Always a delight when readers find such beautiful items in our collections!

Prof Tracey Hill@tracelarkhall.bsky.social · 2w ago

The 1605 charter of the Butchers' Company, held at @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social Wow wow wow. Look at the kingfisher! 🤩

There are a 1000 more of these! A burst of high Victorian colour and style from 'One Thousand and One Initial Letters' (1864) by Owen Jones, recently discovered in our stores. Jones was an influential British architect, designer and colour theorist. Come and see stunning works such as this IRL! ✨

A reader recently requested materials from the Parish Clerks Company from the 1600s, including these meeting minutes. The parish clerks were originally responsible for assisting with worship & keeping church records in parishes. Now they support churches, parish history, charities & the Lord Mayor.

Our friends at East London Recovery College have officially launched their first term prospectus. All courses are free to people in City of London, Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Newham. The cover health and well being, life skills and study and work opportunities. www.elft.nhs.uk/sites/defaul...

This definitely deserves its own post. But in the meantime here are some of these wonderful images from Stephen Batman in the complete works of Chaucer. If you'd like to see it in person do get in touch. Will be having it out at tomorrow's history and treasures talk.

Prof Tracey Hill@tracelarkhall.bsky.social · 4w ago

Oh guys, here at @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social they have a GORGEOUS 1561 edition of Chaucer (edited by Lydgate) with wonderful marginal illustrations by the contemporary owner, Stephen Batmam (?) 🤩 Chaucerians, get yourselves to the Library!

The number of items consulted in our reading room for June was up to 1832 in June, up from 1024 in June last year! We are so pleased that more people are coming in to use our amazing collections! Reminder that as a public library our collections are availble to everyone! No membership required!

A special evening edition of our History and Treasures talk is happening at the library this Thursday 6-7pm. The talk is FREE please book via eventbrite www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/in-person-...

In-Person - History and Treasures of Guildhall Library

View some of the library’s amazing treasures.

eventbrite.co.uk

A Day of Discovery: Free Art, Antiques & Design Valuations with Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers 💫 Monday 6th July, 10-2pm Join the specialists from Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers for a complimentary valuation day dedicated to art, antiques and design. Book your free place here:

In-Person Only: Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers - Valuation Day

A Day of Discovery: Free Art, Antiques & Design Valuations with Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers

eventbrite.co.uk

Last week we hosted an evening Collections Focus talk ‘Our Relationship with London’s Neoclassical Architecture’ by Senior Librarian Isabelle Chevallot. Books were shown with plans & images of the work of prominent Neoclassical architects. Visit us to learn about London’s architectural history! 🏛️

Our Senior Librarian Melanie Strong is giving a FREE talk on LGBT+ history in London at Shoe Lane Library tomorrow. If you can't join in person the event will also be steamed online. Please book your place here. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lgbtq-and-...

LGBTQ and London history

Join Melanie Strong for a talk on LGBTQ on historical archival collections held in the City.

eventbrite.co.uk

As temperatures in London soar we'd like to invite you all to the visit the library which is lovely and air conditioned. Feel free to drop in to use our computers, have a quiet sit down, study or even look at some of the wonderful items in our collections. Free and open to all!

It’s getting hotter! 🌞 How about a refreshing cordial mint water? This 1736 recipe includes a healthy amount of Claret and numerous ingredients and processes. From ‘The Compleat City and Country Cook….’ Would you try making this at home? Tell us about your own homemade drink recipes.

Celebrate Pride month with us! Come and see our display of important and fascinating books on the history of LGBTQ+ Londoners. From suppressed history to Celebration, activism, and community voices. They remind us that the city’s history is incomplete without these voices. 🏳️‍🌈

Map of the City and West Central London in 1929 from the Greiben-Verlag travel guide ‘London und Umgebung, mit Insel Wight’ (London and Surroundings, with the Isle of Wight) Informative and pocket-sized for the keen traveller. 🗺️

‘Illustrations of the New Palace at Westminster’ (1849) by classical architect Charles Barry (1795-1860) Fine large scales plates of the Houses of Parliament showing views, plan drawings and details of this London landmark. Part of the London Festival of Architecture exhibition on 12th June. 🏦

Celebrate Pride with us! Come join us this Thursday at 6pm for a talk on London's LGBTQ+ history using sources from the collections. We'll have some of our amazing books on display for you to look through after the talk. Booking via eventbrite. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/in-person-...

