Zoom Rental | Mrs. Greville at Polesden Lacey with Alice Strickland & Anna Vesaluoma
2024-11-06 12:00 - 2024-12-31 13:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States
Margaret Anderson, The Hon. Mrs Ronald Greville DBE (1863-1942) by Emile-Auguste Carolus-Duran (Lille 1838 – Paris 1917)
Margaret Greville (1863-1942) was a wealthy heiress and a member of the aristocracy through her marriage to the Hon. Ronald Greville, the heir of an old political dynasty. Following her marriage, Margaret entered the glamorous social set that surrounded the Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII, who commented on her ‘positive genius for hospitality.’ Margaret’s money and position was a powerful combination in Edwardian Britain, and while she was a successful hostess, Margaret was also a significant collector. Polesden Lacey in Surrey now houses the extraordinary collection Margaret created for both her London townhouse and her country estate. At both residences she worked with the interior decorators Mèwes and Davis and White, Allom & Company to create lavish interiors for the display of her collection. Margaret’s objets d’art collection included carvings by Cartier and Fabergé and provided a dazzling display for her guests and visitors. Once Margaret came into her inheritance in 1913, she complemented her father’s collection of Dutch 17th century paintings with the addition of Italian Medieval and Renaissance religious works and European and British portraits. In 1942, Margaret Greville bequeathed Polesden Lacey to the National Trust ‘for the largest number of people to have enjoyment thereof,’ anticipating that her collections would be combined ‘to form a Picture and Art Gallery’. The life-size portrait of
Front of Polesden Lacey, Surrey
Lady Greville, by society portraitist Emile-August Carolus-Duran (1838- 1917), was recently returned to Polesden Lacey in 2024 following conservation at The Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio at Knole. Dr Alice Strickland, a curator for the NT in London and the South East, will speak about Lady Greville and her life at Polesden Lacey while Anna Vesaluoma, a Paintings Conservator for the NT, will delve into the meticulous conservation of this painting and the incredible results. Now re-displayed at Poleden Lacey in its rightful place on the loggia staircase, the portrait remains a record and symbol of Greville’s incredible legacy.
Anna Vesalouma
Anna Vesalouma is a Paintings Conservator for the National Trust, based at the Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio on the property of Knole House, Kent. During her time at the ROF Conservation Studio, Anna has treated a wide range of paintings from across National Trust properties, including works by Carolus-Duran, John Singer Sargent, George Romney and Melchior D’Hondecoeter. Before joining the Trust, Anna worked two years as a painting conservation fellow at the Yale University Art Gallery, in New Haven, Connecticut, where she focused on the conservation of American paintings. She holds a postgraduate degree in the Conservation of Easel Paintings from the Courtauld Institute of Art, London, and a BA (Hons) in Painting from the University of Edinburgh.
Dr Alice Strickland
Dr. Alice Strickland is a curator for the National Trust in London and the South East. Her doctorate considered British women artists of the Second World War and she was awarded a Paul Mellon research grant for a publication on women artists of the First World War. Her publications include contributions to Laura Knight a Celebration (Penlee exhibition catalogue, 2021) and Learning from the Masters (Ashgate, 2013). Her book Laura Knight 2019) forms part of a series on Modern Women Artists published by Eiderdown Books.

Tickets: $15 members*; $25 non-members
*Membership discount applied automatically when logged into your Royal-Oak.org account

Zoom | Hidden Patrons: Women Architectural Patronage in Georgian Britain with Dr. Amy Boyington
2024-11-12 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom Webinar, Virtual, United States
An enduring myth of Georgian architecture is that it was purely the pursuit of male architects and their wealthy male patrons. History states that it was men who owned grand estates and houses, commissioned famous architects, and embarked upon elaborate architectural schemes. However, some women with sufficient wealth and autonomy were at the heart of architectural patronage of the day, exerting far more influence than has previously been recognized. They were actively involved in architectural drawing, design, discourse, and patronage, with many laying out great sums on realising their architectural visions. In her lecture, Dr. Amy Boyington will discuss these female patrons while re-examining well-known Georgian masterpieces alongside lesser-known architectural gems. Drawing from private estate papers and personal correspondence, Dr. Boyington will uncover the role of women as important patrons and designers of architecture and interiors in eighteenth-century Britain and Ireland.
Portrait of Henrietta Louisa Jeffreys
Women built across the architectural spectrum. Some remodeled their ancestral seats, such as Jemima Yorke, Marchioness Grey, who updated Wrest Park, her country house in Bedfordshire. Others transformed the interiors of their marital homes, such as the fifteen-year-old Louisa Conolly at Castletown House, Co. Kildare, Ireland. Some spent vast fortunes on building magnificent London town houses, such as Mary Hervey, Baroness Hervey, and Henrietta Fermor, Countess of Pomfret. Many also chose tobuild or remodel villas during their widowhoods, each desiring a fashionable, convenient country residence close to the city, but set within a tranquil arcadian setting. Mary Robinson, Baroness Grantham, and Amabel Hume-Campbell, Lady Polwarth, were sisters who were both widowed in their 30s – and each decided to create beautiful Neo-Classical villas on Putney Heath next door to each other.
Dr. Amy Boyington
Dr. Amy Boyington is a social and architectural historian who attained her PhD in architectural history from the University of Cambridge. Dr. Boyington has worked in a curatorial capacity at Holkham Hall, Goodwood House, and Woburn Abbey. She has worked as a research consultant for the National Trust at Stowe Landscape Gardens and for Historic Royal Palaces at Kensington Palace. She was recently a Senior Properties Historian for English Heritage. Her debut book is Hidden Patrons: Women and Architectural Patronage in Georgian Britain (Bloomsbury, 2023). She is now working on her second book Decadence & Display (Yale University Press) which focuses on the eighteenth-century country house dining room. Dr. Boyington is also a popular historian on social media, @history_with_amy, with over 1.4 million followers.

