The Royal Oak Foundation

Zoom Tour Live | Tales on Tap: London's Historic Pubs
2024-04-02 17:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
ONLINE WALKING TOUR
Tales on Tap: London’s Historic Pubs
Zoom Meeting (Live)
Tuesday, April 2 | 5:00 p.m. ET
The Fleece Inn, near Evesham, Worcestershire
Explore London’s rich tradition of historic pubs with Footprints of London guide, Rob Smith. For centuries, going to the pub has been a quintessential London pastime, and within the city, there exists a treasure trove of intriguing stories behind some of its most beloved drinking establishments. Rob will delve into the fascinating narratives behind a selection of his favorite historic pubs, each with its own unique charm and significance.
Discover the intriguing tale of a pub that retains its license as a pawnbroker, boasting a storied history of loaning money to none other than King George IV. Journey to a former coaching inn now under the stewardship of the National Trust, where echoes of bygone travelers still linger in its walls. Prepare to be enthralled by the story of a pub ingeniously built around the remnants of an old windmill, a testament to London’s ever-evolving urban landscape. Rob will even navigate the tricky, perennially debated question: which establishment truly deserves the title of London’s oldest pub?
Join us as we raise a virtual glass to London’s historic pubs and the captivating tales that have woven themselves into the fabric of the city’s social and cultural tapestry.
Tickets: $30 Members; $40 Non-Member

Zoom Rental Tour | Tales on Tap: London's Historic Pubs
2024-04-03 - 2024-06-30 | NY
Tales on Tap: London’s Historic Pubs
Rent the recorded tour to watch at your leisure
The Fleece Inn, near Evesham, Worcestershire
Explore London’s rich tradition of historic pubs with Footprints of London guide, Rob Smith. For centuries, going to the pub has been a quintessential London pastime, and within the city, there exists a treasure trove of intriguing stories behind some of its most beloved drinking establishments. Rob will delve into the fascinating narratives behind a selection of his favorite historic pubs, each with its own unique charm and significance.
Discover the intriguing tale of a pub that retains its license as a pawnbroker, boasting a storied history of loaning money to none other than King George IV. Journey to a former coaching inn now under the stewardship of the National Trust, where echoes of bygone travelers still linger in its walls. Prepare to be enthralled by the story of a pub ingeniously built around the remnants of an old windmill, a testament to London’s ever-evolving urban landscape. Rob will even navigate the tricky, perennially debated question: which establishment truly deserves the title of London’s oldest pub?
Join us as we raise a virtual glass to London’s historic pubs and the captivating tales that have woven themselves into the fabric of the city’s social and cultural tapestry.
TICKETS: $30 Members; $40 Non-Member

Zoom Live | Borrowed Landscapes: The Influence of China and Japan on the English Country House
2024-04-04 14:00 - 15:00 | NY
Borrowed Landscapes: The Influence of China and Japan on the English Country House
Thursday, April 4 | 2:00 p.m. (ET)
Zoom Webinar (Live)
An English lacquer cabinet, c.1690, in the Morning Room at Saltram, Devon.
From the 17th century onwards, Chinese and Japanese art and ornamentation influenced the design and decoration of interiors and gardens in Britain and Ireland. The importation of Chinese and Japanese luxury goods—lacquer, porcelain, embroidered silk, wallpaper, etc.—allowed designers and homeowners to incorporate these objects into their interiors. The East India Companies also commissioned objects from Chinese and Japanese artisans, incorporating European forms and Western patterns.
However, British designers and artisans also created their own fanciful interpretations of Asian styles and forms, often mistaking the original meaning or purpose behind the designs. These Western-created hybrid styles have been known as chinoiserie and japonisme and remain popular in decoration and design. Over the centuries, even as China and Japan became better known to Europeans, the fictional idea of what is ‘oriental’ remained prevalent in Western design.
Emile de Bruijn, will explore the impact of Chinese and Japanese material culture on British historic houses and gardens, based on the research he undertook (and the photography that was commissioned) for his new book Borrowed Landscapes. De Bruijn will illustrate how elements of Chinese and Japanese culture were admired but often misunderstood by Western craftsmen. He will also show how resulting designs were both idealized and desired, while dismembered and caricatured. Finally, he will explain how the collection of Asian objects in British and Irish country houses and the use of Asian design elements in Western furniture was not just about appropriation but also reflected admiration and an attempt by designers to appeal to the senses and admiration of the beholder.
Emile de Bruijn

Emile de Bruijn studied Japanese at Leiden University, the Netherlands, and museology at Essex University, United Kingdom. After working in the Japanese and Chinese art departments of the auctioneers Sotheby’s, he joined the National Trust where he currently has the role of Assistant National Curator of Decorative Arts. In 2017 he published the monograph Chinese Wallpaper in Britain and Ireland, and his latest book is Borrowed Landscapes: China and Japan in the Historic Houses and Gardens of Britain and Ireland (2023).

Zoom Rental | Borrowed Landscapes: The Influence of China and Japan on the English Country House
2024-04-05 - 2024-06-30 | NY
Borrowed Landscapes: The Influence of China and Japan on the English Country House
An English lacquer cabinet, c.1690, in the Morning Room at Saltram, Devon.
From the 17th century onwards, Chinese and Japanese art and ornamentation influenced the design and decoration of interiors and gardens in Britain and Ireland. The importation of Chinese and Japanese luxury goods—lacquer, porcelain, embroidered silk, wallpaper, etc.—allowed designers and homeowners to incorporate these objects into their interiors. The East India Companies also commissioned objects from Chinese and Japanese artisans, incorporating European forms and Western patterns.
However, British designers and artisans also created their own fanciful interpretations of Asian styles and forms, often mistaking the original meaning or purpose behind the designs. These Western-created hybrid styles have been known as chinoiserie and japonisme and remain popular in decoration and design. Over the centuries, even as China and Japan became better known to Europeans, the fictional idea of what is ‘oriental’ remained prevalent in Western design.
Emile de Bruijn, will explore the impact of Chinese and Japanese material culture on British historic houses and gardens, based on the research he undertook (and the photography that was commissioned) for his new book Borrowed Landscapes. De Bruijn will illustrate how elements of Chinese and Japanese culture were admired but often misunderstood by Western craftsmen. He will also show how resulting designs were both idealized and desired, while dismembered and caricatured. Finally, he will explain how the collection of Asian objects in British and Irish country houses and the use of Asian design elements in Western furniture was not just about appropriation but also reflected admiration and an attempt by designers to appeal to the senses and admiration of the beholder.
Emile de Bruijn

Emile de Bruijn studied Japanese at Leiden University, the Netherlands, and museology at Essex University, United Kingdom. After working in the Japanese and Chinese art departments of the auctioneers Sotheby’s, he joined the National Trust where he currently has the role of Assistant National Curator of Decorative Arts. In 2017 he published the monograph Chinese Wallpaper in Britain and Ireland, and his latest book is Borrowed Landscapes: China and Japan in the Historic Houses and Gardens of Britain and Ireland (2023).

