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LONDON BEFORE LONDON – PREHISTORIC LONDON VIRTUAL WALK

This has been a long time coming and only made possible by the need to go Virtual during the Pandemic. I have never done a prehistoric walk around London as such. I have done sections of it, and given lectures on the subject. But they were mostly overviews. This has therefore been a challenge putting this together, but a necessary revision of my knowledge.

So please do join me on:

Sunday 25th April 2021 6.30pm

An exploration of London before the foundation of Londinium

It was long thought that London was founded by a Trojan Exile in the Late Bronze Age. But historical analysis and archaeological excavation gradually demoted the idea to a myth.

On this tour we explore what was in the London area before the Romans. We begin at Heathrow and tour Greater London for evidence from the Paleolithic to the invasion of the Emperor Claudius.

We concentrate on the period since the introduction of farming, and bring together evidence for the prehistoric Kingdoms that controlled the area on the eve of the Invasion. We look for henges, barrows, hill forts, hut circles and look at genetic evidence for identity of prehistoric Londoners. The tour will end in the City.

This is a London Walks event by Kevin Flude, ex Museum of London Archaeology and Museum Curator

To book

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VIRTUAL GUIDED WALKS COMING UP

LONDON BEFORE LONDON – PREHISTORIC LONDON VIRTUAL COACH TOUR

Sunday 25th April 2021 6.30pm

An exploration of London before the foundation of Londinium

To book

MAY 2021

CHAUCER’S LONDON TO CANTERBURY PILGRIMAGE

Sunday 9th May 2021 6.30pm

A Virtual Walk exploring Chaucer’s London, the Canterbury Tales and the route to Canterbury

To book

THE LONDON OF THOMAS MORE AND THOMAS CROMWELL.

THE CITY OF WOLF HALL VIRTUAL BOAT TRIP AND WALK

Sunday 16 May 2021 6.30pm

We begin on the River touring by boat the Tudor Palaces that were the backdrop to the drama of Henry’s Court. We then walk around the City to find where the two Thomases lived and died.

To book

JANE AUSTEN’S VIRTUAL LONDON – A PICTURE OF LONDON 1809 WALK

Sunday 23rd May 2021 6.30pm

With the help of a contemporary Guide Book, her letters, and works we explore Austen’s London

To book

THE FINANCIAL CITY FROM SLAVERY TO HEDGE FUND VIRTUAL WALK

SUNDAY 30th May 2021 6.30pm

A Virtual Walk in the historic City of London on the development of the Financial City from 16th Century t?o the present day

To book

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Neolithic Houses at Kingsmead Quarry, Horton

I don’t know how I missed this site, as it was reported in archaeological magazines I read, but it is an amazing multi-period site in the Thames Valley. Excavations before gravel extraction have shown a particularly amazing sequence of Neolithic and Bronze Age discoveries.

They found 4 or 5 early Neolithic Houses, about 15% of those that have been found in the entire UK, and an amazing placed deposit, which contained a collection of objects dating back thousands of years. In effect, a ‘museum’ collection.

I’ll let you read it from the horse’s mouth. To read click here.

Screenshot of Wessex Archaeology's page on the excavations of Kingsmede Quarry, Horton.

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THE DECLINE AND FALL OF ROMAN LONDON ARCHAEOLOGY VIRTUAL WALK

Reconstruction of Dark age London
Reconstruction of Dark Age London


Sunday 18th April 2021 6.30pm

An exploration of what happened at the end of the Roman Period, and how the City became first deserted, and then a Saxon, German speaking English City.

The first British Brexit?   The Roman Britons kicked out the Romans in 407AD, and, soon, asked them to come back after a catastrophic collapse.  Faced with plaque, civil war, invasion, mass immigration,  industrial decline, reversion to barter; the authorities struggled against anarchy and descent into a Dark Age.

But was that how it was?  Wasn’t it a rather a transition into the Late Antique period in which life for most people went on much as before except paying taxes to local rulers rather than distant Romans? This virtual walk explores why the Roman system in London broke down, and what really was the impact of the end of the Roman system in London?
What is the evidence?  and can we trust it? Or can we really do nothing much more than guess? 

We tramp the virtual streets of London in search of light to shine on the Dark Ages in London.

This is a London Walks event by Kevin Flude, ex Museum of London Archaeology and Museum Curator

To Book:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-decline-and-fall-of-dark-age-london-archaeology-virtual-walk-tickets-138334132113

Introductory podcast

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Reconstruction of the newly discovered Thermopolium at Pompeii

posted on YouTube by Pablo Aparicio.