Tickets: $15 members*; $25 non-members
*Membership discount applied automatically when logged into your Royal-Oak.org account

Zoom Rental | Hidden Patrons: Women Architectural Patronage in Georgian Britain
2024-11-13 12:00 - 2024-12-31 13:00 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States

Zoom | Cornwall and the Scilly Isles - England's Far West Virtual Tour
2024-11-13 17:00 - 18:00 | Zoom Webinar, Virtual, United States
Cornwall and the Scilly Isles – England’s Far West
View of the Botallack mines, Cornwall

Zoom Live
Wednesday, November 13 | 5:00 p.m. ET
Rob Smith will take us on a captivating virtual tour through the far west of Cornwall, where some of Britain’s oldest rocks cascade dramatically into the sea. Here, the National Trust, offers a glimpse into Cornwall’s rich mining heritage, meticulously preserves remnants of Tin Mines, dating back to the early Industrial Revolution. We will dive into the local legends as we visit the mystical Merry Maidens, a prehistoric stone circle steeped in myth and mystery. Cornwall’s rugged coastlines have witnessed numerous shipwrecks, reflecting its perilous maritime history and adding to the area’s allure and intrigue. Venturing even further westward, we will explore the Scilly Isles, where a gentle microclimate nurtures a profusion of wildflowers amidst Tudor Castles and pristine beaches. These islands have been inhabited since the Stone Age, their history intertwined with tales of mariners, pirates, and ancient settlements.
Tickets: $30 Members*; $40 Non-Members
*Membership discount applied automatically when logged into your Royal-Oak.org account

Zoom Rental | Cornwall and the Scilly Isles - England's Far West Virtual Tour
2024-11-14 12:00 - 2024-12-31 13:00 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States
Cornwall and the Scilly Isles – England’s Far West
View of the Botallack mines, Cornwall

Zoom Rental
Thursday, November 14 | 12:00 p.m. ET
Rob Smith will take us on a captivating virtual tour through the far west of Cornwall, where some of Britain’s oldest rocks cascade dramatically into the sea. Here, the National Trust, offers a glimpse into Cornwall’s rich mining heritage, meticulously preserves remnants of Tin Mines, dating back to the early Industrial Revolution. We will dive into the local legends as we visit the mystical Merry Maidens, a prehistoric stone circle steeped in myth and mystery. Cornwall’s rugged coastlines have witnessed numerous shipwrecks, reflecting its perilous maritime history and adding to the area’s allure and intrigue. Venturing even further westward, we will explore the Scilly Isles, where a gentle microclimate nurtures a profusion of wildflowers amidst Tudor Castles and pristine beaches. These islands have been inhabited since the Stone Age, their history intertwined with tales of mariners, pirates, and ancient settlements.
Tickets: $30 Members*; $40 Non-Members
*Membership discount applied automatically when logged into your Royal-Oak.org account

NYC | Churchill at Chartwell: Countdown to War with Katherine Carter
2024-11-18 18:15 - 20:00 | The General Society Library, 20 W. 44th Street, New York City, 10036, United States
During the tumultuous time leading up to WWII, Winston Churchill was out of political office with his career apparently finished. However, behind the scenes Churchill was preparing to meet the oncoming conflict using his home, Chartwell, as his base of operations. Chartwell, with its rich history dating back to the 14th century, served as more than just Churchill’s home—it was a sanctuary where he wrote speeches, composed books, and met with the best political minds of the 20th century. At his dining table, Churchill gathered those who could assist his campaign against German rearmament and the British government’s response to the rising threat of Nazi Germany. The room in many ways was a witness to history. This eclectic gathering of advisors and informants, ranging from household names like Albert Einstein and T. E. Lawrence, to political leaders, diplomats, and spies, played a pivotal role in shaping Churchill’s later strategy as Prime Minister, and ultimately altering the course of history. Katherine Carter, Curator at Chartwell, will un

veil the extraordinary, yet little-known, meetings that took place behind closed doors. Ms. Carter will bring to life the remarkable stories of those who visited and influenced Churchill during this pivotal time. Join us to uncover the hidden history of the meetings at Chartwell, which ultimately influenced the greatest voice of resistance against tyranny.

Katherine Carter is a Curator and Historian specializing in early 20th century British political history, and manages the house and collections at Chartwell for almost a decade. As Curator, she is responsible for the research, conservation, presentation and interpretation of the Churchill family’s home, which typically welcomes more than 250,000 visitors every year. Her exhibitions have included ‘Death of a Hero’, ‘Into the Trenches’, ‘Child of the Commons’ and ‘Churchill and the Crown’. Katherine advises organizations and institutions around the world on the life and legacy of Winston Churchill and appears frequently in print and broadcast media. She is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and speaks on the subject of Winston Churchill internationally. Her first book is Churchill’s Citadel: Chartwell and the Gatherings Before the Storm, published by Yale University Press on November 5, 2024.

