Parklife (1840s-1960s)
This course has unfortunately been cancelled. Ticketholders will be contacted by the box office.
You’ll discover the best outdoor spots for a romantic liaison before ‘meeting’ the man who collects the fees for deck chair hire in St James Park. Our grassy stop-offs include Hampstead Heath, Victoria Park, Battersea Park, and Crystal Palace Park. We also reflect on what life in the city’s parks reveals about wider London histories.
Who is this course for?
- Informal learners seeking an enjoyable introduction to the social history of London’s parks and gardens from the 1840s to the 1960s
- Creatives, historians, and writers looking for fresh ideas and inspiration for their projects
- People new to the city, wishing to familiarise themselves with the history and locations of its parks and outdoor spaces
- Anyone keen to spend an afternoon immersed in original historical sources such as photographs, pamphlets and guidebooks
- People tired of waiting for the arrival of warmer weather, who’d like to spend an afternoon imaginatively immersed in the great outdoors!
What can I expect?
- The subject is examined through hundreds of original items from Bishopsgate Institute’s special collections, many of them rare and some unique
- The tutor provides an overview of the items
- A set of questions is shared to focus and support the research process
- Students handle and view the items, which have been arranged in curated sets representing different themes relevant to the history of park life in modern London
- Students spend time with each set of items, with the tutor on hand to give guidance and answer questions
- A timeline handout provides historical background and context
- Informal small and whole-group discussions offer an enjoyable opportunity to share findings and reflect on the research process
Will I need any equipment or materials?
We will be looking at written texts on screen during the session. Make sure you have reading glasses to hand if worn.
Michelle's course are as close as you can get to a time machine... I always leave feeling nourished and valued. She always creates a welcoming, safe environment, in which people visibly blossom and grow.
Image: London Collections Pamphlets
Need to Know
You will learn
- Richly-detailed human stories taken from published and unpublished sources produced between the 1840s and the 1960s.
- Unique insight into how men, women, and children from a range of backgrounds have enjoyed and experienced London’s outdoor spaces during our period
- Data and information on the whereabouts of London’s parks and grasslands, and the facilities and activities they have historically provided for visitors
- The joys and challenges of reconstructing the past using original historical materials
Meet the Tutor
Dr Michelle Johansen
Dr Michelle Johansen is a social historian specialising in the history of modern London, with a particular emphasis on social class and mobility, gender, professional lives, and regional identities. Her publications include articles in Teaching History, the London Journal, and Cultural and Social History. Michelle has more than ten years' experience of delivering learning sessions at Bishopsgate Institute for all types of learners, from primary school pupils to undergraduates to informal adult learners. Her teaching approach places the emphasis on access to original historical documents, which provides a uniquely dynamic and immersive classroom experience.
Dates and Times
Parklife (1840s-1960s)
, 6:00 - 9:00
