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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260302T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260302T190000
DTSTAMP:20260225T174913Z
CREATED:20260206T153547Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260225T174913Z
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SUMMARY:Zoom | Bath Assembly Rooms
DESCRIPTION:Join Bath Assembly Room curators\, Tatjana LeBoff and Emily Roy\, online for a talk which will reveal the fascinating story of Bath Assembly Rooms\, from their glittering eighteenth-century heyday as a venue which hosted Jane Austen\, through the many challenges they have faced across the centuries. In preparation our curators have conducted extensive research into the lives of Georgians in Bath from all walks of life\, uncovering stories to be shared. Join them as they unveil the changing fortunes of the building\, shedding light on the fascinating group of people who first funded its construction\, and go on to explore how the Rooms have survived fire and war\, as well as shifting fashions to remain one of Bath’s most iconic landmarks. And then what about its twenty-first century future? This talk will provide the ‘inside track’ on the current project to restore the building. \n\nTatjana LeBoff is a Project Curator for the Bath Assembly Rooms (National Trust)\, having previously worked for the National Trust at Petworth House\, as well as holding contemporary curatorial positions at the Barbican\, London\, and Pembroke College\, Oxford. Having received a BA in History of Art and an MA in Architectural History from UCL she has developed her curatorial skills through research and hands-on experiences. Her interests lie in the interplay between art\, design\, fashion\, architecture\, society\, food\, and the lived environment\, exploring how social and individual identities are constructed\, conveyed\, and reformed. With a focus on how complex concepts can be communicated to a wide audience through curation\, dynamic displays\, diverse narratives\, participatory activity and multidisciplinary collaboration\, the experiential and emotive value of art and heritage is paramount to her curatorial practice. She holds expertise in the social history of the long eighteenth-century\, alongside that of curating contemporary and site-specific art. She seeks to combine these two areas of experience to create new ways of sharing history with a wider public. Additionally\, she is a co-editor on the publication Bath and Beyond: The Social and Cultural World of the Georgian Assembly Room\, published by Routledge as part of their Studies in Eighteenth-Century Cultures and Societies series in 2025. \nEmily Roy is Project Curator for the National Trust at Bath Assembly Rooms\, working on the restoration and presentation of the Rooms and the creation of a new visitor experience\, to open in 2027. Her research includes how health\, wellness and disability in Georgian Bath intersected with leisure and entertainment. Emily is leading on the historical basis of the narrative content within the experience and the creation of new displays of historic objects\, including loans from other National Trust properties\, local Bath collections and UK museums. Before this role\, Emily was Project Curator for Applied Arts at Bristol Museums\, working with collections including textiles\, metalwork\, ceramics and glass. She completed her PhD in 2022\, which was a Collaborative Doctoral Award between the University of Cambridge and the Ashmolean Museum\, University of Oxford. Her thesis titled ‘City of Stone: The Materiality of St Petersburg in Print\, c.1703-1830’ explored print culture and urban development in long-18th-century Russia. Before beginning her PhD\, Emily was Curator at Waddesdon Manor (National Trust\, Rothschild Collections)\, with a special focus on furniture and decorative arts. She has also completed research and cataloguing projects at the Ashmolean Museum and British Library. \nTickets: Free for members and non-members\, registration is required 
URL:https://www.royal-oak.org/event/zoom-bath-assembly-rooms/
LOCATION:Zoom Live\, Zoom\, United States
CATEGORIES:Free to Members,Live Zoom
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ORGANIZER;CN="Royal Oak":MAILTO:zoom@royal-oak.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260408T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260408T150000
DTSTAMP:20260310T220659Z
CREATED:20260228T002610Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T220659Z
UID:10000274-1775656800-1775660400@www.royal-oak.org
SUMMARY:Zoom | East Sussex Uncovered