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

Zoom Rental | Churchill at Chartwell: Countdown to War with Katherine Carter
2024-11-19 12:00 - 2024-12-31 13:00 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States
During the tumultuous time leading up to WWII, Winston Churchill was out of political office with his career apparently finished. However, behind the scenes Churchill was preparing to meet the oncoming conflict using his home, Chartwell, as his base of operations. Chartwell, with its rich history dating back to the 14th century, served as more than just Churchill’s home—it was a sanctuary where he wrote speeches, composed books, and met with the best political minds of the 20th century. At his dining table, Churchill gathered those who could assist his campaign against German rearmament and the British government’s response to the rising threat of Nazi Germany. The room in many ways was a witness to history. This eclectic gathering of advisors and informants, ranging from household names like Albert Einstein and T. E. Lawrence, to political leaders, diplomats, and spies, played a pivotal role in shaping Churchill’s later strategy as Prime Minister, and ultimately altering the course of history. Katherine Carter, Curator at Chartwell, will un
Dining Room at Chartwell
veil the extraordinary, yet little-known, meetings that took place behind closed doors. Ms. Carter will bring to life the remarkable stories of those who visited and influenced Churchill during this pivotal time. Join us to uncover the hidden history of the meetings at Chartwell, which ultimately influenced the greatest voice of resistance against tyranny.

Katherine Carter is a Curator and Historian specializing in early 20th century British political history, and manages the house and collections at Chartwell for almost a decade. As Curator, she is responsible for the research, conservation, presentation and interpretation of the Churchill family’s home, which typically welcomes more than 250,000 visitors every year. Her exhibitions have included ‘Death of a Hero’, ‘Into the Trenches’, ‘Child of the Commons’ and ‘Churchill and the Crown’. Katherine advises organizations and institutions around the world on the life and legacy of Winston Churchill and appears frequently in print and broadcast media. She is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and speaks on the subject of Winston Churchill internationally. Her first book is Churchill’s Citadel: Chartwell and the Gatherings Before the Storm, published by Yale University Press on November 5, 2024.
Tickets: $20 members*; $30 non-members
*Membership discount applied automatically when logged into your Royal-Oak.org account

Zoom | Dressing for the Tudor Court: Power, Beauty & Influence with Eleri Lynn
2024-11-19 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom Webinar, Virtual, United States
Pair of Elizabethan gauntlet mittens at Dunham Massey, NT
The Tudor monarchs and their courtiers are some of the best-known figures in history. Even today, their stories continue to spark our curiosity and imagination. Their enduring popularity is partly due to the iconic portraits in which they are depicted in magnificent style: in farthingales and elaborate ruffs, covered in furs and jewels, and clothed in vast expanses of velvet and silk. Far from being decoration, at that time fashion was pivotal in communicating the status and power of the wearer. Tudor dress was used as a tool in securing and holding a tenuous Tudor throne, as well as a competitive “weapon” in the factions, intrigues, and love affairs of the court. In this talk, Eleri Lynn, will explore the changing fashions of the Tudor wardrobe and explain the elaborate process of dressing. Using rare surviving garments and textiles, original documents, and archaeological records, she will explain how fashion was central to the Tudors’ mindset and their very understanding of royalty and power.
Eleri Lynn
Eleri Lynn is a fashion and textiles historian, curator, and author. She gained her curatorial experience within the Textiles and Fashion Department of the V&A Museum before becoming Curator of the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection at Historic Royal Palaces, and thereafter Head of Exhibitions at National Museum Wales. She is a Trustee of the Royal School of Needlework, based at Hampton Court Palace. Her recent TV appearances include the BBC2 ‘Art That Made Us’ series and BBC1’s, regularly interview her ‘Elizabeth: Fashioning a Monarch’. She is the author of several monographs among which include Tudor Fashion (Yale University Press, 2017), and Tudor Textiles (Yale University Press, 2020), and a contributor to Floral Culture in the Tudor and Stuart Courts (Amsterdam University Press, 2023). Eleri is the curator of several major fashion and textiles exhibitions including Diana: Her Fashion Story (Kensington Palace, 2017), The Lost Dress of Elizabeth I (Hampton Court Palace, 2019), and Undressed: 350 Years of Underwear in Fashion (V&A touring, 2013-14). She was part of the curatorial teams on Savage Beauty: Alexander McQueen (V&A, 2013), Fashion Rules Restyled (Kensington Palace, 2015), and Crown to Couture (Kensington Palace, 2023).

Zoom Rental | Dressing for the Tudor Court: Power, Beauty & Influence with Eleri Lynn
2024-11-20 12:00 - 2024-12-31 13:00 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States

Zoom | Power & Glory: The English Country House Before the Great War with Adrian Tinniswood, OBE
2024-11-25 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom Webinar, Virtual, United States
Baddesley Clinton, Warwickshire
In the decades before the First World War, the owners of the nation’s stately homes reveled in a golden age of glamour where privilege and hedonism went hand-in-hand with duty and honour. At a time when Britain ruled over a quarter of the worlds’ population, privileged few lived in ancestral stately country homes encumbered by history. However, by the end of the 19th century, members of the elite and landed gentry found themselves living in the company of arrivistes. Their new neighbors—from chorus girls to millionaire greengrocers to guano impresarios—were unencumbered by the weight of tradition. They used their “new money” to bring innovations to the country house, affecting every aspect of life, from the kitchen to the drawing room. In a fascinating prequel to his lecture and best-seller The Long Weekend, Adrian Tinniswood OBE will speak about life in the English country house and describe how the self-made millionaires turned that traditional world upside down—bringing automobiles and labour-saving devices to mansions that had been standing virtually unchanged for generations. He will explore the impact of new technologies on both old homes and old owners. Could the romance of the past exist alongside the shock of the new? While electric light and bathrooms with hot and cold running water might have made things easier both above and below stairs, it still could not quite banish the ghosts of the past. Professor Tinniswood will explain that the period before the horrors of the Great War was indeed a golden age for the British country house, but not for the reasons we might expect.
Adrian Tinniswood, OBE
Adrian Tinniswood OBE FSA, 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 in both the United Kingdom and United States, 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 Verneys, Pirates of Barbary; The Long Weekend: Life in the English Country House Between the Wars; Behind the Throne: A Domestic History of the Royal Household (2018). Tinniswood was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2013 Birthday Honours for services to heritage.
Tickets: $15 members*; $25 non-members
*Membership discount applied automatically when logged into your Royal-Oak.org account

