The events taking place during week two of the festival are listed below. All events are free to attend and take place online. Follow the book here links to confirm your place.
Lambeth Heritage Festival 2020: week 2
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.