DESCRIPTION:House reflection on the lily pond at Bateman’s\, East Sussex ©National Trust Images/Laurence Perr \nDiscover the history\, dramatic landscapes\, and architectural treasures of East Sussex. On this digital tour\, Stephen Benton\, will take us through the rolling South Downs countryside to windswept coastal cliffs and National Trust properties that define this captivating county. Step inside some of East Sussex’s historic homes\, three of which have literary connections. We will visit Bateman’s\, the Jacobean house that was once Rudyard Kipling’s beloved retreat; explore Lamb House in Rye\, home to writers Henry James and E.F. Benson; and venture to Monk House\, Virginia Woolf’s country cottage. Discover the atmospheric ruins of Bodiam Castle\, surrounded by its classic moat\, and the beautiful Sheffield Park and Garden. Also\, we will see The Old Clergy House in Alfriston\, the very first building that the National Trust saved. \n \n  \nBodiam Castle\, East Sussex ©National Trust Images/Laurence Perry \nZoom Live\nWednesday\, April 8 | 2:00 p.m. (ET)\n$30 members; $40 non-members and guests
URL:https://www.royal-oak.org/event/zoom-east-sussex-uncovered/
LOCATION:Zoom Live\, Zoom\, United States
CATEGORIES:Live Zoom,Online Tour
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ORGANIZER;CN="Royal Oak":MAILTO:zoom@royal-oak.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260409T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260409T150000
DTSTAMP:20260409T204524Z
CREATED:20260228T003136Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260409T204524Z
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SUMMARY:Zoom | The Country House Dining Room: A History of Georgian Feasting
DESCRIPTION:The Dining Room at Saltram\, Devon. The room was designed by Robert Adam in 1768-70 \nExplore the extravagant world of Georgian dining\, where feasting was a display of wealth\, status\, and indulgence. Dining rooms in grand estates like Holkham Hall\, Hardwick Hall\, and Blenheim Palace became social stages\, where guests were expected to eat and drink to the point of excess. Dr. Amy Boyington will take us through the wild and sometimes bizarre dishes of the time. She’ll also touch on the strange “miracle cures” for overindulgence—such as medicinal brandies and hangover remedies—reflecting the era’s complicated relationship with food and health. This talk will reveal how these meals were not just about food\, but about spectacle and rivalry—blurring the lines between indulgence\, decadence\, and scandal. \nDr. Amy Boyington\, is a social and architectural historian who has a PhD in architectural history from the University of Cambridge. Dr. Boyington has worked at Holkham Hall\, Goodwood House and Woburn Abbey. She worked as a research consultant for the National Trust at Stowe Landscape Gardens\, and for Historic Royal Palaces at Kensington Palace. Her debut book is Hidden Patrons: Women and Architectural Patronage in Georgian Britain (Bloomsbury\, 2023). Her most recent book is The Country House Dining Room: A History of Georgian Feasting (Yale University Press). \nZoom\nThursday\, April 9| 2:00 p.m. (ET) \n$15 members; $25 non-members and guests \n*If you are a Heritage Circle Member\, please email Aliza at awillner@royal-oak.org for your complimentary program registration for this season’s programs.
URL:https://www.royal-oak.org/event/zoom-a-history-of-georgian-feasting/
LOCATION:Zoom Live\, Zoom\, United States
CATEGORIES:Live Zoom
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ORGANIZER;CN="Royal Oak":MAILTO:zoom@royal-oak.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260414T123000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260414T130000
DTSTAMP:20260414T124210Z
CREATED:20260228T002259Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260414T124210Z
UID:10000276-1776169800-1776171600@www.royal-oak.org
SUMMARY:Zoom | “The Old Curiosity” of a Lost London Neighborhood
DESCRIPTION:The Strand\, London\, c. 1901 \nStep into the vanished world of London’s last West End slum\, once hidden in the maze of streets just northeast of the Strand and Aldwych. Today\, little remains to hint at the area’s notorious past. This was a district of sharp contrasts — a centre of prostitution\, lined with Victorian pornographic bookshops and brothels\, yet also home to some prestigious theatres and a vibrant street market. The area drew eccentric characters\, colourful traders\, and curious visitors\, and preserved pockets of rare architecture dating back to the 16th century. Using old maps\, historic images\, literary extracts (from Dickens\, Pope) and the few surviving traces still visible\, Richard Watkins will guide us on a virtual journey into a neighborhood now swept away by redevelopment. \nThe Strand\, looking eastward from Exeter Change\, c1824 \nZoom Live\nTuesday\, April 14 | 12:00 p.m. (ET)\n$35 members; $45 non-members and guests \n*If you are a Heritage Circle Member\, please email Aliza at awillner@royal-oak.org for your complimentary program registration for this season’s programs.