Zoom Rental | Power & Glory: The English Country House Before the Great War
2024-11-26 12:00 - 2024-12-31 13:00 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States

Zoom | London’s Great Hotels Virtual Tour
2024-11-26 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom Webinar, Virtual, United States
The George Inn is the only remaining galleried inn in London and was familiar to Charles Dickens.
London’s Great Hotels
Zoom Live
Tuesday, November 26 | 2:00 p.m. ET
Before the 19th century, visitors to London had limited options for accommodation, primarily relying on gentlemen’s clubs, lodging houses, and coaching inns. Stephen Benton will unveil the fascinating history of London’s hotels through a digital walking tour, made for Royal Oak. Our journey will begin with the last surviving galleried coaching inn in London, the wonderful George Inn, now preserved by the National Trust. We will explore how the advent of the railway revolutionized travel and accommodation, leading to the establishment of hotels at many of London’s main stations, including the magnificent Gothic marvel at St Pancras. By the early 20th century, some of London’s most iconic hotels had been founded, such as Claridge’s, The Langham, The Ritz, and The Savoy, which was substantially rebuilt in the 1930s in a flamboyant Art Deco style. Between the World Wars, several grand aristocratic townhouses were demolished to make way for iconic hotels like The Dorchester and Grosvenor House. The 1960s introduced London’s first hotel tower, the Hilton, while the 1980s saw the rise of boutique hotels, often housed in repurposed historic buildings. Today, London boasts over 700 hotels with more than 120,000 rooms, ranging from the richly historic to the purely utilitarian. Join Stephen Benton for a captivating exploration of this diverse and ever-evolving landscape.
Tickets: $30 Members*; $40 Non-Members
*Membership discount applied automatically when logged into your Royal-Oak.org account

Zoom Rental | London’s Great Hotels Virtual Tour
2024-11-27 12:00 - 2024-12-31 13:00 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States
The George Inn is the only remaining galleried inn in London and was familiar to Charles Dickens.
London’s Great Hotels
Zoom Rental
Wednesday, November 27 | 12:00 p.m. ET

Before the 19th century, visitors to London had limited options for accommodation, primarily relying on gentlemen’s clubs, lodging houses, and coaching inns. Stephen Benton will unveil the fascinating history of London’s hotels through a digital walking tour, made for Royal Oak. Our journey will begin with the last surviving galleried coaching inn in London, the wonderful George Inn, now preserved by the National Trust. We will explore how the advent of the railway revolutionized travel and accommodation, leading to the establishment of hotels at many of London’s main stations, including the magnificent Gothic marvel at St Pancras. By the early 20th century, some of London’s most iconic hotels had been founded, such as Claridge’s, The Langham, The Ritz, and The Savoy, which was substantially rebuilt in the 1930s in a flamboyant Art Deco style. Between the World Wars, several grand aristocratic townhouses were demolished to make way for iconic hotels like The Dorchester and Grosvenor House. The 1960s introduced London’s first hotel tower, the Hilton, while the 1980s saw the rise of boutique hotels, often housed in repurposed historic buildings. Today, London boasts over 700 hotels with more than 120,000 rooms, ranging from the richly historic to the purely utilitarian. Join Stephen Benton for a captivating exploration of this diverse and ever-evolving landscape.
Tickets: $30 Members*; $40 Non-Members
*Membership discount applied automatically when logged into your Royal-Oak.org account

Zoom | Millionaire Houses Along the Strand with Dr. Paula Henderson
2024-12-03 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom Webinar, Virtual, United States
Millionaire Houses Along the Strand
The Strand, London
The Strand, a major street in the City of Westminster, London was, from the middle ages, the most prestigious place to live in London. Running from the Temple on the east to Charing Cross on the west (just as it does today), the Strand was strategically placed between two power centres: the City and Westminster. Furthermore, from the 1530s, leading courtiers and aristocrats acquired the magnificent medieval bishops’ inns and their spacious gardens, adapting the houses and beautifying the gardens as showpieces, visible to all who travelled on the Thames. Like the palaces along the Grand Canal in Venice, these great houses were seen as powerful expressions of the city’s wealth and grandeur. While most of these houses were on the south side of the Strand, Lord Burghley built a new house along the north side. A recently discovered plan of his house and garden is the most important source of information about the splendour and complexity of these houses and gardens, a short period in London’s history of true rus in urbe.

