26 FEBRUARY
FRANCES WARD.
UNDERSTANDING THE PLACE NAMES OF GREENWICH.
The Greenwich district is blessed with interesting place names. Almost all of our local communities were named by the Anglo Saxons when they settled here. The names give us insights into the landscape and economic activity at a time when documents and archaeology are scarce. Greenwich and Woolwich are very significant names and we have a cluster of early settlement names unique in Greater London.
Wednesday 18 March (NB: this meeting will be held on the THIRD Wednesday of March.)
FATHER KEVIN ROBINSON
THE IRON WORKS OF POMEROY STREET, NEW CROSS AND THE FFESTINIOG RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES, 1850.
Fr. Kevin Robinson of Our Ladye Star of the Sea, Crooms Hill, Greenwich, will give us some of the fascinating history of the connection that exists between the historic Hatcham iron works of New Cross and the oldest surviving railway in the world.
Wednesday 22 April
GHS AGM & THE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS
ANTHONY CROSS
“THE REETFUL HAIR”: AMELIA, COUNTESS OF DERWENTWATER AND HER CLAIM UPON THE NORTHERN ESTATES OF GREENWICH HOSPITAL
Following our traditionally brief AGM, Anthony Cross will relate the colourful tale of Amelia Matilda Mary Tudor Radcliffe the self-styled ‘Countess of Derwentwater’. From the late 1850s until her death in 1880 Amelia doggedly prosecuted her claim to be the rightful heir of the vast estates in northern England once belonging to James Radcliffe, 3rd Earl Derwentwater, but confiscated by the Crown after his execution for the part he played in the Jacobite uprising in 1715 and subsequently presented to
Greenwich Hospital – in whose possession a small remnant still remains. An extraordinary story, part tragedy, part farce, played out in acts of courage, stubborn resilience and sublime pathos.
Wednesday 27 May
DR ANN DINGSDALE
THE UNDEFEATED BLACKSMITH AND OTHER LOCAL WOMEN WHO SIGNED THE 1866 WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE PETITION
It required courage for women to ask for the vote in 1866. Local supporters who joined Emily Davies and Elizabeth Garrett in their quest for equality are largely forgotten. They included an engineer, an author, a divorcee, a servant and even a parliamentary candidate. Independent and ambitious, the stories of their efforts to succeed (or survive) commemorate a remarkable group of Victorian women. Dr Dingsdale leads local women’s Suffrage walks and is presently writing a book about women and the 1866 petition.
Unless otherwise stated, meetings are held on the 4th Wednesday the following months: January, February, March, April,(occasionally in May) … September, October and November.
Meetings commence at 7.30, doors open 7.15. We welcome non-members, from whom we invite a donation of £3 for each meeting.
As of September 2015, and unless otherwise stated, meetings are held at James Wolfe School, Royal Hill Campus, Greenwich SE10 8RZ.
This location is well served by public transport and is conveniently located opposite two good pubs! Bus routes 177, 180, 199 and 386 run along Greenwich High Road (at the bottom of Royal Hill). Bus routes 129, 188 and 286 serve nearby Greenwich town centre, and Greenwich Mainline Railway Station and Greenwich DLR are a short walk away.
There is free car parking after 6.30pm in the Burney Street car park (behind Greenwich Picturehouse).
Membership of GHS is open to anyone with an interest in the history of Greenwich. Annual Subscription runs from 1 January to 31 December: Individual: £15 or £18 for two persons at the same address.
If you require any further details, please contact Horatio Blood,
Hon. Secretary, GREENWICH HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
c/o Warwick Leadlay Gallery,
1-2 Nelson Arcade, Greenwich, London SE10 9JB
Email: info@warwickleadlay.com (stating GHS as the subject, please).