In-Person Only: Guildhall Library LGBT+ Collections Focus

Looking at the library’s sources for LGBT history.

eventbrite.co.uk

Remember The British Food History Podcast is now available on YouTube! Including the most recent episode Food History Treasures of the @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social with Peter Ross. youtu.be/4m5hiSON62g?...

S10E08 Treasures of the Guildhall Library with Peter Ross

YouTube video by The British Food History Channel

youtu.be

Our former Principal Librarian Peter Ross featured on Neil's excellect British Food History podcast talking about Guildhall Library's extensive food history collections.

Dr Neil Buttery@neilbuttery.bsky.social · 2mo ago

New podcast episode alert! Food History Treasures of the @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social with Peter Ross. Today we are talking about the food history collections at the Guildhall Library. The British Food History Podcast is available on all podcast apps. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f...

It's the perfect time of year to be exploring London. 'Touring London' (1930) is a 'little book of friendly guidance' for visitors keen to see the sights. It's nice to think this was carried around by the owner enjoying a day out almost 100 years ago.🚇

London Festival of Architecture 12th June 2026 - 1 PM - 4 PM Our Relationship with London’s Historical Architecture. Drop-in event A drop-in exhibition displaying Guildhall Library's Architecture Treasures exploring London's historical heritage from Norman times to Brutalism. 🏛️ bit.ly/4drBW56

Crystal Palace lives rent free in our minds. The photographs are taken from 'Crystal Palace and district' which possibly published in 1900. The structure was built for the Great Exhibition in 1851, but moved to Sydenham Hill in 1854. Crystal Palace was later destroyed by a fire in 1936. See less

Greenwich became a popular 18th-century resort and, with sites like Greenwich Park and the Royal Observatory, remains a draw for locals and tourists. Below are illustrations from James Sansom's 1808 'Greenwich: a poem' depicting iconic views: Greenwich Park, the Royal Hospital and Lord Dacre's seat.

Why not escape the heat by visitor our new broadside exhibition? Learn all about how news, gossip, law announcements, satire, and song spread across London. But more importantly, the library has air conditioning, so you can cool off while you learn.

Today in London it's a scorching 34°C 🫠 Unfortunately, the bank holiday weekend is over and we can no longer escape to the seaside and cool off in the sea, unlike 'Mama' in the illustrations below (shelf mark: PAM 16407).

London Festival of Architecture 12th June 2026 - 1 PM - 4 PM Our Relationship with London’s Historical Architecture. Drop-in event A drop-in exhibition displaying Guildhall Library's Architecture Treasures exploring London's historical heritage from Norman times to Brutalism. 🏛️ bit.ly/4drBW56

Judy, or the London Serio-Comic Journal’ (1st May 1867) was a satirical Victorian publication full of caricatures & cartoons poking fun at society. These show absurd scenes of stylish people struggling with the effects of a hairdressers’ strike & a daring young dandy's encounter with a cuttlefish.

How to make committee minutes look stylish - some vivid marbling details of the John Bankes Charity Committee Minutes 1962-1980 of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers. The combed marbling is achieved by dragging a comb through oil-based paints floating on water, onto which the paper was laid.

🌟New exhibition!🌟 5th May until 29th October 2026 Monday-Thursday, 10am-4pm BROADSIDES: SPEAKING TO THE PEOPLE 📯 This exhibition explores the history of broadsides and how they were used to speak to the general public, high and low alike.

I had a goal of visiting every West End theatre before 40 — I’m close, but hit a wall thanks to a worldwide pandemic. This summer I’m finally getting Drury Lane off my list — with my niece & nephews. (DL is hard because it’s home to the kind of spectacle one must take a child to for full impact)

Guildhall Library@guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Drury Lane Theatre opened #onthisday in 1663 and the current building was built 1812. A Grade 1 listed building in Covent Garden hosting plays ever since. Interior view is from Rudolph Ackerman's 'Microcosm of London' 1808-11 (AN 20.1.5).

Also described by author Tom Ogden in 1999 as one of the most haunted theatres (probably difficult to prove in practice) but it is interesting that all of the ghosts at the Drury Lane Theatre seems to bring good luck to a show rather than bad.