URL:https://www.royal-oak.org/event/zoom-a-lost-london-neighborhood/
LOCATION:Zoom Live\, Zoom\, United States
CATEGORIES:Live Zoom,Online Tour
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.royal-oak.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/The-Strand-steroview.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Royal Oak":MAILTO:zoom@royal-oak.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260415T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260415T150000
DTSTAMP:20260409T204744Z
CREATED:20260228T010937Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260409T204744Z
UID:10000263-1776261600-1776265200@www.royal-oak.org
SUMMARY:Zoom | St Martins-in-the-Fields at 300 Years
DESCRIPTION:View of St Martin-in-the-Fields church from Trafalgar Square \nSt Martin-in-the-Fields Church is an architectural gem that is positioned on the edge of London’s Trafalgar Square. 2026 marks the 300th anniversary of the church. St Martin’s Archivist\, Louisa Price who will take us on a virtual tour of this masterpiece and showcase collection objects. She will share stories about the people who have inhabited the parish and talk about the history of this architectural landmark—from the Roman period\, to the 13th century\, and finally to the construction in 1726 of the present building. Ms. Price will explore the church’s prestigious musical history and document the parish’s commitment to social justice. Reverend Dick Sheppard (vicar from 1914 to 1927) first affirmed St Martin’s commitment to be ‘The Church of the Ever Open Door’ by welcoming in WW1 soldiers and using the church’s resources to care for the poor and vulnerable. \n\nLouisa Price is the Archivist at St Martin-in-the-Fields church in London. She has worked in a variety of Museums in New Zealand and England\, caring for social history collections ranging from medals and aeroplane engines\, to tennis racquets and teacups. For eight years she was curator of the Charles Dickens Museum in London and is currently Chair of the Board of Trustees for Jane Austen’s House Museum in Chawton\, Hampshire. \n\nZoom Live\nWednesday\, April 15 | 2:00 p.m. (ET) \n$15 members; $25 non-members and guests \n*If you are a Heritage Circle Member\, please email Aliza at awillner@royal-oak.org for your complimentary program registration for this season’s programs.
URL:https://www.royal-oak.org/event/zoom-st-martins-in-the-fields-at-300-years/
LOCATION:Zoom Live\, Zoom\, United States
CATEGORIES:Live Zoom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.royal-oak.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/a2-web.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Royal Oak":MAILTO:zoom@royal-oak.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260421T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260421T180000
DTSTAMP:20260410T163629Z
CREATED:20260228T001805Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260410T163629Z
UID:10000278-1776790800-1776794400@www.royal-oak.org
SUMMARY:Zoom | Beyond 10 Downing Street: Prime Ministers’ Private Quarters
DESCRIPTION:BENJAMIN DISRAELI 1804-78\, by Sir Francis Grant PRA(1803-78) \nWhere did Prime Ministers call home before they stepped through that famous black door at no. 10? Rob Smith will help us explore the homes of 12 British Prime Ministers\, uncovering the private addresses behind the public power. We will consider towering figures such as Winston Churchill\, William Gladstone\, and Benjamin Disraeli\, and leaders who may have left a lighter mark on British history\, but led fascinating private lives. Each virtual stop reveals a different side of political life\, as we stroll the elegant streets of Mayfair and St. James’. We will explore the political dramas of Georgian and Victorian Britain. Along the way are tales of intrigue\, ambition\, and political miscalculation—leaving us wondering whether history repeats itself. \n\nZoom Live\nTuesday\, April 21 | 5:00 p.m. (ET)\n$30 members; $40 non-members and guests \n*If you are a Heritage Circle Member\, please email Aliza at awillner@royal-oak.org for your complimentary program registration for this season’s programs.