Paula Henderson, Architectural and Garden Historian
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 70 articles on English Houses and their landscapes. 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. Francis Lincoln published Treehouses (co-authored with Adam Mornement), also in 2005. She is currently completing books on London gardens in the age of Shakespeare and on the Landscape as Art. She has taught courses for the Courtauld Institute of Art, and more recently for the V&A museum. She has lectured 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, among others. She led tours for the Courtauld Institute to Florence (‘Gardens of the Medici’) Debyshire (‘Elizabethan architecture’) and the Cotswolds (‘Gardens of the Cotswolds’). She is a Fellow of Society of Antiquaries of London and now splits her time between Nantucket, Massachusetts, and Williamsburg, Virginia.
Tickets: $15 members*; $25 non-members
*Membership discount applied automatically when logged into your Royal-Oak.org account

Zoom Rental | Millionaire Houses Along the Strand with Dr. Paula Henderson
2024-12-04 12:00 - 2024-12-31 13:00 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States

NYC | The Eagle and the Hart with Helen Castor
2025-01-29 18:15 - 20:00 | The General Society Library, 20 W. 44th Street, New York City, 10036, United States
The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Kings Richard II and Henry IV
Richard of Bordeaux and Henry of Bolingbroke, cousins born just three months apart, were ten years old when Richard became king of England. They were 32 yrs old when Henry deposed Richard and declared himself King of England. While Richard had birthright on his side, he was a narcissist who lacked any qualities of leadership and declared he could make up his own laws. He recruited a private army loyal to himself rather than the realm and tried to destroy those who had any resistance to his will. Unlike the King, Henry was a leader, a soldier and a chivalric hero who was responsible and principled. After King Richard banished his cousin and seized his inheritance, Henry deposed Richard as a tyrant and declared himself the lawful ruler. While welcomed as a champion of the people, soon King Henry was facing rebellion and was trapped by political uncertainty. Acclaimed historian and author Helen Castor brings to life the captivating story behind one of the strangest and most fateful events in English history (and the inspiration behind one of Shakespeare’s most celebrated plays). Dr. Castor will describe these explosive events and explain what happened when Richard demanded loyalty to himself as an individual, rather than duty to the established constitution, and how he tried to reshape reality rather than concede to the truth. She will tell a story about how a nation was brought to the brink of catastrophe and disintegration—and, in the end, how it was brought back.

Helen Castor. © Chris Gibbions
Dr. Helen Castor is an acclaimed medieval and Tudor historian. Her first book, Blood and Roses: The Paston Family in the Wars of the Roses, was longlisted for what is now known as the Baillie Gifford Prize for Nonfiction and won the English Association’s Beatrice White Prize. Her next two books, She-Wolves: The Women Who Ruled England Before Elizabeth and Joan of Arc: A History were both on numerous Best Books of the Year lists and made into documentaries for BBC television, and Joan of Arc was longlisted for the PEN America/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography. Her latest book The Eagle and the Hart was published in October 2024.

In-Person: 6:15pm Lecture will be followed by a reception
Tickets: Online registration has closed. A limited number of tickets will be available for purchase at the door.
$35 members*; $45 non-members
*Membership discount applied automatically when logged in to your Royal-Oak.org account

Zoom Rental | The Eagle and the Hart with Helen Castor
2025-01-30 - 2025-02-20 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States
The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Kings Richard II and Henry IV
Richard of Bordeaux and Henry of Bolingbroke, cousins born just three months apart, were ten years old when Richard became king of England. They were 32 yrs old when Henry deposed Richard and declared himself King of England. While Richard had birthright on his side, he was a narcissist who lacked any qualities of leadership and declared he could make up his own laws. He recruited a private army loyal to himself rather than the realm and tried to destroy those who had any resistance to his will. Unlike the King, Henry was a leader, a soldier and a chivalric hero who was responsible and principled. After King Richard banished his cousin and seized his inheritance, Henry deposed Richard as a tyrant and declared himself the lawful ruler. While welcomed as a champion of the people, soon King Henry was facing rebellion and was trapped by political uncertainty. Acclaimed historian and author Helen Castor brings to life the captivating story behind one of the strangest and most fateful events in English history (and the inspiration behind one of Shakespeare’s most celebrated plays). Dr. Castor will describe these explosive events and explain what happened when Richard demanded loyalty to himself as an individual, rather than duty to the established constitution, and how he tried to reshape reality rather than concede to the truth. She will tell a story about how a nation was brought to the brink of catastrophe and disintegration—and, in the end, how it was brought back.

Helen Castor. © Chris Gibbions

Dr. Helen Castor is an acclaimed medieval and Tudor historian. Her first book, Blood and Roses: The Paston Family in the Wars of the Roses, was longlisted for what is now known as the Baillie Gifford Prize for Nonfiction and won the English Association’s Beatrice White Prize. Her next two books, She-Wolves: The Women Who Ruled England Before Elizabeth and Joan of Arc: A History were both on numerous Best Books of the Year lists and made into documentaries for BBC television, and Joan of Arc was longlisted for the PEN America/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography. Her latest book The Eagle and the Hart was published in October 2024.

Zoom Rental Recording: Recording details will be emailed on January 30 and available to watch thru February 24.
Tickets: $20 members*; $30 non-members
*Membership discount applied automatically when logged into your Royal-Oak.org account

Zoom | Restoring Fabric History: Humphries Weavings, UK
2025-02-05 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom Webinar, Virtual, United States
State bed and bedroom at Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire ©National Trust Images James Dobson
Humphries Weaving is a distinguished British fabric manufacturer specializing in the recreation of important historical textiles, seamlessly blending traditional techniques with contemporary design innovations. With over 50 years of experience, the company has restored and refashioned period fabrics for Britain’s royal residences, prestigious historic houses, and National Trust properties both at home and abroad. From the 18th-century blue silk damask adorning the walls and furniture in Kedleston Hall’s State Rooms to the crimson bed drapes and coverlets on the state beds at Buscot Park and Sudbury Hall, Humphries Weaving’s recreations meticulously captures the essence of these historical periods. Honoring their rich legacy that once symbolized the wealth and status of homeowners during the 17th and 18th centuries. This exclusive Royal Oak presentation spotlights the designer’s creative process, from initial concept to the production of exquisite fabrics for interiors and ceremonial use, such as those for Orders of Chivalry. The designers will demonstrate how hundreds of hours can be invested into analyzing source samples and reconstructing designs using historical techniques, measurements, and tools. These intricate recreations, often requiring more than 14 distinct steps, result in fabrics that are both historically accurate and visually stunning. If you are passionate about the history of interiors or an aficionado of textile history, this presentation is not to be missed. Join Royal Oak as we look behind-the-scenes how this iconic British company preserves England’s heritage by honoring the past while innovating for the future.

