The Royal Oak Foundation

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

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

Zoom Rental | George Frideric Handel at Home
2025-04-18 12:00 - 2025-06-30 23:30 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 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: $20 members*; $30 non-members
*Membership discount applied automatically when logged into your Royal-Oak.org account

Zoom | The Country Houses of James Wyatt (1746 –1813)
2025-04-29 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom Webinar, Virtual, United States
Plas Newydd House and Garden, Anglesey ©National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor
Talented, urbane, and highly influential, James Wyatt, RA, was one of the great designers of his age. Architect to King George III, his designs shaped some of Britain’s most remarkable country houses and royal residences. Wyatt trained in Italy (1762–68) and was a master of Neoclassicism, making him a formidable rival to Robert Adam in the 1770s. He designed works for the royal family at Kew and Frogmore, further cementing his reputation as favored architect of the monarchy. His Neoclassical country houses—such as Heaton Hall in Manchester, Dodington Park in Gloucestershire, and Castle Coole County Fermanagh—are among the finest of their kind. He also transformed existing estates, reimagining Plas Newydd in Anglesey and Goodwood House in Sussex, while designing exquisite interiors for properties such as Burton Constable Hall in Yorkshire. Beyond his classical style, Wyatt was a pioneer of the Gothic Revival, designing romantic, medieval-inspired masterpieces such as Fonthill Abbey in Wiltshire and Ashridge in Hertfordshire. He also worked on several cathedrals and redesigned the Bishop of Durham’s grand residence, Auckland Castle. Wyatt’s contributions also include work on Christ Church, Magdalen, Oriel, and Worcester Colleges, Oxford. In this lecture, historian and British country house expert Jeremy Musson explores the life and principal works of James Wyatt, shedding light on one of the most versatile and accomplished architects of the Georgian age.
Jeremy Musson, LLB Hons, M.Phil, FSA, is an architectural historian and heritage consultant. Born in London, he was educated at UCL and the Warburg Institute, and worked for the Victorian Society and the National Trust, before joining Country Life, in 1995, where he was Architectural Editor in 1998-2007. He continues to contribute to Country Life; and he is the author of several books, and co-wrote and presented BBC 2’s The Curious House Guest series. A Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and an affiliate lecturer of Cambridge University’s department of architecture, he is also Chairman of the Historic Houses Foundation. As a heritage consultant since 2007, he has worked on major historic sites including St Paul’s Cathedral, Ickworth Park, Suffolk, and Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire.

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

Zoom Rental | The Country Houses of James Wyatt (1746 –1813)
2025-04-30 12:00 - 2025-06-30 12:00 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States

Zoom | Discovering Devon: National Trust Treasures
2025-04-30 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom Meeting
The Stables at Knightshayes, Devon ©NT Images Mel Peters
Journey through some of Devon’s most captivating National Trust properties, each with its own unique story. From grand estates to hidden collections, history comes to life at every turn. Stephen Benton leads this virtual tour where we start with Lydford Gorge, where dramatic waterfalls and ancient woodlands create a truly magical landscape. And we will soak in the Jazz Age elegance of Coleton Fishacre, the dreamy 1920s retreat of the D’Oyly Carte family, containing Art Deco interiors with windows emphasizing sea views. Nearby is Greenway, Agatha Christie’s beloved holiday home perched on the river, filled with her literary history (and rentable as an NT cottage!). We will hear tales of seafarers at Buckland Abbey, once home to Sir Francis Drake, and explore Killerton, a stunning Georgian home with lush gardens and the Trust’s fashion collection—once gifted away for the sake of political beliefs. We will marvel at the rare Gothic Revival splendor by Victorian visionary, William Burges, at Knightshayes—a complete country gentleman’s dream—surrounded by gardens containing one of the most varied plant collections in England. Finally, we will step inside the granite walls of Castle Drogo, a unique early 20th-century house designed by renowned architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. We will end our tour with a look at a world of feathers and shells featured at A la Ronde, a 16-sided 1790s house.
Tickets: $30 members*; $40 non-members
*Membership discount applied automatically when logged into your Royal-Oak.org account

Zoom Rental | Discovering Devon: National Trust Treasures
2025-05-01 12:00 - 2025-06-30 12:00 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States