URL:https://www.royal-oak.org/event/zoom-prime-ministers-quarters/
LOCATION:Zoom Live\, Zoom\, United States
CATEGORIES:Live Zoom,Online Tour
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.royal-oak.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Waterloo_Place.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Royal Oak":MAILTO:zoom@royal-oak.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260422T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260422T150000
DTSTAMP:20260410T165511Z
CREATED:20260228T012211Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260410T165511Z
UID:10000272-1776866400-1776870000@www.royal-oak.org
SUMMARY:Zoom | The Polite Tourist
DESCRIPTION:The house and gardens at Canons Ashby\, Northamptonshire \nFor more than five centuries\, English country houses have opened their doors to curious guests. The practice gained particular momentum in the late 16th century as a new social class was emerging—house owners who had stronger links with business than the landed gentry. Aristocrats would visit other building projects with their architects—such as the Dowager Countess of Shrewsbury who visited sites during the early building of Hardwick Hall. As centuries progressed\, more country houses were fashioned to advertise their owner’s wealth and status. This desire to impress presupposes an audience who will visit a historic house for curiosity value rather than to conduct business. From the Elizabethans who strolled around palaces; to the Georgians who appreciated the classical proportions of Kedleston Hall while admiring treasures brought back from the Grand Tour; visiting country houses has always been popular. Historian and author Adrian Tinniswood OBE will take us on an illustrated tour around some of England’s historic houses. We will hear tales of the polite tourists who came to call\, as well as the impolite visitors who may have snuck onto the estate. Finally\, he will explain how country house “snooping” helped support the development of English national preservation. \n\nAdrian Tinniswood OBE studied English and Philosophy at Southampton University and was awarded an MPhil at Leicester University. He has acted as a consultant to the National Trust and the Heritage Lottery Fund. He is currently Senior Research Fellow in History at the University of Buckingham and Visiting Fellow in Heritage and History at Bath Spa University. He is the author of 16 books on architectural and social history including The Long Weekend: Life in the English Country House Between the Wars; Behind the Throne: A Domestic History of the Royal Household and Noble Ambition: The Rise and Fall of the English Country House—his most recent publication is The Houses of Guinness (2025). Tinniswood was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2013 Birthday Honours. \n\nZoom Live\nWednesday\, April 22 | 2:00 p.m. (ET) \n$15 members; $25 non-members and guests \n*If you are a Heritage Circle Member\, please email Aliza at awillner@royal-oak.org for your complimentary program registration for this season’s programs.
URL:https://www.royal-oak.org/event/zoom-the-polite-tourist/
LOCATION:Zoom Live\, Zoom\, United States
CATEGORIES:Live Zoom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.royal-oak.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/1852897-web.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Royal Oak":MAILTO:zoom@royal-oak.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260427T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260427T150000
DTSTAMP:20260410T204058Z
CREATED:20260306T201936Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260410T204058Z
UID:10000284-1777298400-1777302000@www.royal-oak.org
SUMMARY:Zoom | The Last Princesses of Punjab
DESCRIPTION:Princesses Bamba Sutherland (center)\, Catherine Hilda Duleep Singh (left) and Sophia Duleep Singh (right) in debutante dress\, 1895. ©Peter Bance Collection \nThis is the story of a family of extraordinary women—a warrior grandmother\, a mother who moved across the world\, three sisters\, and the Queen who was both friend and conqueror. The Princesses of Punjab—Sophia\, Catherine\, and Bamba Duleep Singh—were the daughters of the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire. Their journey begins in India but moves – as they did – across Nepal\, Britain\, Egypt\, Germany and Pakistan. Their lives were shaped by female family members\, mother Bamba Miller\, Grandmother Jind Kaur\, and Godmother Queen Victoria. They lived through defining 20th-century moments. They witnessed the fall of the British Empire in India and Pakistan; campaigned for women’s right to vote; nursed soldiers during WWI; and sheltered refugees. Dr. Mishka Sinha will illustrate objects from these women’s lives as shown in Historic Royal Palaces’ exhibition The Last Princesses of Punjab: Sophia Duleep Singh and the women who shaped her (March 2026). Dr. Sinha will explain how their destinies were shaped by global politics and how each expressed womanhood\, power\, and royalty in different way. These women’s lives were marked by privilege\, but also loss\, migration\, and conflicting identities. \n\nDr. Mishka Sinha is a cultural and intellectual historian of 18th–20th century global and imperial history. Dr. Sinha has a BA from St. Xavier’s College\, Mumbai\, received an MPhil at the University of Oxford\, and her PhD at the University of Cambridge. She has taught at many UK and Europea Universities. She has held research fellowships in Berlin; at Cambridge (British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship); in Florence (Max Weber); at Oxford; and in Edinburgh. Dr. Sinha has several years of experience working in museums\, arts and heritage in India She was co-curator of the exhibition\, Untold Lives: A Palace at Work (2024). \n\nZoom Live\nMonday\, April 27 | 2:00 p.m. (ET) \n$15 members; $25 non-members and guests \n*If you are a Heritage Circle Member\, please email Aliza at awillner@royal-oak.org for your complimentary program registration for this season’s programs.