NYC In-Person Tour | Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature at the Morgan Library
2024-04-09 13:30 - 15:00 | The Morgan Library, 225 MADISON AVENUE, New York, NY, 10013
Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature
In-Person (not recorded)
Tuesday, April 9 | 1:30 p.m. ET
Join Royal Oak as the Morgan Library takes us on this captivating tour through Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature, a celebration of the beloved author and illustrator’s century-spanning legacy. Renowned for creating unforgettable characters like Peter Rabbit, Mr. Jeremy Fisher, and Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, Potter’s creative prowess and entrepreneurial spirit set her apart as one of the most celebrated children’s authors in history. Explore the roots of her artistic inspiration, drawn from childhood summers spent in Scotland and the English Lake District, and witness the impact of her famous menagerie of pets on her picture letters and published tales.
The tour will showcase her botanical drawings, picturesque Lake District landscapes, and charming characters featured in humorous letters to friends. Additionally, rare works and unseen photos from family albums will be unveiled, providing a more intimate glimpse into Potter’s life. This exhibit tour not only honors Potter’s literary contributions but also sheds light on her achievements as a storyteller, artist, and naturalist. Join us on this enchanting journey through the life and works of Beatrix Potter, a visionary whose influence continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
MEETING PLACE: MORGAN LIBRARY
225 MADISON AVENUE
NEW YORK, NY 10013

NYC | Once a King: The Lost Memoir of Edward VIII with Jane Marguerite Tippett
2024-04-11 18:00 - 19:30 | The General Society Library, 20 W. 44th Street, New York City, 10036, United States
Once a King: The Lost Memoir of Edward VIII
Thursday, April 11 | 6:00 p.m. (ET) Reception and book signing following
The General Society Library, 20 W. 44th Street, NYC (Bet. 5th and 6th)

Many people are familiar with the history of the Duke of Windsor, the former King Edward VIII who gave up the British throne to marry the twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson. Although an-often-repeated story, historian and author Jane Marguerite Tippett brings new insight through her astonishing discovery of the first and unedited drafts of Edward’s memoir A King’s Story, written with the assistance of Life magazine journalist Charles J.V. Murphy. Preserved in Murphy’s archive, but overlooked by previous Royal scholars, Tippett uncovered the private manuscript that Edward created between 1947 and 1951.
She also discovered hundreds of pages of interviews Murphy conducted with the couple in 1954 when he was working on the Duchess’s biography. In her lecture, Tippett will explore the significance of this material and how through Edward’s writing, we gain an entirely new understanding of his life as Prince of Wales as well as the momentous events of his brief 11-month reign. Tippett will scrutinize the ways in which Edward’s writings shift our understanding of his importance in the history of the 20th-century British monarchy and explore how this material may change people’s perspective on the significance of his royal career.

Jane Marguerite Tippett

Jane Tippett is a historian and archivist. She graduated from University of Delaware with a BA in French, History and English Literature. She received her MSt. in History of Art from Wadham College, Oxford, where she wrote her dissertation on the centrality of provenance in the contemporary fine art auction market. Since graduating she has worked as a private archivist to high-net-worth families and interior design firms in New York City, Boston, and London. Once A King: The Lost Memoir of Edward VIII (Hodder & Stoughton, October 2023) is her first book. Her next book, Monsieur, which will be published in May 2024, is a survey of the photographic work of Patrick O’Higgins, the biographer and longtime companion of Helena Rubinstein.

Or Rent the Recording!

Zoom Rental | Once a King: The Lost Memoir of Edward VIII with Jane Marguerite Tippett
2024-04-12 - 2024-06-30 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States
Once a King: The Lost Memoir of Edward VIII

Many people are familiar with the history of the Duke of Windsor, the former King Edward VIII who gave up the British throne to marry the twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson. Although an-often-repeated story, historian and author Jane Marguerite Tippett brings new insight through her astonishing discovery of the first and unedited drafts of Edward’s memoir A King’s Story, written with the assistance of Life magazine journalist Charles J.V. Murphy. Preserved in Murphy’s archive, but overlooked by previous Royal scholars, Tippett uncovered the private manuscript that Edward created between 1947 and 1951.
She also discovered hundreds of pages of interviews Murphy conducted with the couple in 1954 when he was working on the Duchess’s biography. In her lecture, Tippett will explore the significance of this material, and how through Edward’s writing we gain an entirely new understanding of his life as Prince of Wales as well as the momentous events of his brief 11-month reign. Tippett will scrutinize the ways in which Edward’s writings shift our understanding of his importance in the history of the 20th-century British monarchy and explore how this material may change people’s perspective on the significance of his royal career.
Jane Marguerite Tippett

Jane Tippett is a historian and archivist. She graduated from University of Delaware with a BA in French, History and English Literature. She received her MSt. in History of Art from Wadham College, Oxford, where she wrote her dissertation on the centrality of provenance in the contemporary fine art auction market. Since graduating she has worked as a private archivist to high-net-worth families and interior design firms in New York City, Boston, and London. Once A King: The Lost Memoir of Edward VIII (Hodder & Stoughton, October 2023) is her first book. Her next book, Monsieur, which will be published in May 2024, is a survey of the photographic work of Patrick O’Higgins, the biographer and longtime companion of Helena Rubinstein.
Rent the recording and watch at your leisure!

Zoom Live | A Collector’s Country House: William Randolph Hearst with Victoria Kastner
2024-04-16 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom Webinar, Virtual, United States
A Collector’s Country House: William Randolph Hearst
Tuesday, April 16 | 6:00 p.m. (ET)
Zoom Webinar (Live)
When Winston Churchill visited William Randolph Hearst’s estate at San Simeon during Churchill’s 1929 California tour, he was pleasantly surprised. Though he had been expecting “a Monte Carlo casino perched atop the Rock of Gibraltar,” he found instead a stunning country house and an intriguing host. Hearst was an art collector in the 18th-century English tradition. Like William Beckford and Horace Walpole, Hearst personally selected every object in his vast collection, and determined its location. For 28 years, Julia Morgan—the first female architect to gain worldwide prominence—worked right beside him creating La Cuesta Encantada (The Enchanted Hill), as it was formally known.
At San Simeon, Hearst blended English country house traditions with Californian informalities. Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant, and all the Hollywood set rubbed elbows with Calvin Coolidge and Bernard Shaw. Presiding as hostess was Hearst’s companion, the actress Marion Davies. The end result was a quintessentially American country house with English style gardens: built by a media mogul, designed by a woman architect, presided over by a Hollywood starlet, and forever immortalized by a film—Orson Welles’s brooding Citizen Kane. Victoria Kastner will discuss Hearst’s extensive art collection—Renaissance tapestries, Mediterranean furniture, English silver, and architectural fragments galore—and provide lively anecdotes about the hilltop, in this examination of America’s most glamorous country house and estate.
Victoria Kastner

Victoria Kastner is a leading scholar and author about the architect Julia Morgan as well as about Hearst Castle, where she worked for 30 years and was the historian. She is the author of Hearst Castle: The Biography of a Country House, with a foreword by George Plimpton, published by Harry N. Abrams in 2000; Hearst’s San Simeon: The Gardens and the Land, May 2009; and Hearst Ranch: Family, Land and Legacy. She co-authored The Beverly Hills Hotel: The First 100 Years with Robert Anderson. In 2022, Victoria published Julia Morgan: An Intimate Biography of the Trailblazing Architect. Ms. Kastner has lectured extensively on Julia Morgan, Hearst’s art collection, and the history of collection for many museums and groups: including at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York; the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; the American Museum in Britain in Bath; and the Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco. She has also written about Hearst, San Simeon, and Morgan for The London Telegraph, the American Institute of Architects, Oxford University’s Journal of the History of Collections, and The Magazine Antiques.