Zoom Rental | Restoring Fabric History: Humphries Weavings, UK
2025-02-06 - 2025-06-30 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States

Zoom | Streamlined Style: London’s Art Deco Virtual Tour with Stephen Benton
2025-02-12 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom Meeting
Streamlined Style: London’s Art Deco

The city of London is bursting with 1920s and 1930s Art Deco architecture blending streamlined modernity with elegant and bold geometric forms. Our guide, Stephen Benton will take us on a digital journey spotlighting some of London’s notable examples of this glamorous style. We will explore the history and design of Palladium House, built for the European subsidiary of the American Radiator Company. This striking building was designed as a scaled-down version of the American Radiator Building in NYC (now the Bryant Park hotel) featuring the same black granite facing with gold accents. We will also look at the former London Transport Headquarters at 55 Broadway close to St. James’ Park. Designed by Charles Holden, the building was the tallest office block in London in 1929, and its innovative design and sculptures are celebrated as one of the most significant Art Deco designs in the city. The Art Deco style always was associated with industrial progress and modernity. London’s first city-center air terminal—the Imperial Airways Terminal—was built in 1939 as the office headquarters as well as the entrance to the special train platform at Victoria Station. Thousands of ticketed passengers flying from Southampton airport would first pass through this London building to catch a train to their flight. The terminal encapsulates the forward-thinking spirit of the era, reflecting the burgeoning age of air travel with its sleek, aerodynamic design. Our journey will also encompass Peter Jones Department Store on Sloane Square, a remaining example that demonstrates how the Art Deco style influenced retail spaces, combining both functionality with the era’s characteristic stylish aesthetics. Lastly, we will examine the Art Deco transformation of the older Savoy Theatre. Known for its luxurious and streamlined design, the theatre exemplifies how Art Deco style also permeated the world of entertainment, adding a touch of glamour to the performing arts scene.

Zoom Rental | Streamlined Style: London’s Art Deco Virtual Tour with Stephen Benton
2025-02-13 - 2025-03-10 | Zoom Meeting

Zoom | Hermopolis Magna: Insights from a New Excavation with Yvona K. Trnka-Amrhein
2025-02-26 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom Webinar, Virtual, United States
Hermopolis Magna: Insights from a New Excavation of Ancient Egyptian and Greco-Roman Architecture
Roland Unger, Wikipedia Commons
The ancient Egyptian city of Hermopolis Magna, situated between Cairo and Luxor, was a key religious and cultural hub from ancient times to the Byzantine era. Hermopolis originally was renowned for its temple dedicated to Thoth, the Egyptian god of magic, wisdom and writing. In later centuries, Hermopolis developed into a major city of the Greek and Roman Empire in Egypt and was modeled after Alexandria. Recent archeological discoveries have provided new insights into the city’s Greek and Roman architectural evolution, offering a rare glimpse into the classical architecture of a city now lost beneath modern developments. In this lecture, Dr. Yvona K. Trnka-Amrhein will present findings from the American-Egyptian excavation in 2023 and discuss Hermopolis’s classical architectural heritage. Her lecture will examine the complex history of Hermopolis’s excavation, which over the centuries has attracted Egyptian, German, British, and Polish archaeological teams in between global conflicts. Dr. Trnka-Amrhein will talk about the interplay between politics and archaeology, and illustrate how the latest excavation is reshaping the understanding of this fascinating ancient city and its enduring legacy.
Dr. Yvona K. Trnka-Amrhein is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Classics at the University of Colorado Boulder. She holds a PhD from Harvard University and has previously taught at Harvard and held a postdoctoral fellowship at Trinity College, Dublin. Her research focuses on Greek and Latin literature of the Imperial period, Hellenistic literature, and Greco-Roman Egypt. She has published extensively, including a forthcoming book Portraits of a Pharaoh: The Sesostris Tradition in Ancient Literature and Culture with Oxford University Press. Additionally, she co-directs the American-Egyptian Mission at El-Ashmunein and has a significant history of archaeological fieldwork and academic presentations.

Zoom Rental | Hermopolis Magna: Insights from a New Excavation with Yvona Trnka-Amrhein
2025-02-27 - 2025-03-20 | Zoom Webinar, Virtual, United States

Charleston | Blenheim: 300 Years of Life in a Palace with Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill
2025-03-18 17:30 - 19:30 | Charleston Library Society, 164 King St, Charleston, SC, 29401, United States
Blenheim: 300 Years of Life in a Palace
Regarded as perhaps the greatest of the stately homes and the finest example of baroque architecture in Great Britain, Blenheim, in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, is a one of England’s treasure houses. Designed by John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor in the early 1700s for the Duke of Marlborough, Blenheim is filled with artistic treasures crafted by the best talents of the age. Fine furniture and magnificent tapestries highlight incredible paintings from notable artists such as Joshua Reynolds and John Singer Sargent. The lavish rooms provide a window into the history of collecting, changing styles of English interiors, and reflects on England’s own history—as well as the history of the Spencer-Churchill family. Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill, the 12th generation of the family, will give us an illustrated private tour of the palace—with new photography by Hugo Rittson. In addition to the gilded staterooms full of priceless objet d’arts, Lady Henrietta will show the family’s private apartments and take us behind-the-scenes into secret corridors and the “downstairs” staff area (with its iconic bell system). She will also share her first-hand experience as one of the palace’s stewards and explain the importance of Blenheim’s restoration, bringing the estate into the 21st century. Join us as we see Blenheim as it’s never been seen before!

Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill is an interior designer, founder of Woodstock Designs, and author of multiple Rizzoli books on design and historic styles, including The Life of the House, Blenheim and the Churchill Family, and Classic English Interiors. She lectures widely on design and design history in the US and the UK. Hugo Rittson-Thomas is a portrait photographer of many high-profile subjects, including the British royal family. His work has been published in Romantics and Classics, Secret Gardens of the Cotswolds, and Great Gardens of London.

VENUE
Charleston Library Society
164 King Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Or Call 212-480-2889 x206 to register!
In-Person: 6:00pm, Lecture is preceded by a reception
Tickets: $35 members*; $45 non-members
*Membership discount applied automatically when logged in to your Royal-Oak.org account

Zoom | Treason & Tragedy: Death on Tower Hill
2025-04-01 17:00 - 18:00 | Zoom Meeting
Paul Delaroche, The Execution of Lady Jane Grey, 1834. The National Gallery, London. The 9-day Queen was executed inside the Tower on Tower Green.
While the Tower of London may be infamous for its executions, the majority of beheadings actually took place just beyond its walls, on Tower Hill—a site steeped in political turmoil, betrayal, and bloody justice. In this gripping tour, Rob Smith will unravel the dramatic stories of those who met their fate on this notorious execution ground. Tower Hill became the final stage for some of the most high-profile figures in British history, many of whom had once wielded great power, who found themselves condemned as traitors. We will explore the fate of Simon of Sudbury, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was dragged from the Tower and beheaded by enraged Poll Tax rebels in 1381. Another infamous figure to fall on Tower Hill was Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII’s once-trusted advisor and architect of the English Reformation. The site also witnessed the beheading of Lord Lovat (Simon Fraser) in 1747—the last man to be publicly executed on Tower Hill. His execution, witnessed by a large crowd, marked the end of an era. This virtual tour will bring to life the gripping stories of those who faced the executioner’s axe—tales of ambition, treachery, courage, and vengeance—while also exploring the historical significance of Tower Hill. Hear about the shadowy events that shaped British history.
Tickets: $30 members*; $40 non-members
*Membership discount applied automatically when logged into your Royal-Oak.org account

Zoom Rental | Treason & Tragedy: Death on Tower Hill
2025-04-02 12:00 - 2025-06-30 12:00 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States

NYC | The Quest for Queen Mary
2025-04-10 18:00 - 20:00 | The General Society Library, 20 W. 44th Street, New York City, 10036, United States
Mary of Teck was Queen of the United Kingdom, the Dominions, and Empress of India from 1910-1936. The daughter of a German nobleman and granddaughter of George III, she was always destined to become Queen. But what do we know about Queen Mary? First betrothed to the eldest son of the Prince of Wales, and after his unexpected death, married to his younger brother, the future King-Emperor George V. While some biographies, films, and television portray her as a rigid and cold figure in pearls, she was also a mother and grandmother—whose grandchildren said she loved the moments when they could be “a small family and do small things”. When the late Queen Elizabeth II invited author James Pope-Hennessy to write the official biography of her grandmother, he set off between 1955 and 1958 to interview Queen Mary’s surviving relatives, traveling all over Europe as well as to Sandringham and Balmoral. In this lecture, royal historian Mr. Hugo Vickers will regale us with funny stories from Pope-Hennessy’s notes and other stories shared by members of the British Royal Family. Mr. Vickers will also discuss his own research and bring to life the Queen-Empress who was witness to two world wars, a bystander to a scandal that rocked the monarchy, and a monarch who experienced the changes of British society from the beginning of the 20th century until the 1950s.

Hugo Vickers, is well known as a biographer, lecturer and broadcaster, and acknowledged expert on the Royal Family. He has covered events from royal weddings, including the first wedding of the Prince of Wales; the funerals of Diana, the Queen Mother, Prince Philip, the State Funeral and Committal of The Queen; and the Coronation of Charles III. The Financial Times recently described him as: ‘the most knowledgeable royal biographer on the planet.’ He has written many biographies of 20th-century figures, including Cecil Beaton, Vivien Leigh, the Duchess of Windsor, Princess Andrew of Greece, and the Queen Mother. His first biography, about Gladys Deacon, Duchess of Marlborough (1881-1977) was based on his interviews with her before her death. In 2022, he published a book with HRH The Duke of Kent, entitled A Royal Life. In 2024, Mr. Vickers published a novel Pining in Paradise and his biography of Clarissa, Countess of Avon (widow of PM Anthony Eden). When not writing, he travels through the Commonwealth and Overseas Territories, establishing Commonwealth Walkways. Mr. Vickers is a Deputy Lieutenant for the Royal County of Berkshire and Captain of the Lay Stewards of St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
Tickets: $35 members*; $45 non-members
*Membership discount applied automatically when logged into your Royal-Oak.org account

Zoom Rental | The Quest for Queen Mary
2025-04-11 12:00 - 2025-06-30 12:00 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States
Mary of Teck was Queen of the United Kingdom, the Dominions, and Empress of India from 1910-1936. The daughter of a German nobleman and granddaughter of George III, she was always destined to become Queen. But what do we know about Queen Mary? First betrothed to the eldest son of the Prince of Wales, and after his unexpected death, married to his younger brother, the future King-Emperor George V. While some biographies, films, and television portray her as a rigid and cold figure in pearls, she was also a mother and grandmother—whose grandchildren said she loved the moments when they could be “a small family and do small things”. When the late Queen Elizabeth II invited author James Pope-Hennessy to write the official biography of her grandmother, he set off between 1955 and 1958 to interview Queen Mary’s surviving relatives, traveling all over Europe as well as to Sandringham and Balmoral. In this lecture, royal historian Mr. Hugo Vickers will regale us with funny stories from Pope-Hennessy’s notes and other stories shared by members of the British Royal Family. Mr. Vickers will also discuss his own research and bring to life the Queen-Empress who was witness to two world wars, a bystander to a scandal that rocked the monarchy, and a monarch who experienced the changes of British society from the beginning of the 20th century until the 1950s.

