Published in: News

The Richard Lancelyn Green Lecture – Poverty in Holmes’s London

Author Roger Johnson

Published on: September 15, 2024

The 2024 Richard Lancelyn Green Lecture will be held on Thursday 17^th October 2024 at the Wellington Hotel by Blue Orchid, 71 Vincent Square, Westminster, London, SW1P 2PA at 6.00pm for 6.45pm .

The hotel is located at the Rochester Row end of Vincent Square. The closest tube stations are Victoria, Pimlico and St James’s Park. The Wellington Hotel is next door to the former Rochester Row Police Station, built in 1901 at 63 Rochester Row. Holmes, Watson and Mary Morstan’s cab travelled along Rochester Row and Vincent Square in The Sign of Four, though that would have been before either of these buildings were built. We will be using the hotel bar and lounge for pre-prandial drinks, and then the dining hall for the meal and meeting.

Please note: This venue is cashless.

Our speaker for the evening is Sarah Wise, an assistant professor at the University of California’s London Study Centre. She is the author of four books of social history, including The Blackest Streets: The Life and Death of a Victorian Slum (Jonathan Cape). Her latest, The Undesirables, The Law That Locked Away a Generation, was published in April this year.

When social scientist Charles Booth compiled his famous ‘Poverty Map’ in the late 1880s, he was attempting to chart the everyday life of London’s 5.5 million citizens. At the same time, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was writing the first of his stories of ‘those interesting little problems which the complex life of London so plentifully presents’. In this illustrated talk, Sarah Wise will discuss the work of Charles Booth and highlight how his work crosses over with the world of Sherlock Holmes. In her discussion of late nineteenth century London, Baker Street and South Norwood, as they appear in Booth’s epic survey, will be among the stopping off points.

Members and their guests may opt for the lecture for £15.00 per head, or also to dine beforehand at a cost of £42.00 per head. The meeting and dining charge includes VAT and service but not drinks, which must be paid for on the night. For those who choose to dine, the meal will comprise two courses: Lamb Steak on a bed of sautéed spinach with black olives, tomato & garlic sauce followed by Sticky Toffee Gateau. A vegetarian alternative main course may be ordered in advance. Please advise any dietary requirements when booking.

Dinner will be served promptly at 6.45pm and will be followed by the meeting from around 8pm.

Applications for the meeting and dining should be made by 2nd October. Applications for the meeting only should be made no later than 9th October.

Anyone attending a Society function for the first time should bring along and display their yellow cards of introduction, so that we can identify them and introduce them to our members. We look forward to seeing everyone on the night.

The Society likes to keep a record of its activities, including photographs of our meetings which are published in the Journal and on the Society’s website/Facebook page. If you do not want to appear in a Society photograph please avoid being in any posed photographs and advise one of the meeting organisers.

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The Meetings Secretary’s e mail address is: c.cooke@dsl.pipex.com

Please book online through Mycroft, for help making your booking please read: Booking using Mycroft