Zoom Rental | A Collector’s Country House: William Randolph Hearst with Victoria Kastner
2024-04-17 - 2024-06-30 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States
A Collector’s Country House: William Randolph Hearst
When Winston Churchill visited William Randolph Hearst’s estate at San Simeon during Churchill’s 1929 California tour, he was pleasantly surprised. Though he had been expecting “a Monte Carlo casino perched atop the Rock of Gibraltar,” he found instead a stunning country house and an intriguing host. Hearst was an art collector in the 18th-century English tradition. Like William Beckford and Horace Walpole, Hearst personally selected every object in his vast collection, and determined its location. For 28 years, Julia Morgan—the first female architect to gain worldwide prominence—worked right beside him creating La Cuesta Encantada (The Enchanted Hill), as it was formally known.
At San Simeon, Hearst blended English country house traditions with Californian informalities. Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant, and all the Hollywood set rubbed elbows with Calvin Coolidge and Bernard Shaw. Presiding as hostess was Hearst’s companion, the actress Marion Davies. The end result was a quintessentially American country house with English style gardens: built by a media mogul, designed by a woman architect, presided over by a Hollywood starlet, and forever immortalized by a film—Orson Welles’s brooding Citizen Kane. Victoria Kastner will discuss Hearst’s extensive art collection—Renaissance tapestries, Mediterranean furniture, English silver, and architectural fragments galore—and provide lively anecdotes about the hilltop, in this examination of America’s most glamorous country house and estate.
Victoria Kastner

Victoria Kastner is a leading scholar and author about the architect Julia Morgan as well as about Hearst Castle, where she worked for 30 years and was the historian. She is the author of Hearst Castle: The Biography of a Country House, with a foreword by George Plimpton, published by Harry N. Abrams in 2000; Hearst’s San Simeon: The Gardens and the Land, May 2009; and Hearst Ranch: Family, Land and Legacy. She co-authored The Beverly Hills Hotel: The First 100 Years with Robert Anderson.
In 2022, Victoria published Julia Morgan: An Intimate Biography of the Trailblazing Architect. Ms. Kastner has lectured extensively on Julia Morgan, Hearst’s art collection, and the history of collection for many museums and groups: including at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York; the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; the American Museum in Britain in Bath; and the Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco. She has also written about Hearst, San Simeon, and Morgan for The London Telegraph, the American Institute of Architects, Oxford University’s Journal of the History of Collections, and The Magazine Antiques.
Rent the recording and enjoy the lecture at your leisure!

NYC | Cotswold Manors and Gardens with Paula Henderson
2024-04-18 18:00 - 19:30 | The General Society Library, 20 W. 44th Street, New York City, 10036, United States
Cotswold Manors and Gardens
The Cotswold hills with their mellow stone cottages, elegant manor houses and imposing castles contain some of the most important historic gardens in England. A virtual history of English gardens can be found in Gloucestershire, parts of Oxfordshire, and Warwickshire. Although little survives of the Roman and medieval periods, some very early gardens remain: Thornbury Castle and Horton Court are two remarkable early 16th century gardens. From the 17th century, the restored gardens at Westbury Court are well known, while ghosts of the late 17th-century gardens at Dyrham Park are more challenging to discover.
The 18th century is represented in the poetic garden at Rousham, William Kent’s best surviving landscape, as well as in Capability Brown’s most famous garden at Blenheim Palace. Quirkier examples of the English landscape are found at Painswick and Sezincote.
Modern gardens, too, are impressive: the Arts and Crafts garden at Snowshill and especially Major Lawrence Johnston’s Hidcote Manor, which became a model for so many later garden designs. This lecture covers the history of the English garden, using both famous and little-known gardens, all set in the most unspoiled part of England.
Paula Henderson

Paula Henderson has degrees in art history (University of Chicago, M.A.) and Ph.D. in architectural history from the Courtauld Institute of Art (University of London). She lectures widely in Britain (where she lived for 43 years) and the United States and has published over seventy articles on English Houses and their settings. Her first book, The Tudor House and Garden: Architecture and Landscape in the 16th and 17th Centuries (published by Yale University Press), won the Berger Prize for the outstanding contribution to the history of British art 2005. Treehouses (co-authored with Adam Mornement) was published by Francis Lincoln, also in 2005. She is currently completing books on London gardens in the age of Shakespeare and on the Landscape as Art.
She taught courses for the Courtauld Institute of Art Institute Art for many years and, most recently for the V& A Museum. She has lectures for the Paul Mellon Center for British Art, the Architectural Association, both Oxford and Cambridge Universities, Birkbeck College, Christie’s Education, The Inchbald School of Design, the V&A Museum, the Tate Gallery, The Garden History Society, Sir John Soane’s Museum, Sotheby’s Educational Studies, and many others. She led tours for the Courtauld Institute to Florence (‘Gardens of the Medici’) Debyshire (‘Elizabethan Architecture’) and the Cotswolds (‘Gardens of the Cotswolds’). While living in England, she also traveled to the United States to lecture for the Society of Architectural Historians, The Garden Club of America, The Royal Oak Foundation, and the Williamsburg Institute. She is a Fellow of Society of Antiquaries of London and now splits her time between Nantucket, MA and Williamsburg, VA.
Thursday, April 18 | 6:00 p.m. (ET) Reception following
The General Society Library, 20 W. 44th Street, NYC (Bet. 5th and 6th)

Zoom Rental | Cotswold Manors and Gardens with Paula Henderson
2024-04-19 - 2024-06-30 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States
Cotswold Manors and Gardens
The Cotswold hills with their mellow stone cottages, elegant manor houses and imposing castles contain some of the most important historic gardens in England. A virtual history of English gardens can be found in Gloucestershire, parts of Oxfordshire, and Warwickshire. Although little survives of the Roman and medieval periods, some very early gardens remain: Thornbury Castle and Horton Court are two remarkable early 16th century gardens. From the 17th century, the restored gardens at Westbury Court are well known, while ghosts of the late 17th-century gardens at Dyrham Park are more challenging to discover.
The 18th century is represented in the poetic garden at Rousham, William Kent’s best surviving landscape, as well as in Capability Brown’s most famous garden at Blenheim Palace. Quirkier examples of the English landscape are found at Painswick and Sezincote.
Modern gardens, too, are impressive: the Arts and Crafts garden at Snowshill and especially Major Lawrence Johnston’s Hidcote Manor, which became a model for so many later garden designs. This lecture covers the history of the English garden, using both famous and little-known gardens, all set in the most unspoiled part of England.
Paula Henderson