Salon Issue 466 from the Society of Antiquaries says:

‘Choices for dinner from this thermopolium would have included duck, goat, pig, fish, and land snails, all of which were found in the deep terracotta jars embedded in the stone counter. It appears that wine was also on offer; fava beans, which were used to modify the taste of wine, were been found in a different container.’

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ZEPPELIN NIGHTS VIRTUAL WALK AND PODCAST

A silhouette of a Zeppelin caught in searchlights over the City of London

Here is the Podcast for the Zeppelin Nights Virtual walk.

The live Virtual Walk is taking place Sunday 14th March 2021 at 6.30.

To Book:

ZEPPELIN NIGHTS – A VIRTUAL WALK FOLLOWING THE 1915 BOMBING RAID THROUGH WW1 LONDON


Sunday 14 March 2021 6.30pm

8th of September 1915, the Zeppelin dropped its first bombs near Russell Square and we follow it to its last bomb at Liverpool Street. On the way we discover London in World War 1

On the night of September 8th Kapitanleutnant Henreich Mathy pilotted Zeppelin L 13 across Central London dropping bombs as they went. The trail of destruction lead from University College London, via Russell Sq. to Gray’s Inn Farringdon, Smithfield and out past Liverpool Street to the East End.  The walk follows the route taken by the Zeppelin and looks at Central London during the World War 1.

Before World War One London was the centre of the largest Empire the world had ever known. It was the first great era of globalisation; international trade and Finance was booming. London was full of the mega-rich but poverty and sub-standard housing was extensive. Inner London was still the home of Industry, and home to large immigrant communities. Political dissent was widespread with the Labour Party beginning to erode the Liberal Party’s power base, and the issue of Female Suffragette was rocking society. Then, catastrophe as ‘the lights went out all over Europe’.

How would the War affect London? How would Londoners cope with this terrifying new form of warfare – death from above?

We begin our virtual tour at Russell Square Tube and follow the path of the bombing raid to Liverpool Street, looking at London, before, during and after World War One.

To Book:


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The Ultimate RAF London Blitz Story

Black and white photo from a german plane above another german bomber over docklands in the Blitz

Ray Holmes, Word War 2 RAF Pilot, flying a Hurricane took on three Luftwaffe Bombers Pilot over Central London, ran out of bullets and downed the last plane by ramming its tail.

The Dornier Bomber crashed into Victoria Station, 2 of the crew survived by bailing out. Holmes’ plane dived out of control but the Pilot managed to get out of his plane and open his parachute.

Story, with pictures, told in full here.

https://www.mylondon.news/news/nostalgia/battle-britain-fighter-pilot-who-19963243

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CHAUCER’S MEDIEVAL LONDON VIRTUAL WALK.

The Canterbury Pilgrims PAINTINGS painting Blake, William (1757 – 1827, English) Painting entitled ‘The Canterbury Pilgrims’, by William Blake PC.89


Saturday 20 February 2021 7.00pm

A Virtual Walk around Medieval London following in the footsteps of its resident medieval poet – Geoffrey Chaucer

One of the spectators at the Peasants Revolt was Geoffrey Chaucer, born in the Vintry area of London, who rose to be a diplomat, a Courtier and London’s Customs Officer. He lived with his wife in the Chamber above the Gate in the City Wall at Aldgate. His poetry shows a rugged, joyous medieval England including many scenes reflecting life in London. His stories document the ending of the feudal system, growing dissatisfaction with the corruption in the Church, and shows the robust independence with which the English led their lives.

His work helped change the fashion from poetry in French or Latin to acceptance of the English language as suitable literary language. This was helped by the growth of literacy in London as its Merchants and Guildsmen became increasingly successful. In 1422, for example, the Brewers decided to keep their records in English ‘as there are many of our craft who have the knowledge of reading and writing in the English idiom.’

Chaucer and other poets such as Langland give a vivid portrait of Medieval London which was dynamic, successful but also torn by crisis such as the Lollard challenge to Catholic hegemony, and the Peasants who revolted against oppression as the ruling classes struggled to resist the increased independence of the working people following the Black Death.

A walk which explores London in the Middle Ages, We begin at Aldgate, and follow Chaucer from his home to his place of work at the Customs House, and then to St Thomas Chapel on London Bridge, and through London to Poultry, Bucklersbury and Cheapside before visiting the Guildhall and St Pauls. We will walk in the muddy City Streets, exploring the unhealthy conditions and poverty amidst great riches and pageantry.

This is a London Walks event by Kevin Flude

To Book: