The Historical Collections of the Guildhall Library - Dr Peter Ross

A lecture on the collections of one of England's oldest libraries, founded in the 1420s from the will of Richard "Dick" Whittington.

The Postmodern Detective: Contemporary London Crime Fiction - Dr Jenny Bavidge

Have recent London crime stories abandoned their confidence in the interpretative abilities of the detective? Can we still believe in omniscient figures such as Dickens’ Inspector Bucket or Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes? Is London still a place where mysteries can be satisfactorily solved?

Arthur Conan Doyle and London: "A Stout Heart in the Great Cesspool" - Richard Burnip

From the Sherlock Holmes stories to The Lost World this lecture examines some of the locations which formed such in important backdrop to Conan Doyle's life and work. It will also touch on some of his lesser known works and include the place which perhaps meant more to him than any other in London, and to which he returned in his writing throughout his life.

Literary London Crime: The Dark Eyes of London - Cathi Unsworth

London is a city of secrets, a shifting, seething mass of intrigue, venality and violence, in constant cultural flux. The perfect setting for crime fiction - but how does the modern writer decode this centuries' old conurbation? Cathi Unsworth investigates those authors who haunt certain regions of the capital and along the way she will also explore the cult writers who helped to shape these contemporary authors' visions and the clandestine vocabulary of the City of Slang.

What has the City ever done for us? - The Lord Mayor of London

The Rt. Hon. The Lord Mayor of London, Alderman David Wootton, examines the role, contribution and connections of the City and business - fundamental elements of our community.

Crime in Dickens’ London: ‘This ain’t the shop for justice’ - Dr Tony Williams

From his childhood acquaintance with London, when he feared he might become ‘a little robber or a little vagabond’, Charles Dickens was fascinated by crime. His novels all include criminal activity of some kind as he investigates criminal psychology and the causes of crime. Dickens lived through a period of considerable development in society’s treatment of criminals: the foundation of the Metropolitan Police in 1829, the Detective Force in 1842, the same year as the New Model Prison opened at Pentonville; the ending of transportation and of public executions; the word ‘penology’ was first used in 1838, the year he began to publish Nicholas Nickleby. Dickens engages with these issues very fully, both in his fiction and in his journalism, as this talk will explore.

The Lost Hospitals of London: St Luke’s - Professor Nick Black

The extraordinary story of this neglected quarter of London that in the late 19th century boasted seven major hospitals, of which only one survives today.

The Lost Hospitals of London: Bethlem Hospital - Colin S Gale

An overview of the 681-year history of this legendary mental health institution and London icon.

London’s Forgotten Children: Thomas Coram and the Foundling Hospital - Dame Gillian Pugh

The history of the UK’s first children’s charity, and the orphanage it was connected to, created in central London in 1739.

The Lost Leprosy Hospitals of London - Professor Carole Rawcliffe

The surprising history of leprosy hospitals between 1100 and 1500, when the disease was seen as either a punishment for sin or a mark of divine favour.

Apprenticeship in early modern London - Dr Patrick Wallis and Dr Christopher Minns

The economic origins and destinations of City apprentices in London in the 16th and 17th centuries.

The City Livery Companies - Tim Connell

The story of the unique history and continued relevance of the Livery Companies in the City of London, from the medieval period through to the modern day.

Sheep Across London Bridge - The Freedom of the City of London - Murray D Craig

The 774-year-old history of what it is to be granted the Freedom of the City of London.

The History of the Lord Mayor's Show - Dominic Reid OBE

The Lord Mayor’s Show is one of the longest established and best known annual events in the City of London, dating back to 1215. This lecture will reveal the fascinating history of the show.

From Trocadero to Troxy: A tradition returns - John Abson and Richard Hills

Wurlitzer organs and the history of London music halls: the story of the Britain's largest cinema organ from 1930 through to the present day.

London at Night: Spirituality and the Dark Side - Revd Nicholas Holtam

The Vicar of St. Martin-in-the-Fields explains the work of, and the challenges for, a central London church at night.

Your night is my day: London's Underground never sleeps - Oliver Green

What goes in the underground when it closes down for the night?

London After Dark: Saving Londoners' Lives - Peter Bradley

A lecture on the work of the London Ambulance Service through the night.

Charles Chaplin: Bridging Three Centuries - David Robinson

The journey of Charlie Chaplin: from poverty and East End music halls to Hollywood and global fame.