Lunchtime lectures

Join us for our series of lunchtime lectures and discover something new.

Captain Kidd’s lost treasure ship

Thu 4 Feb, 1.10-2pm
FREE
The wreck of what is thought to be Captain Kidd's lost treasure ship the Quedagh Merchant was discovered off the Dominican Republic in December 2007. The ship, which Kidd claimed was carrying thousands of pounds of valuables, was hidden by the pirate in 1699, shortly before he was tried and executed at Wapping. However, the legend of the pirate's treasure, has inspired both historians, writers and treasure hunters for centuries (Robert Louis Stevenson's The Treasure Island was inspired by the legend of Kidd's hidden treasure). For over a year now, the wreck has been carefully investigated by a team from the Indiana University, led by Professor Charles Beeker. In December 2008, Professor Beeker gave a lively presentation on his team's findings, and he has kindly agreed to return to the museum in February 2010 to provide the latest news on the ship, and explain how he plans to turn the wreck site into a living museum.

Ground control

Fri 5 Mar, 1.10-1.50pm
FREE
Britons are increasingly aware of living in a society plagued by fear and unhappiness. Could our towns and cities be the cause? Anna Minton offers an in-depth and passionate exploration of the state of Britain today, revealing how private companies have taken control from local government and electorate, creating spaces designed for profit and watched over by CCTV. Now, untested urban planning has transformed not only our cities, but the very nature of public space, of citizenship, and of trust. This is a model that was introduced in Docklands in the late 1980s, when the foundations of privately owned financial district Canary Wharf were laid. Today, the same model, specifically created to serve the needs of business, is the template for virtually all new development in our towns and cities. Anna Minton is the recipient of five national journalism awards and the author of numerous reports for The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and think tank Demos. She is also a member of the writers panel for The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, and writes regularly for the Guardian and the New Statesman. 'Ground Control' is her first book.

A very corporate affair: London’s slave trade

Thu 18 Mar, 1-1.45pm
FREE
Although the slave trade in London evolved earlier than in Bristol and Liverpool, curator Tom Wareham tells how London's commercial complexity obscured its role for 150 years. Tom outlines the development of London's role and the nature of its links with the slave trade.

The great plague

Thu 22 Apr, 1-1.45pm
FREE
Starting in April 1665, The Great Plague became one of the most famous tragedies of London's history. Curator Meriel Jeater explores this deadly disease and the effect that it had on London and its inhabitants. This illustrated talk will discuss the identification of the plague, the measures used at the time to prevent its spread, how Londoners coped and whether plague could ever return to our shores in the future. Related galleries: London 1550s-1660s: War, Plague and Fire The talk is timed to fit in with the 345th anniversary of the first plague deaths in 1665 (week ending 25 April) Images of objects in our collection will be used to illustrate the talk.

eNewsletter

Sign up to our monthly E-newsletter to stay up to date with our programme of exhibitions and events!