of the collection can be accessed through searches of London Screen Archives and ArtUK.   We were treated to slides of  some of the most popular and more interesting items in the archive from the Japan British Exhibition through deeds and photographers’ glass plates to the records of a Hammersmith framing company heavily used to provide provenance for art works. All told an interesting insight in to the borough’s collection and how to access it.

The Creek Hammersmith

 

Review of Winter Events

Fulham’s Cyclist Battalion Goes to War  30 October

We were treated to an interesting illustrated talk by our Chairman Keith Whitehouse covering the formation of this unusual unit in 1888 and their eventual mobilisation initially guarding the coast of East Sussex but ultimately serving in India. The clerks, shop keepers and civil servants who joined this military cycling “club” could have never imagined that they might end up fighting in Afghanistan until 1919!  Keith provided a wealth of slides and some uniform artefacts to view which made this small piece of local history come to life.

Tour of Bart’s Hospital 14 November

Religious Mural by Hogarth on Grand Stairs

A small group of members joined a guided tour of historic St Bart’s hospital.  Our volunteer guide gave a comprehensive history of the hospital, its founders and others involved in its management. as befits such an ancient hospital it has its own museum and its buildings are substantial and quite grand.

What is not so obvious is the grand staircase beyond the museum with its depictions of St Bartholomew by Hogarth.

The stairs lead up to the Great Hall where founders and the trustees managed the hospital. Most importantly all the

Stained glass window depicting Henry VIII

benefactors are recorded on its walls and the major ones such as Henry VIII are portrayed in the stained glass windows. Hospitals really were different then! Of course the ancient buildings are no longer used for medical care and the impressive modern hospital towers above and behind the historic courtyard.

Also within the hospital grounds is the church of St Bartholomew-the-Less it has its own history having changed over the centuries.  For the FHHS one interesting observation was the memorial to Sir Thomas Bodley (of Oxford fame) for his work in support of the hospital who at a different time was a resident of Fulham.   Time and an impending service prevented us moving on to view the interior of St Bartholomew-the-Great,  perhaps another visit.

 

Christmas Dinner 8 December

The annual meal was a chance to meet others and chat about the interesting year and what is planned for the new year.  The pub was busy so we had to be patient but that did not detract from the company and conversation.

 

 

 

Museum of the Order of St John

The Society will be visiting the Museum in Clerkenwell on Saturday 22 Feb at 1130.  This is an interesting Museum in two old buildings that are themselves worth a visit. See Museum of Order of St John Website

 

St John’s Gate Clerkenwel

Those attending should meet at the entrance to St John’s Gate in St John’s Lane Clerkenwell, EC1M 4DA

Chapter House

 

 

 

 

 

The entry to the Museum is £5 (concessions £4) do bring friends who may be interested.