URL:https://www.royal-oak.org/event/zoom-the-last-princesses-of-punjab/
LOCATION:Zoom Live\, Zoom\, United States
CATEGORIES:Live Zoom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.royal-oak.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Sophia-stamp.jpeg
ORGANIZER;CN="Royal Oak":MAILTO:zoom@royal-oak.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260512T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260512T150000
DTSTAMP:20260416T143338Z
CREATED:20260305T210752Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T143338Z
UID:10000285-1778594400-1778598000@www.royal-oak.org
SUMMARY:Zoom | Saltram: Rising Family Fortunes and Artistic Transformation
DESCRIPTION:The Saloon\, or Great Drawing Room\, at Saltram\, Devon\, designed by Robert Adam in 1768. ©National Trust Images/John Hammond \nSaltram House in Devon underwent major interior and exterior design changes during the mid-18th century to the early 19th century—transforming the building from a sizable Jacobean house to a fashionable Georgian mansion. Much of these changes were championed by the women of the Parker family: Lady Catherine Parker in the 1740-50s and Lady Theresa Parker after 1769-75. As the family’s aristocratic status and fortune strengthened through strategic marriages\, the Parkers used portraiture to promote ideas of family dynasty and to emphasize their rising social status. Zoë Shearman\, NT Property Curator at Saltram\, will speak about the house’s history from the late middle-ages to the early 19th century and examine the house’s ownership under the Parker family. She will discuss the influence of the family’s artistic relationships (and their London connections) on the house’s interior decoration. She will illustrate the later change to more classically inspired interior decoration\, under Robert Adam\, as well as the acquisition Saltram’s Grand Tour and Chinese collections. Finally\, Ms. Shearman will discuss how the adaptation of Saltram to the Palladian-style\, and the formation of the collection\, paralleled the rise in the family’s fortune and status. \n\nZoë Shearman is the National Trust Property Curator at Saltram House\, Devon. She has significant experience as a curator and consultant with a focus on cultural heritage\, contemporary art\, and social practice. Previously\, she was founder Director/Curator of projects agency Relational; Artistic Co-Director of Spacex Gallery\, Exeter; and Director of Visual Arts for Riverside Studios\, London. She holds a degree in the History of Art from the University of the Arts\, London. She has taught as a number of postgraduate curatorial programs and has worked as a curatorial consultant for Arts Council England\, the Architectural Association\, and University of Exeter. \n\nZoom Live\nTuesday\, May 12 | 2:00 p.m. (ET) \n \nFREE for members*; $15 non-members and guests*\n*Registration Required
URL:https://www.royal-oak.org/event/saltram-rising-family-fortune/
LOCATION:Zoom Live\, Zoom\, United States
CATEGORIES:Free to Members,Live Zoom
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ORGANIZER;CN="Royal Oak":MAILTO:zoom@royal-oak.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260514T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260514T150000
DTSTAMP:20260416T144848Z
CREATED:20260306T174857Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T144848Z
UID:10000287-1778767200-1778770800@www.royal-oak.org
SUMMARY:Zoom | Picturing History: Photographic Works in the National Trust Collection
DESCRIPTION:Self-portrait with sister\, George Bernard Shaw\, 1898. The George Bernard Shaw photographic collection\, National Trust. \nThe National Trust in the UK looks after more than 550\,000 photographic prints; negatives and transparencies; and photographic works of art\, spanning from the 1840s to the present day. Collectively they act as visual diaries\, offering glimpses into the way people live and how they viewed the world. One of the inventors of early photography\, William Henry Fox Talbot fixed images using chemicals on paper in 1835 at his home at Lacock Abbey\, Wiltshire (NT). In her talk\, Anna Sparham will illustrate some of the Trust’s extensive range of photographic holdings and highlight their common themes—from both professional photographers and amateurs. She will explore the history of this innovation and describe its link to NT properties. Finally\, Ms. Sparham will look at the contemporary relevance of these works today. \nAnna Sparham graduated with a photography degree from Nottingham Trent University. She became National Curator for Photography at the National Trust in 2022. She has worked extensively with both historic photographic collections and contemporary practitioners for 25 years. When she was Curator of Photographs at the London Museum\, Ms. Sparham developed multiple exhibitions and publications on subjects including women’s suffrage\, youth subculture\, street photography and London at night. Her latest book\, 100 Photographs: From the Collections of the National Trust was published in 2024. \n\nZoom Live\nThursday\, May 14 | 2:00 p.m. (ET) \n \n$15 members; $25 non-members and guests