Zoom | Gardens of Glass
2025-05-06 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom Webinar, Virtual, United States
Trelissick Garden, Cornwall
With the global expansion of 17th-century European trade networks, plant collecting became a matter of both economic and intellectual interest in Britain. Exotic fruits and flowers were prized as prestigious displays of wealth and refinement, fueling an obsession with horticulture among the elite. The fascination began with pineapples and soon extended to citrus trees; a trend particularly championed by King William III. By the late 18th century, a glass house or ‘greenhouse’ was an architectural mark of a gentleman’s garden, even if it was only to grow delicate fruits such as apricots or peaches. John Goodall, Architectural Editor at Country Life, will trace the rise, fall, and revival of Britain’s historic glasshouses, exploring their cultural significance and the renewed interest in their restoration today.
John Goodall – Architectural Editor – Country Life
John Goodall has been architectural editor at Country Life since 2007 and has contributed to CL since 1994. He is the author of several books, including English House Style: From the Archives of Country Life and The English Castle (2011). English Castle received numerous accolades: the 2011 Alice Davis Hitchcock Medallion and the 2013 Historians of British Art Book Prize (pre-1800). The work also received the G. T. Clark Prize for 2007–2012. He read history at Durham University and took an MA and Ph.D. in architectural history from the Courtauld Institute of Art. In 2003 he joined English Heritage as a senior properties historian. He had written several guidebooks for both English Heritage and the National Trust. He acted in 2007 as series consultant for the BBC 1 series How We Built Britain. Other projects include contributions to the photographic book The English Cathedral by Peter Marlow. He was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 2001. Goodall is a patron of the Castle Studies Trust, a UK registered charity founded in 2012.
Tickets: $15 members*; $25 non-members
*Membership discount applied automatically when logged into your Royal-Oak.org account

Zoom Rental | Under the Caribbean Sun: British Painting from the Museo de Arte de Ponce
2025-05-07 08:00 - 2025-06-30 23:30 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States
Frederic, Lord Leighton Flaming June. Photo Museo de Arte de Ponce, Puerto Rico
The Museo de Arte de Ponce holds the most important and, perhaps, the most unexpected collection of Victorian art outside the UK. Their Pre-Raphaelite collection contains icons of British painting, such as Frederic, Lord Leighton’s Flaming June and Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones’s masterpiece, The Last Sleep of Arthur in Avalon. It also includes works by Dante Gabriel Rosetti and John Everett Millais among others. Featuring biblical scenes, subjects drawn from Shakespeare, or tableaux based on written works by Tennyson and Keats, Pre-Raphaelite paintings were characterized by vibrant colors and unconventional compositions. These paintings revolutionized the Victorian art scene during the latter half of the 19th century and today represent the ideal of classicized female beauty. Vanity Fair and Country Life contributor Patrick Monahan will tell the extraordinary story of how such important works of Victorian art crossed the Atlantic to Puerto Rico. He will highlight the stories behind some of these treasures and will also show how some of these images have been transformed into ubiquitous icons—reproduced on T-shirts, coffee mugs, phone covers, jigsaw puzzles, and more.
Patrick Monahan is a writer and independent art advisor, specializing in British paintings, drawings, and sculpture from the eighteenth 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 M.Phil. 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.
Tickets: FREE to members*; $15 non-members
*Membership discount applied automatically when logged into your Royal-Oak.org account

NYC | J.M.W. Turner at Petworth
2025-05-12 18:15 - 20:00 | CDA Abigail Adams Smith Auditorium, 417 East 61st Street, New York City, NY, 10065, United States
The Carved Room, with the four paintings by Turner at Petworth House and Park, West Sussex. The carvings are by Grinling Gibbons.
The year 2025 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775– 1851), one of the most admired and influential British artists. J.M.W. Turner had a unique relationship with George O’Brien Wyndham, the 3rd Earl of Egremont, who inherited Petworth House and Park, West Sussex, in 1763—now an NT property. The artist was a frequent house guest and was free to explore the house and estate, drawing great inspiration from the beauty of Petworth’s interiors, collections, and landscape. As a collector of British art, the 3rd Earl was a great patron and host to many contemporary artists such as Turner, John Constable, and C.R. Leslie. Turner’s extraordinary talent, combined with the unique opportunity to work at Petworth, allowed him to produce detailed pictorial descriptions of the great house and estate. These masterpieces can be seen at Petworth in the original devised for them after being reinstated in the early 2000s. Join Dr. John Chu, NT Senior Curator of Pictures and Sculpture, as he examines Turner’s works which illustrate what life was like at Petworth almost 200 years ago. He will also discuss the upcoming NT exhibition Turner’s Vision at Petworth (June 21–November 16, 2025), and the artist’s relationship with the Earl and demonstrate the impact this extraordinary house and landscape had on one of Britain’s celebrated artists.
John Chu was appointed Senior Curator of Pictures and Sculpture for Midlands at the National Trust, UK in 2021. He joined the NT in 2015 as Assistant Curator of Pictures and Sculpture and worked on exhibitions at Osterley, Powis Castle, and Basildon Park among other properties. He also worked on permanent re-displays of state rooms at The Vyne, Hampshire and Knole, Kent. He graduated from Cambridge University and received a Master of Arts and Ph.D. from Courtauld Institute of Art, London University. He was a visiting lecturer from University of Reading and an Associate Lecturer at Courtauld Institute of Art. He was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at The Paul Mellon Center for Studies in British Art.
Location: CDA Abigail Adams Smith Ballroom, 417 E. 61st Street
New York, NY 10065
In-Person: 6:15pm (ET), Lecture will be followed by a reception
Tickets: $35 members*; $45 non-members
*Membership discount applied automatically when logged into your Royal-Oak.org account
Note: This lecture will be in-person only, with no rental recording.

