Events - Live and Online

With your ticket you'll be emailed a recording to watch at a time which suits you.

The Victorian Society is an IHBC recognised CPD provider.

We're always looking for volunteers to put on events for us. Please contact us for more information.

Next events:

Spring Lecture Series Package Deal ‘The Greats of 19th Century Architecture’ (7 talks for price of 6). Explore some of the most celebrated names in 19th century architecture, from Butterfield to Philip Webb. Talks in this series are indicated with an asterixis. (Click here to purchase the package deal).

TUESDAY 11 JANUARY at 7.00pm

The Victorian Short Story by June Lawrence

In anticipation of the setting up of a monthly Victorian Short Story Reading Group, this lecture will examine the origins and development of the short story during the 19th century, following its progression from Romanticism to Realism and the gradual move towards Modernism.

Book Now

Wednesday 26 JANUARY at 7.00pm

An Architect Abroad: Mr Street en vacances *

An online Talk by Neil Jackson

This talk will follow G E Street's travels in France, Italy and Spain and, with the help of his sketches and his books and articles, show what he admired about foreign architecture and how he incorporated it into his own work


Book Now

SATURDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2.00pm

St John the Baptist, Holland Road

led by Revd Neil Traynor

This dramatic and inspiring Grade 1 church of 1872-89 by James Brooks was completed by J Standen Adkins in 1909-11 after Brook’s death. The church, which has recently undergone a major restoration, has stone carving by J E Taylerson and glass by Clayton & Bell, as well as a fine collection of vestments, banners and altar sets.

Book Now

MONDAY 7 FEBRUARY 10.00am

Goldsmiths’ Hall

A tour led by Goldsmiths’ archivist.

Nick Cox Architects’ recent restoration work on in this magnificent building of 1829-35 by Philip Hardwick features in the current issue of The Victorian, and the possibility of seeing this work inspired this visit. Hardwick’s drawings will be on show.

Book Now

WEDNESDAY 9 FEBRUARY 7PM

Prince Albert, architect? *

An online talk by Michael Hall

Many buildings are said to have been ‘designed’ by Prince Albert, from Osborne House on the Isle of Wight to Balmoral Castle and the royal dairy at Frogmore. This lecture will ask how much input the Prince had into these buildings and their decoration and will discuss a much less well-known building that is arguably his masterpiece.

Book Now

TUES 15 FEBRUARY at 7.00pm

Victorian Short Story Reading Group

Led by June Lawrence

Starting with the detective genre, the Reading Group will first discuss a familiar title, Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Adventure of the Speckled Band. The Group will examine the story’s narrative style and its literary portrayal of empire, women and gothic.

Book Now

SATURDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2.00pm

H Blairman & Sons Ltd

by Martin Drury

The company, established in 1884, is now directed by Martin Levy, representing the fourth generation of this family-run business. Building on its established reputation as a dealer in 18th and early 19th-century English and French furniture and works of art, H Blairman & Sons has developed, over the past four decades, a strong interest in furniture and works of art designed and manufactured during the later nineteenth century and first decades of the twentieth century.

Book Now

TUESDAY 22 FEBRUARY 7.00PM

E W Pugin *

An online talk by Roderick O’Donnell

In the course of a relatively short working life, Edward Welby Pugin established himself as one of the best known and most influential architects working for Roman Catholic patrons.

Book Now

WEDNESDAY 9 MARCH 7.00PM

William Burges *

An online talk by Matthew Williams

Short, fat, eccentric and bad-tempered, Billy Burges created some of the most extraordinary buildings of the nineteenth century. Immersed in the world of the Middle Ages, he designed churches, castles, bridges, interiors, furniture, textiles, metalwork and jewellery for his few, equally individual clients.

Book Now

TUESDAY 15 MARCH 7.00pm

Victorian Short Story Reading Group

Led by June Lawrence

For a few sessions, the Reading Group will continue its investigation of detective fiction in the form of the short story, including works by Edgar Allan Poe and Arthur Morrison. Refreshments will be provided.

Book Now

WEDNESDAY 23 MARCH 7PM

David Bryce *

An online talk by Neil Jackson

Best known for his Scottish Baronial country houses, David Bryce also built public buildings which reflected the wealth and prosperity of mid-nineteenth century Edinburgh.

Book Now

TUESDAY 29 MARCH 7PM

Philip Webb at Red House and Standen *

An online talk by Tessa Wild

Two famous houses stand at opposite ends of Philip Webb’s career: Red House at Bexleyheath, built for William and Jane Morris in 1859, and Standen, near East Grinstead, built for the London solicitor James Beale and his wife Margaret, in 1891. Their history encompasses not only the development of one of England’s most influential domestic architects but also the story of the Arts and Crafts movement over a generation.

Book Now

WEDNESDAY 6 APRIL 7PM

Looking at Butterfield *

An online talk by Nicholas Olsberg

This talk will concentrate on lesser-known examples of William Butterfield’s work, from the Yorkshire churches on the Humberhead Levels and at Dalton to Salisbury Theological Seminary, Exeter Grammar School and its chapel, and the entre townscape at Gordon Boys’ Home in Bagshot, ending with Chanters House, the memorial chapel, library and garden at Ottery St Mary.

Book Now

West Yorkshire Victorian Society events

to book please contact [email protected]


Missed a talk? Buy tickets to past talks below:


Autumn Talk Series on The Terraced House:

Our Autumn talk series focused on the terraced house, the much-loved housing that forms the bedrock of English and Welsh cities.(Buy six talks for the price of five here) Alternatively buy the individual talks below:

  • Origin And History of The Terraced House.

Alec Forshaw, historian & urban designer will open the series by tracing the origins & history of the terraced house in Bloomsbury. (Buy a ticket to watch the recording here).

  • Real Estate Development and The Small, Terraced House.

Gareth Carr, architect and lecturer at Wrexham Glyndwr University, will look at development through the Welsh Streets in Liverpool. (Buy a ticket to watch the video recording here).

  • Design and construction of the Victorian and Edwardian terraced house.

Architectural historian and Victorian Society trustee, Kit Wedd will explore the materials, design and construction of the terraced house. (Buy a ticket to watch the video recording here).

  • Origin, Development and Decline of Back-To-Back Housing.

Joanne Harrison, architect and heritage consultant, will trace the development of back-to-back house building in Leeds. (Buy a ticket to watch the video recording here).

  • Transport and the development of the Victorian and Edwardian suburbs.

Edmund Bird, heritage manager at Transport for London will discuss the development of London's transport infrastructure. (Buy a ticket to watch the video recording here).

  • The Terrace House Plan in the 20th And 21st Centuries.

Practicing architect and professor of architecture, Dave King, will cover the reinterpretation and sustainable reuse of the terrace house. (Buy ticket to watch the video recording here).

Standalone talk on Saltaire and Ackroydon

  • Decoding Decoration in Saltaire and Ackroydon, by Sheila Binns

The model villages of Saltaire and Akroydon in West Yorkshire are both full of architectural decoration, it carries messages that were of great importance to their respective patrons. (Buy a ticket to watch the video recording here)

A City at its Zenith Series

Package deal of Andrew Saint's series chronologically covering the development of the British capital from 1870-1914. (Complete series for £10 - click here to purchase).


Victorian Dynasties Series

Four talks for the price of three (Click here to purchase).

Victorian Society events are publicised to members below and in the 'Blue Sheet' with our mailings in February, June and October. Some require booking, others you can just turn up on the day.

For events organised by our regional groups, please see the regional group pages:

Birmingham & West Midlands; Leicester; Liverpool; Manchester; West Yorkshire; South Yorkshire and Wales.