URL:https://www.royal-oak.org/event/zoom-picturing-history-photographic-works-in-the-national-trust-collection/
LOCATION:Zoom Live\, Zoom\, United States
CATEGORIES:Live Zoom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.royal-oak.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/cms_17912-web.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Royal Oak":MAILTO:zoom@royal-oak.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260518T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260518T150000
DTSTAMP:20260416T145838Z
CREATED:20260228T010134Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T145838Z
UID:10000265-1779112800-1779116400@www.royal-oak.org
SUMMARY:Zoom | Writing the Garden: Authors and Artists Reflections
DESCRIPTION:The garden in August at Monk’s House\, East Sussex \nThroughout history\, gardeners have been compelled to put pen to paper to capture the beauty\, record seasonal changes\, and ponder about their beloved plots. Claire Masset’s new book\, Garden Voices: A Year of Gardeners’ Writing brings together these musings – drawn from diaries\, letters and articles – in an engaging anthology organized around the calendar year. Her lecture will highlight both world famous gardeners and lesser-known – though no less inspiring – garden writers. She will present writings from artists Claude Monet and Vanessa Bell\, and poets Celia Thaxter and Derek Jarman. She will discuss their horticultural philosophy as recorded through their words and reflections. Using\npaintings and photographs\, she also will provide a glimpse into thoughts of some of the world’s most creative artists\, revealing their gardens to be sources of both artistic and personal expression. \nClaire Masset has degrees in art and architectural history from St. Andrews and Oxford. She is the publisher for the National Trust in charge of gardening books. Her journalism has appeared in Country Life\, BBC Homes & Antiques\, Historic Gardens Review\, Gardens Illustrated\, Art Quarterly\, and The English Garden magazine. Her books include the bestselling Secret Gardens of the National Trust\, and Cottage Gardens. She recently won the Roger Deakin Award from the Society of Authors. \n\nZoom Live\nMonday\, May 18 | 2:00 p.m. (ET) \n \n$15 members; $25 non-members and guests
URL:https://www.royal-oak.org/event/zoom-writing-the-garden-2/
LOCATION:Zoom Live\, Zoom\, United States
CATEGORIES:Live Zoom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.royal-oak.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/1286852-web.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Royal Oak":MAILTO:zoom@royal-oak.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260520T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260520T180000
DTSTAMP:20260507T165043Z
CREATED:20260228T001355Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T165043Z
UID:10000280-1779296400-1779300000@www.royal-oak.org
SUMMARY:Zoom | Historic London Markets
DESCRIPTION:Escheape Market \nLondon is home to some of the world’s most famous markets – from the historic Smithfield and Spitalfields markets to the vibrant Covent Garden. For centuries\, these bustling trading hubs have kept the city fed\, supplied\, and thriving. Rob Smith will guide us through the rich history of London’s markets. Discover how feeding the capital has been a constant challenge since Roman times\, and how markets have played a vital role in the city’s growth and daily life. We will explore sites trading from their original locations\, those that have found new homes\, and even places that have vanished altogether\, including the once-renowned Hungerford Market. Packed \nCovent Garden Piazza with London Transport Museum\, geograph.org.uk \nwith history\, colour\, and surprising stories\, this digital tour brings the heritage of London’s markets to life. \nZoom Live \nWednesday\, May 20 | 5:00 p.m. (ET) \n \n$30 members; $40 non-members and guests
URL:https://www.royal-oak.org/event/zoom-historic-london-markets/
LOCATION:Zoom Live\, Zoom\, United States
CATEGORIES:Live Zoom,Online Tour
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.royal-oak.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Smithfield_Meat_Market_tower1-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Royal Oak":MAILTO:zoom@royal-oak.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260611T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260611T150000
DTSTAMP:20260527T144140Z
CREATED:20260306T165024Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260527T144140Z
UID:10000289-1781186400-1781190000@www.royal-oak.org