Zoom | Fred Astaire in London
2025-05-15 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom Webinar, Virtual, United States
Fred Astaire, 1935 Publicity still from Top Hat, RKO pictures, From former Marilyn Blaisdell Collection
Though born in Omaha, Nebraska, and raised in New York City, dancer Fred Astaire spent a significant portion of his early career in the United Kingdom. From 1922 to 1932, he and his sister Adele captivated London audiences in three wildly popular West End musicals, sparking a sensation so intense that critics dubbed it “Astairia.” During his time in London, Astaire immersed himself in British culture; he studied music theory at London’s Guildhall School of Music alongside Noël Coward and socialized with the aristocracy. With his new dance partner, Claire Luce, Astaire expanded his repertoire, incorporating sweeping, romantic movements as well as an English sense of style. His impeccable fashion sense, effortless charm, and refined elegance—central to his dance films of the 1930s through the 1950s—were deeply influenced by the customs and style he observed while mingling with British high society and even the royal family. Victoria Kastner will explore the profound impact of Astaire’s years in the UK, revealing how his time on the London stage helped shape the dancer, actor, and icon the world came to adore.
Victoria Kastner is the leading scholar and author about the architect Julia Morgan as well as about Hearst Castle, where she worked for 30 yrs as historian. She is the author of Hearst Castle: The Biography of a Country House, 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 collecting 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 for The London Telegraph, the American Institute of Architects, Oxford University’s Journal of the History of Collections, and The Magazine Antiques.

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

Zoom Rental | Fred Astaire in London
2025-05-16 12:00 - 2025-06-30 12:00 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States
Fred Astaire, 1940s, Original publicity still from former Marilyn Blaisdell Collection
Though born in Omaha, Nebraska, and raised in New York City, dancer Fred Astaire spent a significant portion of his early career in the United Kingdom. From 1922 to 1932, he and his sister Adele captivated London audiences in three wildly popular West End musicals, sparking a sensation so intense that critics dubbed it “Astairia.” During his time in London, Astaire immersed himself in British culture; he studied music theory at London’s Guildhall School of Music alongside Noël Coward and socialized with the aristocracy. With his new dance partner, Claire Luce, Astaire expanded his repertoire, incorporating sweeping, romantic movements as well as an English sense of style. His impeccable fashion sense, effortless charm, and refined elegance—central to his dance films of the 1930s through the 1950s—were deeply influenced by the customs and style he observed while mingling with British high society and even the royal family. Victoria Kastner will explore the profound impact of Astaire’s years in the UK, revealing how his time on the London stage helped shape the dancer, actor, and icon the world came to adore.
Victoria Kastner is the leading scholar and author about the architect Julia Morgan as well as about Hearst Castle, where she worked for 30 yrs as historian. She is the author of Hearst Castle: The Biography of a Country House, 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 collecting 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 for The London Telegraph, the American Institute of Architects, Oxford University’s Journal of the History of Collections, and The Magazine Antiques.

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

Zoom Rental | J.M.W. Turner at Petworth
2025-05-20 12:00 - 2025-06-30 12:00 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States
Recording available on Tuesday, May 20 12:00 pm ET
The Carved Room, with the four paintings by Turner at Petworth House and Park, West Sussex. The carvings are by Grinling Gibbons.
The year 2025 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775– 1851), one of the most admired and influential British artists. J.M.W. Turner had a unique relationship with George O’Brien Wyndham, the 3rd Earl of Egremont, who inherited Petworth House and Park, West Sussex, in 1763—now an NT property. The artist was a frequent house guest and was free to explore the house and estate, drawing great inspiration from the beauty of Petworth’s interiors, collections, and landscape. As a collector of British art, the 3rd Earl was a great patron and host to many contemporary artists such as Turner, John Constable, and C.R. Leslie. Turner’s extraordinary talent, combined with the unique opportunity to work at Petworth, allowed him to produce detailed pictorial descriptions of the great house and estate. These masterpieces can be seen at Petworth in the original devised for them after being reinstated in the early 2000s. Join Dr. John Chu, NT Senior Curator of Pictures and Sculpture, as he examines Turner’s works which illustrate what life was like at Petworth almost 200 years ago. He will also discuss the upcoming NT exhibition Turner’s Vision at Petworth (June 21–November 16, 2025), and the artist’s relationship with the Earl and demonstrate the impact this extraordinary house and landscape had on one of Britain’s celebrated artists.