Paula Henderson has degrees in art history (University of Chicago, M.A.) and Ph.D. in architectural history from the Courtauld Institute of Art (University of London). She lectures widely in Britain (where she lived for 43 years) and the United States and has published over seventy articles on English Houses and their settings. Her first book, The Tudor House and Garden: Architecture and Landscape in the 16th and 17th Centuries (published by Yale University Press), won the Berger Prize for the outstanding contribution to the history of British art 2005. Treehouses (co-authored with Adam Mornement) was published by Francis Lincoln, also in 2005. She is currently completing books on London gardens in the age of Shakespeare and on the Landscape as Art.
She taught courses for the Courtauld Institute of Art Institute for many years and, most recently for the V&A museum. She has lectures for the Paul Mellon Center for British Art, the Architectural Association, both Oxford and Cambridge Universities, Birkbeck college, Christie’s Education, The Inchbald School of Design, the V&A museum, the Tate Gallery, The Garden History Society, Sir John Soane’s Museum, Sotheby’s Educational Studies and many others. She led tours for the Courtauld Institute to Florence (‘Gardens of the Medici’) Debyshire (‘Elizabethan architecture’) and the Cotswolds (‘Gardens of the Cotswolds’). While living in England, she also traveled to the United States to lecture for the Society of Architectural Historians, The Garden Club of America, The royal Oak Foundation, and the Williamsburg Institute. She is a Fellow of Society of Antiquaries of London and now splits her time between Nantucket, MA and Williamsburg, VA.

Zoom Tour Live | Americans Abroad: Shaping Culture and Influence 19th-and-20th Century
2024-04-23 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom Meeting
Americans Abroad: Shaping Culture and Influence 19th-and-20th Century
Americans have left an indelible mark on London, shaping and influencing various facets of the city’s landscape. From Harry Gordon Selfridge, a retail maverick who revolutionized the shopping experience, to Charles Tyson Yerkes, a key figure in the development of the tube network, Americans have played pivotal roles in transforming London. Witness the profound influence of figures like Waldorf and Nancy Astor, who transitioned from Americans to influential British politicians. London’s cultural tapestry is enriched further by the presence of notable artists and writers, including James McNeil Whistler, John Singer Sargent, and T.S. Eliot, who chose London as their creative haven. The city’s musical landscape, too, bears the imprints of American artists who found a special connection with London. Icons like Judy Garland, Paul Robeson, and Jimi Hendrix contribute to the unique bond between American musicians and the vibrant London scene.

Join Stephen Benton on this insightful exploration as he unveils the stories of these Americans who have not only left an enduring legacy but have also significantly altered the fabric of London itself. From retail to politics, arts, and music, discover the diverse ways in which these individuals have shaped and changed the dynamic city of London.
Zoom Meeting (Live)
Tuesday, April 23 | 2:00 p.m. ET

Zoom Rental Tour | Americans Abroad: Shaping Culture and Influence 19th-and-20th Century
2024-04-24 - 2024-06-30 | Zoom Meeting
Americans Abroad: Shaping Culture and Influence 19th-and-20th Century
Americans have left an indelible mark on London, shaping and influencing various facets of the city’s landscape. From Harry Gordon Selfridge, a retail maverick who revolutionized the shopping experience, to Charles Tyson Yerkes, a key figure in the development of the tube network, Americans have played pivotal roles in transforming London. Witness the profound influence of figures like Waldorf and Nancy Astor, who transitioned from Americans to influential British politicians. London’s cultural tapestry is enriched further by the presence of notable artists and writers, including James McNeil Whistler, John Singer Sargent, and T.S. Eliot, who chose London as their creative haven. The city’s musical landscape, too, bears the imprints of American artists who found a special connection with London. Icons like Judy Garland, Paul Robeson, and Jimi Hendrix contribute to the unique bond between American musicians and the vibrant London scene.

Join Stephen Benton on this insightful exploration as he unveils the stories of these Americans who have not only left an enduring legacy but have also significantly altered the fabric of London itself. From retail to politics, arts, and music, discover the diverse ways in which these individuals have shaped and changed the dynamic city of London

Zoom Live | The Restoration of Bath’s Assembly Rooms with Connolly and Wellingham
2024-04-24 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Webinar, Virtual, United States
Preserving History: The Restoration of Bath’s Assembly Rooms

Managed by the National Trust since 1931, the Assembly Rooms hold a special place in Bath’s history and culture, offering contemporary visitors an immersive experience into the Georgian era. Join Royal Oak as we hear from Connolly Wellingham Architects, the architectural design and conservation studio appointed by the National Trust to assist with interior design and conservation of this significant showpiece, ahead of the Trust’s resumption of management of the site. The project will assess the feasibility of revealing currently hidden layers of historic fabric throughout the Assembly Rooms and seek to tell a wider, immersive story of Bath’s society heyday.
Built during the Georgian era and designed by the esteemed architect John Wood the Younger, the Assembly Rooms have long been at the heart of fashionable society. Completed in 1771, these rooms were hailed as “the most noble and elegant” in the UK, hosting a vibrant array of social gatherings and events. The restoration project includes initiatives that promise to transform the Assembly Rooms into a true reflection of their Georgian heritage. Among these initiatives is the replacement of the modern staircases with a unique Georgian-inspired design. Additionally, the re-gilding of mirrors and marbling of columns will restore the room’s opulence and grandeur, while new front doors will welcome guests with a touch of splendor. Removal of infill and installation of new light wells will flood the area with natural light, recreating the original entrance experience. Also, upgrading to slimline double-glazed windows will ensure both preservation and comfort, allowing guests to enjoy the Assembly Rooms in all seasons. Join us as we delve into the restoration journey, combining historical preservation with modern innovation to breathe new life into this iconic Georgian landmark.

Fergus Connolly is from Lancashire and studied architecture at Glasgow School of Art, and London Metropolitan University. Fergus undertook the SPAB’s Lethaby Scholarship in 2008, and was awarded first prize in the Georgian Group’s Architectural Drawing Competition (presented by HRH The Prince of Wales), later that year. From 2003-2006, Fergus worked for Martin Stancliffe Architects. In the role of Cathedral Surveyors, the practice undertook St. Paul’s Cathedral’s largest phase of repair and reordering since it’s completion in 1711. At FCBStudios Fergus spent 8 years as church architect to Grade 1 listed Bath Abbey, and project architect for The Footprint Project. The project secured £10.5m of HLF support to repair and stabilise the collapsing Abbey floor. During his time at FCBS he also worked on Shrewsbury Flax Mill, Windsor Castle’s Visitor Masterplan and new conservation studio for the Royal Collection. He authored The Burrell Collection’s Statement of Significance. Fergus lectures and tutors across the UK on vernacular architecture.