SUMMARY:Zoom | Sir John Vanbrugh and the English Country House
DESCRIPTION:Fireplace and statues inside the central block at Seaton Delaval Hall\, Northumberland. ©National Trust Images/Dennis Gilbert \nThe country houses designed by Sir John Vanbrugh (1664-1726) are some of the most original and memorable works of architecture in the story of British architecture. Called ‘The Shakespeare of Architects’ by Sir John Soane\, Vanbrugh designed evocative and unforgettable palaces including Castle Howard and Blenheim Palace\, and his other country houses such as the NT’s Seaton Delaval are also unforgettable. Vanbrugh’s personal life was perhaps even more remarkable than his flamboyant architectural creations. He began his career as a wine merchant and then traveled to India in the service of the East India Company. He served as a marine officer and was later arrested and imprisoned in France on suspicion of being a spy. He was also a celebrity playwright before turning his mind to architecture. In honor of the 300th anniversary of Vanburgh’s death in 1726\, architectural historian Jeremy Musson will lecture about Vanbrugh’s life and illustrate and describe the architect’s iconic houses. He will reflect on Vanbrugh’s influence on architects through the 18-and-19th century\, and up until the present day. \n\nJeremy Musson is a leading authority on the English country house. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and sits on a number of boards including the Country House Foundation. He was awarded an MPhil in Renaissance History at the Warburg Institute\, University of London\, in 1989 and was Architectural Editor of Country Life from 1995-2007. He has written and edited hundreds of articles on historic country houses and has presented 14 programmes on BBC 2. He lectures and supervises academic programs for Cambridge University\, London University and Buckingham University\, and the Attingham Summer School. Among his books include Robert Adam: Country House Design\, Decoration & the Art of Elegance (2017)\, The Country House: Past\, Present\, Future: Great Houses of the British Isles (2018)\, and Romantics and Classics: Style in the English Country House (Rizzoli\, 2021). \nZoom Live\nThursday\, June 11 | 2:00 p.m. (ET) \n \n$15 members; $25 non-members and guests
URL:https://www.royal-oak.org/event/zoom-sir-john-vanbrugh-and-the-english-country-house/
LOCATION:Zoom Live\, Zoom\, United States
CATEGORIES:Live Zoom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.royal-oak.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/1394631-web.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Royal Oak":MAILTO:zoom@royal-oak.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261117T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261117T150000
DTSTAMP:20260813T201044Z
CREATED:20260813T200928Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260813T201044Z
UID:10000307-1794924000-1794927600@www.royal-oak.org
SUMMARY:Zoom | Defending the Homefront: Britain's Home Guard
DESCRIPTION:As the threat of invasion by Adolf Hitler loomed over the British nation\, Prime Minister Anthony Eden’s 1940 radio broadcast appealed for volunteers to protect the domestic front. Often called “Dad’s Army\,” the British Home Guard was made up of volunteers who were too young or too old for conscription during WWII. However\, they were more than an assembly of well-meaning amateurs. Nearly 2M ordinary people—including George Orwell\, A. A. Milne\, and C. S. Lewis—stood ready to defend British towns and villages. Journalist and author Sinclair McKay will explore the incredible story of Britain’s Home Guard. He will describe the village greens that became drilling grounds for WWI veterans who balanced rifle practice\, night patrols\, and anti-aircraft duties. McKay will also highlight the important role played by women. While at first officially banned from the Home Guard\, undeterred\, a group formed the Women’s Home Defence Force in 1941. Also\, McKay will talk about the 1st American Squadron\, composed of US citizens living in the UK in 1940. This group stepped up to defend Britain while the US was still neutral. Drawing on archival research\, McKay will offer a new perspective on the domestic spirit of resilience\, ingenuity\, and courage that helped sustain the nation during its darkest hours. \nSinclair McKay writes for the Daily Telegraph\, the Mail on Sunday and The Spectator. He is a literary critic for the Telegraph and the Spectator. He has published extensively on Bletchley Park in his books\, The Secret Life of Bletchley Park\, The Secret Listeners\, and Bletchley Park Brainteasers. His other books include Dresden: The Fire and the Darkness (2020); Meeting Churchill: A Life in 90 Encounters (2023); St. Petersburg: Sacrifice and Redemption in the City That Defied Hitler (2025) and Dad’s Army: The Glorious True Story of the Home Guard (2026). \nZoom details will be shared in the email confirmation after ordering. \nTickets: $15 Members; $25 Non-members \n \n\nOr call 212-480-2889 x200
