Announcements
Sidcup and District U3A
Shared Learning Project at the British Postal Museum and Archive, Clerkenwell
The aim of the project is both to document and understand how its photographic collection was used in the context of Post Office Communications 1930s -1960s. It requires an interest in history, photography and exhibitions and basic computer skills are required. Fortnightly meetings will be held on Tuesdays 1pm - 3pm from 28th Sept until 7th December. For further information and application form contact Linda Crook, email linda.crook.uk@mail.com. The closing date for applications is Friday 24th July.
Fourth Shared Learning Project at the London Archaeological & Archive Research Centre, Museum of London
Based at Mortimer Wheeler House, Hackney, this project is to make the archive more accessible to the public and researchers and involves re-packing of artefacts, reorganising boxes and cataloguing the material. Training will be given, but an interest in the archaeology of London and its presentation would be an asset. Project commences on Wednesday 22nd September 1pm - 4pm and continues weekly until 8th December. If interested, please contact Lilias Gillies, project co-ordinator, email lilias.gillies@btinternet.com. The closing date for applications is Friday 24th July.
George Murrell
Road Island
In the February Newsletter it was mentioned that a road island was to be installed in Maidstone Road near Ruxley Garden Centre. This has now been done.
Editor
Newsletter
Members who wish to pick up a copy of the current Newsletter from Sidcup Library should look in the newspaper rack to the right of the entrance. Those with internet access may download it in PDF format here. Back issues are also still available here.
Editor
Vist to the Royal Courts of Justice
On 9th June a group led by Joan Somerset travelled by train to London to visit the Royal Courts of Justice. Outside Charing Cross we boarded Routemaster bus number 11 which took us along The Strand to the building’s entrance.
The Royal Courts of Justice is an impressive structure. It was built on a 7˝ acre site occupied by the Kit Kat Club and 450 houses containing 4‚175 people; in two houses alone in Robin Hood Court, 52 people had had their abode. Designed by George Edmund Street‚ it was opened by Queen Victoria in 1882 and became the permanent home of the Supreme Court. The building was required to replace a number of separate courts that had come into existence over time to meet different needs; these were reconstituted by the Judicature Acts of 1873-75 which also addressed the many anomalies and archaisms that had arisen in British law during the preceding centuries. The interior of the building is no less impressive than the exterior with a high, church-like hall 238 feet long. Our guide led us to one of the older‚ original oak-panelled courtrooms where he informed us that each court has an interior unique unto itself because each was designed by a different architect. We were later taken to an area called the “Bear Garden” (a noisy place where Masters deal with applications to settle certain matters before trial), and later to a display of manikins bedecked with historical wigs and gowns.
Anybody is allowed to enter the building and observe what goes on in the 88 court rooms - but be prepared to experience security procedures similar to those found at airports.
David Smith
The aim of the project is both to document and understand how its photographic collection was used in the context of Post Office Communications 1930s -1960s. It requires an interest in history, photography and exhibitions and basic computer skills are required. Fortnightly meetings will be held on Tuesdays 1pm - 3pm from 28th Sept until 7th December. For further information and application form contact Linda Crook, email linda.crook.uk@mail.com. The closing date for applications is Friday 24th July.
Fourth Shared Learning Project at the London Archaeological & Archive Research Centre, Museum of London
Based at Mortimer Wheeler House, Hackney, this project is to make the archive more accessible to the public and researchers and involves re-packing of artefacts, reorganising boxes and cataloguing the material. Training will be given, but an interest in the archaeology of London and its presentation would be an asset. Project commences on Wednesday 22nd September 1pm - 4pm and continues weekly until 8th December. If interested, please contact Lilias Gillies, project co-ordinator, email lilias.gillies@btinternet.com. The closing date for applications is Friday 24th July.
George Murrell
Road Island
In the February Newsletter it was mentioned that a road island was to be installed in Maidstone Road near Ruxley Garden Centre. This has now been done.
Editor
Newsletter
Members who wish to pick up a copy of the current Newsletter from Sidcup Library should look in the newspaper rack to the right of the entrance. Those with internet access may download it in PDF format here. Back issues are also still available here.
Editor
Vist to the Royal Courts of Justice
On 9th June a group led by Joan Somerset travelled by train to London to visit the Royal Courts of Justice. Outside Charing Cross we boarded Routemaster bus number 11 which took us along The Strand to the building’s entrance.
The Royal Courts of Justice is an impressive structure. It was built on a 7˝ acre site occupied by the Kit Kat Club and 450 houses containing 4‚175 people; in two houses alone in Robin Hood Court, 52 people had had their abode. Designed by George Edmund Street‚ it was opened by Queen Victoria in 1882 and became the permanent home of the Supreme Court. The building was required to replace a number of separate courts that had come into existence over time to meet different needs; these were reconstituted by the Judicature Acts of 1873-75 which also addressed the many anomalies and archaisms that had arisen in British law during the preceding centuries. The interior of the building is no less impressive than the exterior with a high, church-like hall 238 feet long. Our guide led us to one of the older‚ original oak-panelled courtrooms where he informed us that each court has an interior unique unto itself because each was designed by a different architect. We were later taken to an area called the “Bear Garden” (a noisy place where Masters deal with applications to settle certain matters before trial), and later to a display of manikins bedecked with historical wigs and gowns.
Anybody is allowed to enter the building and observe what goes on in the 88 court rooms - but be prepared to experience security procedures similar to those found at airports.
David Smith