Charles Wellingham grew up in Somerset and studied architecture at University of Plymouth and the University of the West of England, during which time his work was commended by the SPAB Philip Webb award and shortlisted for the RIBA President’s Silver Medal. During 6 years at FCBStudios, Charlie was the project architect responsible for delivering the heritage led regeneration of Middleport Pottery in Stoke on Trent for the Prince’s Regeneration Trust. The site was built in 1888 and has been home to the Burleigh factory for 150 years. As well as securing the continuation of Burleigh’s craft, the brief sought to strengthen the economic sustainability of the grade II* listed site by introducing additional complementary uses, education spaces and visitor facilities. The refurbishment was awarded a national RIBA award, a Civic Trust AABC Conservation Award and a Europa Nostra Prize for European Cultural Heritage Conservation Excellence. In 2014, he rejoined FCBS and was responsible for leading the design team overseeing the creative reuse of the former Guildhall court rooms in the heart of medieval Bristol. This included securing Planning and Listed Building Consent for the extension and conversion of the Grade I and II* listed buildings into a hotel complex. Charlie is an associate lecturer at the UWE Architecture School and guest critic in the Part 2 Conservation Studio. Charlie was elected to join the Conservation Register in 2016.

Zoom Rental | The Restoration of Bath’s Assembly Rooms with Connolly and Wellingham
2024-04-25 - 2024-07-07 | Zoom Webinar, Virtual, United States
Preserving History: The Restoration of Bath’s Assembly Rooms
Managed by the National Trust since 1931, the Assembly Rooms hold a special place in Bath’s history and culture, offering contemporary visitors an immersive experience into the Georgian era. Join Royal Oak as we hear from Connolly Wellingham Architects, the architectural design and conservation studio, appointed by the National Trust to assist with interior design and conservation of this significant showpiece, ahead of the Trust’s resumption of management of the site. The project will assess the feasibility of revealing currently hidden layers of historic fabric throughout the Assembly Rooms and seek to tell a wider, immersive story of Bath’s society heyday.
Built during the Georgian era and designed by the esteemed architect John Wood the Younger, the Assembly Rooms have long been at the heart of fashionable society. Completed in 1771, these rooms were hailed as “the most noble and elegant” in the UK, hosting a vibrant array of social gatherings and events. The restoration project includes initiatives that promise to transform the Assembly Rooms into a true reflection of their Georgian heritage. Among these initiatives is the replacement of the modern staircases with a unique Georgian-inspired design. Additionally, the re-gilding of mirrors and marbling of columns will restore the room’s opulence and grandeur, while new front doors will welcome guests with a touch of splendor. Removal of infill and installation of new light wells will flood the area with natural light, recreating the original entrance experience. Also, upgrading to slimline double-glazed windows will ensure both preservation and comfort, allowing guests to enjoy the Assembly Rooms in all seasons. Join us as we delve into the restoration journey, combining historical preservation with modern innovation to breathe new life into this iconic Georgian landmark.
Fergus Connolly is from Lancashire and studied architecture at Glasgow School of Art and London Metropolitan University. Fergus undertook the SPAB’s Lethaby Scholarship in 2008 and was awarded first prize in the Georgian Group’s Architectural Drawing Competition (presented by HRH The Prince of Wales), later that year. From 2003-2006, Fergus worked for Martin Stancliffe Architects. In the role of Cathedral Surveyors, the practice undertook St. Paul’s Cathedral’s largest phase of repair and reordering since it’s completion in 1711. At FCBStudios, Fergus spent 8 years as church architect to Grade 1 listed Bath Abbey, and project architect for The Footprint Project. The project secured £10.5m of HLF support to repair and stabilise the collapsing Abbey floor. During his time at FCBS he also worked on Shrewsbury Flax Mill, Windsor Castle’s Visitor Masterplan and new conservation studio for the Royal Collection. He authored The Burrell Collection’s Statement of Significance. Fergus lectures and tutors across the UK on vernacular architecture.
Charles Wellingham grew up in Somerset and studied architecture at University of Plymouth and the University of the West of England, during which time his work was commended by the SPAB Philip Webb award and shortlisted for the RIBA President’s Silver Medal. During 6 years at FCBStudios, Charlie was the project architect responsible for delivering the heritage led regeneration of Middleport Pottery in Stoke on Trent for the Prince’s Regeneration Trust. The site was built in 1888 and has been home to the Burleigh factory for 150 years. As well as securing the continuation of Burleigh’s craft, the brief sought to strengthen the economic sustainability of the grade II* listed site by introducing additional complementary uses, education spaces and visitor facilities. The refurbishment was awarded a national RIBA award, a Civic Trust AABC Conservation Award and a Europa Nostra Prize for European Cultural Heritage Conservation Excellence. In 2014, he rejoined FCBS and was responsible for leading the design team overseeing the creative reuse of the former Guildhall court rooms in the heart of medieval Bristol. This included securing Planning and Listed Building Consent for the extension and conversion of the Grade I and II* listed buildings into a hotel complex. Charlie is an associate lecturer at the UWE Architecture School and guest critic in the Part 2 Conservation Studio. Charlie was elected to join the Conservation Register in 2016.

Zoom Live | Wilton House: An English Treasure House with Jeremy Musson
2024-05-01 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom Webinar, Virtual, United States
Wilton House: An English Treasure House
Wilton House, near Salisbury in Wiltshire, has been the seat of the Earls of Pembroke for over 400 years – it is now home to the 18th Earl and Countess of Pembroke. Like many great English country houses, Wilton was built on the site of a medieval abbey, in this case given by King Henry VIII in 1544 courtier Sir William Pembroke, later 1st Earl Pembroke (1501-1570). Wilton has been shaped by some of the most significant names in architecture and interior design. Some of the 16th-century house survives, but the most notable part of the house today is that remodelled in the 1640s for Philip Herbert, the 4th Earl of Pembroke (1584-1650), by Inigo Jones (1573-1652) and Salomon de Caus. It represents a significant moment in the transition to classically inspired architecture in Britain. Further alterations in the early 1800s included a magnificent cloister by James Wyatt (1746-1813) for the 11th Earl of Pembroke (1759-1852) designed to display a collection of classical sculpture.

The Single and Double Cube state rooms designed by Inigo Jones and John Webb are considered some of the finest of English interiors, and the house contains the outstanding collections of classical sculpture and Old Master paintings. Architectural historian Jeremy Musson will illustrate the rich interiors and artistic masterpieces and show what they reveal about changing values and attitudes to art, architecture, and decoration, as well as the story of the Earls of Pembroke.
Jeremy Musson is a leading commentator and authority on the English country house. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and sits on a number of boards and trusts 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. Before joining Country Life in 1995, Mr. Musson was an assistant regional curator for the National Trust in East Anglia. He has written and edited hundreds of articles on historic country houses. Mr. Musson also presented 14 programmes on BBC 2, making up two series called The Curious House Guest in 2005-07, and he also lectures and supervises for academic programmes with Cambridge University, London University, Buckingham University, and the Attingham Summer School. Among his books include Up and Down Stairs: The History of the English Country House Servant (2009), English Country House Interiors (2011), 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).