URL:https://www.royal-oak.org/event/zoom-defending-the-homefront-britains-home-guard/
LOCATION:Zoom Live\, Zoom\, United States
CATEGORIES:Live Zoom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.royal-oak.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/A-1917-poster-by-Robert-Baden-Powell-encouraging-civilian-participation-in-the-war-effort.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Royal Oak":MAILTO:zoom@royal-oak.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261123T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261123T150000
DTSTAMP:20260813T205759Z
CREATED:20260813T205759Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260813T205759Z
UID:10000329-1795442400-1795446000@www.royal-oak.org
SUMMARY:Zoom | Alice de Rothschild's World at Waddesdon Manor
DESCRIPTION:Alice de Rothschild\, a member of the influential European banking dynasty\, was an art collector\, gardener\, and one of the most remarkable women of her era. Unconstrained by the social expectations placed upon women\, she forged her own path and after inheriting Waddesdon Manor from her brother\, Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild\, in 1898\, shaped its future for the next 24 years. Dr. Mia Jackson will explore Alice’s lasting influence on Waddesdon Manor\, revealing how she preserved and enriched the estate through her collections\, gardens\, and traditions of entertaining. In doing so\, Alice established standards of stewardship and care that would later help shape National Trust conservation practices\, securing Waddesdon’s legacy for future generations. \nDr. Mia Jackson is Senior Curator of Decorative Arts at Waddesdon Manor\, where she has worked since 2017. She has curated exhibitions on Alice de Rothschild and her collections; the Rothschild Aviaries; and Flights of Fancy: The Birds of Louis Denis Armand (2024). She studied at the University of Oxford and the Courtauld Institute of Art before completing her PhD at Queen Mary\, University of London. Previously\, she worked at the British Museum\, The Wallace Collection\, and English Heritage. \nZoom details will be shared in the email confirmation after ordering. \nTickets: $15 Members; $25 Non-members \n \n\nOr call 212-480-2889 x200
URL:https://www.royal-oak.org/event/zoom-alice-de-rothschilds-world-at-waddesdon-manor/
LOCATION:Zoom Live\, Zoom\, United States
CATEGORIES:Live Zoom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.royal-oak.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/waddesdon-rotated.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Royal Oak":MAILTO:zoom@royal-oak.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261203T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261203T180000
DTSTAMP:20260813T195348Z
CREATED:20260813T195348Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260813T195348Z
UID:10000308-1796317200-1796320800@www.royal-oak.org
SUMMARY:Zoom | Sugar Plums and Seasonal Tales from the Gilded Age
DESCRIPTION:During the Gilded Age\, holidays were transformed into opulent celebrations featuring lavish decorations and delicious confections. Food writer and historian Becky Libourel Diamond will explore Gilded Age holiday traditions\, from plum pudding\, gingerbread\, and mince pie\, to grand balls\, debutante parties\, and festive teas. She will examine the fascinating history behind these confections\, their ingredients\, and baking methods\, while uncovering the origins of many customs that became mainstream including\, Santa Claus\, Christmas trees\, and Christmas cards. She will also discuss Hanukkah celebrations among America’s growing Jewish community and New Year’s traditions such as “New Year’s Calling.” \nBecky Libourel Diamond is a food writer\, librarian\, and research historian. She holds a BA in journalism from Rider University and an MLS from Rutgers University. Her second cookbook\, The Gilded Age Christmas Cookbook\, blends Gilded Age details and celebrity stories with historic holiday menus and recipes\, updated for modern kitchens. She is also the author of The Thousand Dollar Dinner\, and Mrs. Goodfellow: The Story of America’s First Cooking School. \nZoom details will be shared in the email confirmation after ordering. \nTickets: $15 Members; $25 Non-members \n \n\nOr call 212-480-2889 x200
URL:https://www.royal-oak.org/event/zoom-sugar-plums-and-seasonal-tales-from-the-gilded-age/
LOCATION:Zoom Live\, Zoom\, United States
CATEGORIES:Live Zoom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.royal-oak.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/PlumPuddingC.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Royal Oak":MAILTO:zoom@royal-oak.org
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END:VCALENDAR