Hugo Vickers, is well known as a biographer, lecturer and broadcaster, and acknowledged expert on the Royal Family. He has covered events from royal weddings, including the first wedding of the Prince of Wales; the funerals of Diana, the Queen Mother, Prince Philip, the State Funeral and Committal of The Queen; and the Coronation of Charles III. The Financial Times recently described him as: ‘the most knowledgeable royal biographer on the planet.’ He has written many biographies of 20th-century figures, including Cecil Beaton, Vivien Leigh, the Duchess of Windsor, Princess Andrew of Greece, and the Queen Mother. His first biography, about Gladys Deacon, Duchess of Marlborough (1881-1977) was based on his interviews with her before her death. In 2022, he published a book with HRH The Duke of Kent, entitled A Royal Life. In 2024, Mr. Vickers published a novel Pining in Paradise and his biography of Clarissa, Countess of Avon (widow of PM Anthony Eden). When not writing, he travels through the Commonwealth and Overseas Territories, establishing Commonwealth Walkways. Mr. Vickers is a Deputy Lieutenant for the Royal County of Berkshire and Captain of the Lay Stewards of St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
Tickets: $20 members*; $30 non-members
*Membership discount applied automatically when logged into your Royal-Oak.org account

Charleston | Sissinghurst
2025-04-15 17:30 - 19:30 | Charleston Library Society, 164 King St, Charleston, SC, 29401, United States
The Rose Garden in May at Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Kent
In 1930, writer Vita Sackville-West and diplomat Harold Nicolson transformed a neglected Elizabethan farmstead in Kent into Sissinghurst Castle Garden—now one of the world’s most celebrated gardens. Known for its intimate “garden rooms,” lush plantings, and internationally renowned collection of old roses, Sissinghurst remains a masterpiece of 20th-century garden design. As the garden approaches its centenary in 2030, join head gardener Troy Scott Smith for an in-depth look at its past, present, and future. He will share insights into the enduring legacy of Sackville-West and Nicolson’s vision, the challenges of conservation in a changing climate, and the ongoing efforts to keep Sissinghurst vibrant while preserving its historic charm. From the famed White Garden to the exquisite Rose Garden, this lecture offers a rare glimpse into the artistry and dedication behind one of England’s most treasured landscapes and explores the enduring magic of Sissinghurst.

Troy Scott Smith was borne in Yorkshire into a family of committed naturalists and spent his childhood exploring the geology and flora of the National Parks of England. He began his gardening at a young age, quickly developing a style of relaxed planting that mixed native wildings together with exotics. In 1990, after a total of 5 years studying horticulture and design, Troy joined the National Trust, Europe’s largest Conservation Charity. In the years since Troy has led the gardens at The Courts, Bodnant and Sissinghurst, where he has been Head Gardener since 2013. Troy combines his work at Sissinghurst with design and consultancy, writing, teaching and lecturing. Troy has recently taken on a small farm back in his home county of Yorkshire, where he continues to gently experiment, laying down sustainable planting for the future.

VENUE
Charleston Library Society
164 King Street
Charleston, SC 29401
In-Person: 6:00pm, Lecture is preceded by a reception 5:30pm
Purchase tickets through the Charleston Library Society at: https://charlestonlibrarysociety.org/event/sissinghurst-with-troy-scott-smith/
Or by phone: 843-723-9912
Tickets: $25 members; $35 non-members

NYC | George Frideric Handel at Home
2025-04-17 18:15 - 20:00 | The General Society Library, 20 W. 44th Street, New York City, 10036, United States
In 1723, the composer George Frideric Handel moved into a new built house on Brook Street in Mayfair, London. He would live there for 36 years, dying in his own bed at the age of 74. From 1723, all of his music, beginning with the opera Giulio Cesare and including Messiah and all his great oratorios, was composed in this house. Handel rehearsed his singers in his upstairs music room, attracting friends and neighbors who listened. The maestro even sold his music from his front parlor. Besides being a nexus for his compositions, Handel also hosted dinners at Brook Street and musicales—reciprocating evenings in the homes of his friends—and displayed his art collection in his home. Professor Emeritus (MIT) Ellen Harris will trace George Frideric Handel’s footsteps and activities during his life on Brook Street in London.

Ellen T. Harris is Class of 1949 Professor Emeritus at MIT and Visiting Professor at The Juilliard School. Her work includes the award-winning books George Frideric Handel: A Life with Friends (Norton, 2014) and Handel as Orpheus: Voice and Desire in the Chamber Cantatas (Harvard, 2001). Her research on Handel’s finances won the Westrup Prize in 2004. She has performed with John Williams and the Boston Pops and sung the National Anthem at Fenway Park. She is currently preparing a book on performing Handel’s operas.
Tickets: $35 members*; $45 non-members
*Membership discount applied automatically when logged into your Royal-Oak.org account
Address: General Society Library, 20 W. 44th St. New York, NY 10036