Zoom Rental | Wilton House: An English Treasure House with Jeremy Musson
2024-05-02 - 2024-06-30 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States

NYC | In the Footsteps of Jane Austen: A Writer's Love of Bath with Devoney Looser
2024-05-02 18:00 - 19:00 | The General Society Library, 20 W. 44th Street, New York City, 10036, United States
Lyme Park
In the Footsteps of Jane Austen: A Writer’s Love of Bath
Bath, England, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries was a fraught, fascinating place, not only because of the supposed healing powers of its waters, but because of its notoriety as a marriage market.
The popular spa town was imagined as a magical destination. Day-to-day life there, however, could fall short of the ideal, as Jane Austen’s fiction so vividly describes. Emma’s jilted Mr. Elton finds himself an equally odious wife there, with shocking speed. Persuasion’s heroine Anne Elliot, we’re told, “disliked Bath.” Her sour older sister mistakenly predicts that “nobody will want” Anne in Bath, but there Anne eventually does find herself in love and beloved (again).

In Northanger Abbey, heroine Catherine Morland and her circle hope Bath will supply the “adventures” she lacks in her home village. Catherine isn’t disappointed, although her early experiences involve days of “looking at everybody and speaking to no one,” and many of the friends she makes prove false ones. Thanks to these enduring stories, scenes, and characters, today’s Bath has become a destination city for “Janeites”, who retrace the Austen’s steps in Assembly Rooms, concert halls, and the famous Pump Room.
Sewing table in Boudoir at Saltram ©National Trust Images Andreas von Einsiedel
But what was Bath really like for a young, unmarried woman in this era, whether in search of adventure, authorship, marriage, love, or all four? Few letters survive from Jane Austen during the time she lived in Bath from 1801-05. Scholars also debate whether she was happy or miserable.

In her lecture, Devoney Looser will revisit the question of Austen’s happiness in Bath focusing on the years leading up to the Regency period. She will show Bath’s many attractions and obstacles, as seen not only through the famous novelist’s eyes, but in the accounts of other writers who visited during this transformational era.
Devoney Looser, Regents Professor of English at Arizona State University, is the author or editor of 11 books, most recently the biography Sister Novelists: The Trailblazing Porter Sisters, Who Paved the Way for Austen and the Brontës (Bloomsbury US, 2022). She is also the author of The Making of Jane Austen (2017) and the editor of The Daily Jane Austen: A Year of Quotes (2019). Looser, a Guggenheim Fellow and an NEH Public Scholar, has published essays in The Atlantic, New York Times, Salon, Slate,TLS, and The Washington Post. Her series of 24, 30-minute lectures on Austen is available through The Great Courses and Audible. Her next book, Wild for Austen, will be published by St. Martin’s Press in 2025. In addition to being a quirky book nerd, she plays roller derby under the name ‘Stone Cold Jane Austen’.

Zoom Rental | In the Footsteps of Jane Austen: A Writer's Love of Bath with Devoney Looser
2024-05-03 - 2024-07-07 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States
Lyme Park
In the Footsteps of Jane Austen: A Writer’s Love of Bath
Bath, England, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries was a fraught, fascinating place, not only because of the supposed healing powers of its waters, but because of its notoriety as a marriage market. The popular spa town was imagined as a magical destination. Day-to-day life there, however, could fall short of the ideal, as Jane Austen’s fiction so vividly describes. Emma’s jilted Mr. Elton finds himself an equally odious wife there, with shocking speed. Persuasion’s heroine Anne Elliot, we’re told, “disliked Bath.” Her sour older sister mistakenly predicts that “nobody will want” Anne in Bath, but there Anne eventually does find herself in love and beloved (again).

In Northanger Abbey, heroine Catherine Morland and her circle hope Bath will supply the “adventures” she lacks in her home village. Catherine isn’t disappointed, although her early experiences involve days of “looking at everybody and speaking to no one,” and many of the friends she makes prove false ones. Thanks to these enduring stories, scenes, and characters, today’s Bath has become a destination city for “Janeites”, who retrace the Austen’s steps in Assembly Rooms, concert halls, and the famous Pump Room.
Sewing table in Boudoir at Saltram ©National Trust Images Andreas von Einsiedel

But what was Bath really like for a young, unmarried woman in this era, whether in search of adventure, authorship, marriage, love, or all four? Few letters survive from Jane Austen during the time she lived in Bath from 1801-05. Scholars also debate whether she was happy or miserable.

In her lecture, Devoney Looser will revisit the question of Austen’s happiness in Bath focusing on the years leading up to the Regency period. She will show Bath’s many attractions and obstacles, as seen not only through the famous novelist’s eyes, but in the accounts of other writers who visited during this transformational era.
Devoney Looser, Regents Professor of English at Arizona State University, is the author or editor of 11 books, most recently the biography Sister Novelists: The Trailblazing Porter Sisters, Who Paved the Way for Austen and the Brontës (Bloomsbury US, 2022). She is also the author of The Making of Jane Austen (2017) and the editor of The Daily Jane Austen: A Year of Quotes (2019). Looser, a Guggenheim Fellow and an NEH Public Scholar, has published essays in The Atlantic, New York Times, Salon, Slate, TLS, and The Washington Post. Her series of 24, 30-minute lectures on Austen is available through The Great Courses and Audible. Her next book, Wild for Austen, will be published by St. Martin’s Press in 2025. In addition to being a quirky book nerd, she plays roller derby under the name ‘Stone Cold Jane Austen’.

Zoom Tour Live | Scenic Scotland: Dumfries
2024-05-07 17:00 - 18:00 | Zoom Meeting
Scenic Scotland: Dumfries
While not as widely recognized as the Highlands of the north, Dumfriesshire boasts an abundance of scenic beauty that rivals any other region in Scotland. Our guide Rob Smith will take us on a virtual journey through the breathtaking landscapes known as the Queen of Scotland of the South. We will explore the majestic rocky coastlines, traverse the rolling hills of the Southern Uplands Way, visit the sands of the Solway Firth, and uncover Dumfries’ spectacular castles—including the iconic triangular fortress, the only one of its kind in Scotland. We will hear stories of remarkable individuals hailing from Dumfriesshire, such as naval Captain John Paul Jones and the beloved author of Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie. And no exploration of Dumfriesshire would be complete without delving into the life and legacy of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns…haggis not included.

Zoom Rental Tour | Scenic Scotland, Dumfries
2024-05-08 - 2024-06-30 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States

Chicago | Once a King: The Lost Memoir of Edward VIII with Jane Marguerite Tippett
2024-05-08 19:00 - 20:30 | The Newberry Library, 60 West Walton Street, Chicago, IL, 60610, United States
Once a King: The Lost Memoir of Edward VIII
Wednesday, May 8 | 6:30 p.m. (CT) This lecture is preceded by a reception and book signing at 6:00 p.m.
The Newberry Library, Ruggles Hall, 60 West Walton Street, Chicago IL 60610

Many people are familiar with the history of the Duke of Windsor, the former King Edward VIII who gave up the British throne to marry the twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson. Although an-often-repeated story, historian and author Jane Marguerite Tippett brings new insight through her astonishing discovery of the first and unedited drafts of Edward’s memoir A King’s Story, written with the assistance of Life magazine journalist Charles J.V. Murphy. Preserved in Murphy’s archive, but overlooked by previous Royal scholars, Tippett uncovered the private manuscript that Edward created between 1947 and 1951.
She also discovered hundreds of pages of interviews Murphy conducted with the couple in 1954 when he was working on the Duchess’s biography. In her lecture, Tippett will explore the significance of this material and how through Edward’s writing, we gain an entirely new understanding of his life as Prince of Wales as well as the momentous events of his brief 11-month reign. Tippett will scrutinize the ways in which Edward’s writings shift our understanding of his importance in the history of the 20th-century British monarchy and explore how this material may change people’s perspective on the significance of his royal career.