John Chu was appointed Senior Curator of Pictures and Sculpture for Midlands at the National Trust, UK in 2021. He joined the NT in 2015 as Assistant Curator of Pictures and Sculpture and worked on exhibitions at Osterley, Powis Castle, and Basildon Park among other properties. He also worked on permanent re-displays of state rooms at The Vyne, Hampshire and Knole, Kent. He graduated from Cambridge University and received a Master of Arts and Ph.D. from Courtauld Institute of Art, London University. He was a visiting lecturer from University of Reading and an Associate Lecturer at Courtauld Institute of Art. He was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at The Paul Mellon Center for Studies in British Art.

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

Zoom | The Lost World of Bletchley Park
2025-05-20 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom Webinar, Virtual, United States
Wrens billeted at Wavedon Manor near Bletchley Park ©Bletchley Park Trust
At a casual glance, Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire resembles any other sprawling country Victorian house that might have been owned by a wealthy businessman: in this case stockbroker Sir Herbert Leon. When Bletchley was purchased in 1938 by the Head of Secret Intelligence Service, the estate quickly went from outdoor country pursuits, to become the nerve centre of Britain’s war: the top-secret headquarters for Britain’s Government Code and Cypher School. Bletchley quickly developed into a place where the nation’s most brilliant mathematical minds toiled alongside cryptographers, debutantes, dons, and factory workers on complex problems with world-wide resonance. Historian Sinclair McKay will reveal the day-to-day life at Bletchley, and the activities of the extraordinary men and women who toiled in secret on the estate—secrets they kept for the following decades. Winston Churchill told them proudly, on a visit to the Park in 1941, that they were “the geese that laid the golden eggs and never cackled.” Based on first-hand interviews of surviving code-breakers, Mr. McKay will also describe the entertainments and furtive Bletchley romances that helped ease the pressures faced by operatives as they worked to decipher German coded messages. Finally, he will chronicle how the estate was abandoned, nearly demolished, and almost became a supermarket, before being heroically saved as a museum.
Sinclair McKay writes for the Daily Telegraph, the Mail on Sunday and The Spectator. He is a literary critic for the Telegraph and the Spectator. He has published extensively on Bletchley Park and codebreakers in his books, The Secret Life of Bletchley Park, The Secret Listeners, and Bletchley Park Brainteasers. Among his other books include Dresden: The Fire and the Darkness (2020) and Meeting Churchill: A Life in 90 Encounters (2023). His upcoming book St. Petersburg: Sacrifice and Redemption in the City That Defied Hitler, is due to be released in October 2025. He lives in London’s East End and can – in theory – walk along the Grand Union canal towpath without interruption to Bletchley Park some 48 miles north.
Tickets: $15 members*; $25 non-members
*Membership discount applied automatically when logged into your Royal-Oak.org account

Zoom Rental | The Lost World of Bletchley Park
2025-05-21 12:00 - 2025-06-30 12:00 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States

Zoom | Behind the Scenes: Georgian Buildings in TV and Film
2025-05-22 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Webinar, Virtual, United States
Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire ©National Trust/Paul Barker
Britain’s grand Georgian buildings have not only stood as architectural masterpieces for centuries, but they have also played a starring role in some of the most beloved English period dramas. Among the finest NT examples, Lyme Park, Cheshire, exemplifies the Georgian country house’s Palladian style; its grand façade and formal gardens make it the perfect choice for Mr. Darcy’s Pemberley in BBC’s Pride & Prejudice (1995). Kedleston Hall, designed by Robert Adam, showcases the height of Neoclassical design—the Kedleston state rooms provide a magnificent setting for the film The Duchess (2008). The Temple of Apollo at Stourhead set the scene for Mr. Darcy’s dramatic first proposal to Elizabeth Bennet in the later Pride & Prejudice (2005) film, while Stourhead’s Palladian bridge and gardens are highlighted in the background. Meanwhile, Saltram, an elegant Georgian mansion in Devon, lent its interiors to Sense and Sensibility (1995), offering an authentic glimpse into 18th-century refinement and taste. Social and architectural historian, Dr. Amy Boyington will explore the histories of these treasures as she traces the development of Georgian architecture and its relationship to 18th-century aristocratic life. She will illustrate gorgeous examples used in period film and television. She will also explore how these houses, as portrayed in film, impacts how we visualize the Georgian period. Identifying these locations in period dramas is not only a delight for viewers (and Royal Oak Foundation members), but their on-screen presence also shapes how we understand and envision the past, influencing our connection to the hallmarks of Georgian architectural style.

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 18thc country house dining room. Dr. Boyington is 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