Jane Marguerite Tippett

Jane Tippett is a historian and archivist. She graduated from University of Delaware with a BA in French, History and English Literature. She received her MSt. in History of Art from Wadham College, Oxford, where she wrote her dissertation on the centrality of provenance in the contemporary fine art auction market. Since graduating she has worked as a private archivist to high-net-worth families and interior design firms in New York City, Boston, and London. Once A King: The Lost Memoir of Edward VIII (Hodder & Stoughton, October 2023) is her first book. Her next book, Monsieur, which will be published in May 2024, is a survey of the photographic work of Patrick O’Higgins, the biographer and longtime companion of Helena Rubinstein.

Or Rent the Recording!

Zoom Live | ‘Outsiders’ and the English Country House with Adrian Tinniswood
2024-05-09 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom Webinar, Virtual, United States
Rock garden with rhododendrons at Cragside, Northumberland
‘Outsiders’ and the English Country House
At the beginning of the 20th century, the owners of Britain’s stately homes reveled in the halcyon days of glory and glamour. Nothing lay beyond their reach in a world where privilege and hedonism went hand in hand with duty and honour. The ancestral seats of ancient nobility stood cheek by jowl next to the palaces of Jewish bankers (Waddesdon Manor) and Indian princes (Elveden). Before World War I, Britain was a place where dukes and duchesses mixed with chorus-line dancers who had turned into aristocratic society hostesses. It was a world where self-made millionaires who had been raised in the slums of Manchester and Birmingham, or whose family were farmers, owned glorious country houses (Craagside). It was a world where Americans who restored and transformed English country houses (Hever Castle) were received in the highest social circles in Britain. Historian Adrian Tinniswood, OBE, will explore the English country house during this brief golden age, when stately homes in Britain were at their most opulent. He will illustrate and explain how for the privileged few—not born into nobility or an aristocratic lineage—life in the country house during this period was the best life of all.
Adrian 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 has lectured at several Universities both in the US and UK, including the University of Oxford and the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of 16 books on architectural and social history including His Invention So Fertile: A Life of Christopher Wren; By Permission of Heaven: The True Story of the Great Fire of London; 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. Tinniswood was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2013 Birthday Honours for services to heritage.

Zoom Rental | ‘Outsiders’ and the English Country House with Adrian Tinniswood
2024-05-10 - 2024-07-07 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States

NYC In-Person Tour | Green-Wood Cemetery
2024-05-14 14:00 - 15:30 | Green-Wood Cemetery, 500 25TH STREET, Brooklyn, NY, 11232, United States
In-Person Walking Tour
Green-Wood Cemetery
Established in 1838 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 2006, Green-Wood Cemetery holds a distinguished place on the National Register of Historic Places, commemorating its architectural and historical importance. Spread across 478 acres and home to 600,000 graves and 7,000 trees, Green-Wood Cemetery stands as a testament to Brooklyn’s early history and development. The grand main gate, crafted in the Gothic style by Richard Upjohn, welcomes visitors into this verdant oasis full of sprawling hills and sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline. Green-Wood boasts tombs adorned with ornate sculptural decorations. Its picturesque landscaping, inspired by landscape designer Alexander Jackson Downing and envisioned by David Bates Douglass, reflects a quintessential example of 19th-century rural cemetery design. Join our knowledgeable Green-Wood guide as we take a 90-minute walk through the cemetery, offering insights into its history, architectural marvels, scenic landscapes, and the fascinating people who rest beneath its tranquil grounds.
MEETING PLACE: GREENWOOD CEMETERY, 500 25TH STREET, BROOKLYN, NY 11232

NYC | Designs for Living: Noël Coward at Home with Patrick Monahan
2024-05-20 18:00 - 19:30 | The General Society Library, 20 W. 44th Street, New York City, 10036, United States
Designs for Living: Noël Coward at Home
Monday, May 20 | 6:00 p.m. (ET) Reception following
The General Society Library, 20 W. 44th Street, NYC (Bet. 5th and 6th)
Noël Coward (1899-1973) was famously called “The Master” by Lord Louis Mountbatten for his talents as an actor, writer, composer, singer, director, producer, and painter. However, Coward was also an exceptional house designer who created elegant environments for himself and in which to entertain his celebrity friends: from the English countryside, to the Swiss Alps, and the hills of Jamaica. As a rising playwright of Drawing Room Comedies in the 1930s, he engaged society decorator Syrie Maugham—famous for her all-white rooms—to design airy, art-filled spaces which were fitting for his theatrical family, such as Gertrude Lawrence and Ivor Novello.
Coward’s 1932 comedy play Design for Living, starring himself, Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, faithfully captures this elegant avant-garde look in its stage surroundings. At the same time, Coward owned a half-timbered Tudor manor house in Kent, called Goldenhurst Farm, where he entertained guests with legendary weekend parties far from the prying eye of the London press. Coward emerged from World War II as well-known English institution and carried his brand as a British bon viveur around the world. In London, he stayed in a suite at the Savoy Hotel, directing Elaine Stritch in his musical comedy Sail Away, playing in the downstairs theater.

In 1956, he moved his residency from England and built in Switzerland, a chalet, named Chalet Coward, at Les Avants, near Montreux. There he hosted the cream of Hollywood, Broadway, and the West End who regularly visited—including Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, and Peter O’Toole.
Finally, Coward built his favorite and last home—two villas in Jamaica: a large guest house, called Blue Harbor where he entertained friends like the Queen Mother, as well as a small cottage, called Firefly, just for himself. On the 125th anniversary of Noël Coward’s birth, join Country Life and Vanity Fair contributor Patrick Monahan as he explores and illustrated Coward’s life at home. He will explain how the places in which Coward chose to live influenced his most beloved plays and songs. He will illustrate some of Coward’s many houses and tell stories from Coward’s life, many he heard directly from Coward’s friends, like Elaine Stritch.
Patrick Monahan, is a writer and independent art advisor, specializing in British paintings, drawings, and sculpture from the 18th century to the present. A native New Yorker, he is consulted by collectors and museums on both sides of the Atlantic, including the Museo de Arte de Ponce, Puerto Rico. His written work appears in Country Life and Vanity Fair, as well as in the exhibition catalogue “Flaming June: the making of an icon,” Leighton House, London, 2016. He holds an MPhil from the University of Cambridge as well as a BA from the University of Chicago, both in art history. He lives and works in New York City, with regular visits to London.

Zoom Rental | Designs for Living: Noël Coward at Home with Patrick Monahan
2024-05-21 - 2024-07-07 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States
Designs for Living: Noël Coward at Home
Noël Coward (1899-1973) was famously called “The Master” by Lord Louis Mountbatten for his talents as an actor, writer, composer, singer, director, producer, and painter. However, Coward was also an exceptional house designer who created elegant environments for himself and in which to entertain his celebrity friends: from the English countryside to the Swiss Alps, and the hills of Jamaica. As a rising playwright of Drawing Room Comedies in the 1930s, he engaged society decorator Syrie Maugham—famous for her all-white rooms—to design airy, art-filled spaces which were fitting for his theatrical family, such as Gertrude Lawrence and Ivor Novello. Coward’s 1932 comedy play Design for Living, starring himself, Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, faithfully captures this elegant avant-garde look in its stage surroundings. At the same time, Coward owned a half-timbered Tudor manor house in Kent, called Goldenhurst Farm, where he entertained guests with legendary weekend parties far from the prying eye of the London press. Coward emerged from World War II as well known English institution and carried his brand as a British bon viveur around the world. In London, he stayed in a suite at the Savoy Hotel, directing Elaine Stritch in his musical comedy Sail Away, playing in the downstairs theater.
In 1956, he moved his residency from England and built in Switzerland, a chalet, named Chalet Coward, at Les Avants, near Montreux. There he hosted the cream of Hollywood, Broadway, and the West End who regularly visited—including Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, and Peter O’Toole. Finally, Coward built his favorite and last home—two villas in Jamaica: a large guest house, called Blue Harbor where he entertained friends like the Queen Mother, as well as a small cottage, called Firefly, just for himself. On the 125th anniversary of Noël Coward’s birth, join Country Life and Vanity Fair contributor Patrick Monahan as he explores and illustrated Coward’s life at home. He will explain how the places in which Coward chose to live influenced his most beloved plays and songs. He will illustrate some of Coward’s many houses and tell stories from Coward’s life, many he heard directly from Coward’s friends, like Elaine Stritch.
Patrick Monahan, is a writer and independent art advisor, specializing in British paintings, drawings, and sculpture from the 18th century to the present. A native New Yorker, he is consulted by collectors and museums on both sides of the Atlantic, including the Museo de Arte de Ponce, Puerto Rico. His written work appears in Country Life and Vanity Fair, as well as in the exhibition catalogue “Flaming June: the making of an icon,” Leighton House, London, 2016. He holds an MPhil from the University of Cambridge as well as a BA from the University of Chicago, both in art history. He lives and works in New York City, with regular visits to London.

NYC In-Person Tour | Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature at the Morgan Library 2
2024-05-24 13:30 - 15:00 | The Morgan Library, 225 MADISON AVENUE, New York, NY, 10013
Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature
In-Person (not recorded)
Join Royal Oak as the Morgan Library takes us on this captivating tour through Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature, a celebration of the beloved author and illustrator’s century-spanning legacy. Renowned for creating unforgettable characters like Peter Rabbit, Mr. Jeremy Fisher, and Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, Potter’s creative prowess and entrepreneurial spirit set her apart as one of the most celebrated children’s authors in history. Explore the roots of her artistic inspiration, drawn from childhood summers spent in Scotland and the English Lake District, and witness the impact of her famous menagerie of pets on her picture letters and published tales.
The tour will showcase her botanical drawings, picturesque Lake District landscapes, and charming characters featured in humorous letters to friends. Additionally, rare works and unseen photos from family albums will be unveiled, providing a more intimate glimpse into Potter’s life. This exhibit tour not only honors Potter’s literary contributions but also sheds light on her achievements as a storyteller, artist, and naturalist. Join us on this enchanting journey through the life and works of Beatrix Potter, a visionary whose influence continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
MEETING PLACE: MORGAN LIBRARY
225 MADISON AVENUE
NEW YORK, NY 10013
In-Person (not recorded)
Friday, May 24 | 1:30 p.m. ET

NYC In-Person Tour | Jazz Age Modern: Art Deco on the Upper East Side
2024-06-05 10:30 - 12:30 | NY
In-Person Walking Tour
Jazz Age Modern: Art Deco on the Upper East Side
In the mid-1920s and 1930s, a second wave of apartment construction left its mark north of East 68th Street, adding a fascinating group of frequently overlooked modernistic structures. Architectural historian Matt Postal will lead us on a walk through the neighborhood’s distinguished historic district, highlighting Art Deco and Moderne works, including luxury apartment houses and stylish commercial buildings. Some are characterized by white metals, casement windows, and striking geometric details. Our route includes stops at 740 Park Avenue, commissioned by James T. Lee, father of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Manhattan’s only Art Deco townhouse, the timeless Carlyle Hotel, and a limestone goddess salvaged from the legendary Ziegfeld Theater.
MEETING PLACE: NORTHEAST CORNER OF THIRD AVENUE AND 68TH STREET (across from 210 East 68th Street)

NYC | Lady Pamela: My Mother's Extraordinary Life with India Hicks
2024-09-30 18:15 - 20:00 | The General Society Library, 20 W. 44th Street, New York City, 10036, United States
Lady Pamela: My Mother’s Extraordinary Life
India Hicks, British designer and author
Monday, September 30 | 6:15 p.m. (ET) Reception and book-signing following
The General Society Library, 20 W. 44th Street, NYC (Bet. 5th and 6th)
For years, British designer and author India Hicks has been sharing anecdotes about the life of her mother, Lady Pamela Hicks. Join Royal Oak as India chronicles the life of ‘Lady P’ (as she is affectionately known), the daughter of the 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, the last viceroy of India. Lady Pamela was a first cousin to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and served as a bridesmaid and lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth II, before marrying legendary interior designer David Hicks. Sifting through her parents’ archives, India has uncovered a new trove of material about her mother, including letters from the Queen; images of the houses and gardens in which she lived; details of her work during Indian independence; stories about her marriage to David Hicks and the houses he designed; and details of her father’s assassination in Ireland. India will also speak about the lessons she has learned from her mother while offering a tribute to Lady Pamela’s extraordinary life for lovers of history, royal watchers, and all style enthusiasts.

India Hicks, a humanitarian, designer, and author, has led an unexpected life. Growing up as the daughter of decorator David Hicks and goddaughter of King Charles, she comes from both British and design royalty. She has authored four design books and consults with fashion, home and lifestyle brands. India has lived in the Bahamas for the past 27 years, where she raised her five children. She now works on the fringes of fashion and the front lines of disaster relief. She partnered with the disaster relief agency ‘Global Empowerment Mission” in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian. She joined GEM’s Executive Board in 2020, traveling to the Ukraine to aid with refugee relief and provide emergency supplies. She also is a patron for The Prince’s Trust and works to help young women who face disadvantages transform their lives.

In-Person:
Tickets: $35 members*; $45 non-members
*Membership discount applied automatically when logged into your Royal-Oak.org account
