Talks
Munch and Listen
Enjoy our free monthly lunchtime talks programme - just bring your lunch and listen! All welcome.
Please note: there are no talks in August and December.
Tottenham Mills - the results of a recent archaeological excavation
By Ellen Green, Pre-Construct Archaeology.
- Monday 25 February, 12.15pm
Come along and hear from Ellen Green, an archaeologist from Pre-Construct Archaeology, as she presents the results and finds of their excavations in 2018 on the site at Hale Wharf, Tottenham (being developed by CART). Work had uncovered the remains of a 17th century mill near to the River Lea - the site of Tottenham Mills.
Doors open 12 noon.
Refreshments available.
Kindly supported by the Friends of Bruce Castle.
Priscilla Wakefield: Tottenham activist and forgotten heroine
By Margaret Burr, local historian and Friend of Bruce Castle.
- Monday 25 March, 12.15pm
For Women's History Month, in Haringey we celebrate with Margaret Burr a forgotten local heroine - Priscilla Wakefield (1751-1852) of Tottenham. A well-connected Quaker, she was famous in her lifetime, and was actively engaged in social action and the alleviation of poverty in Tottenham.
As an author, she wrote 17 books for children on a range of subjects, including natural science. She also wrote a book on feminism and feminist economics in 1798, published by a radical publisher. Her philanthropic activities focused in particular on improving the lives of women and children.
Referred to today as the 'Mother of Microfinance', in addition to writing and publishing, Priscilla established local charities and a school, as well as founding the first Savings Bank in England.
Doors open 12 noon.
Refreshments available.
Kindly supported by the Friends of Bruce Castle.
Hear Here
Our free evening monthly talks programme is on the last Wednesday of each month. All welcome.
Please note: there are no talks in August and December.
Vanguard of Then & Now: Part 1 - an evening of spoken word performances and call-out to artists
- Wednesday 27 February, 6.30pm (doors open 6pm)
Haringey Vanguard presents Vanguard of Then & Now: Part 1, a special evening of spoken word performances, bringing together intergenerational BAME LGBTQ+ communities to socialise and discuss BAME LGBTQ+ activism and history. You can also find out about the different activities Haringey Vanguard is offering.
- There will be a speed matching session for people interested in being interviewed or carrying out interviews recording BAME LGBTQ+ experiences and stories
- The evening is also an invitation to artists. On display will be a selection of archival creative works - social and political - from the LGBTQ+ and BAME LGBTQ+ community (1970s-1990s). Haringey Vanguard invites artists from the BAME LGBTQ+ communities to submit a creative response to the images for a future exhibition at Bruce Castle Museum in October 2019. Applicants can be working in any artistic discipline, including zines, painting, prints, video or poetry. Up to 4 ideas will be commissioned, and the selected artwork exhibited as part of the Vanguard of Then & Now: Part 2 exhibition celebrating LGBTQ+ Black History month
- Exhibited archival works from this event will remain on display for artists to see until 31 March. For further information on how to submit your ideas, come along to the event, or if you are unable to attend, please contact: Veronica McKenzie, Community Project Officer - email: haringeyvanguard@gmail.com
Register your interest on the Eventbrite website (external link).
Doors open at 6pm.
Refreshments available.
Background: The Haringey Vanguard history project exists to record the significant contribution made to politics and culture by Haringey BAME LGBTQ+ activists 1980-2000. Supported by Haringey Archive and Museum Service with London Metropolitan Archives, and funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Meet the Author: Catching Falling Stars
Researching and writing a Haringey-based WW2 children’s novel
- Wednesday 27 March, 7.30pm
Highly-acclaimed children’s author and Haringey resident Karen McCombie (external link) has written over 90 children’s books which have been published worldwide. Her latest novel, 'Little Bird Flies' was recently chosen as both a Sunday Times and The Times Children’s Book of the Week, as well as a Telegraph Best Children’s Books of 2019 choice. Karen's home turf of Haringey has been the setting of several of her books, from best-selling series ‘Ally’s World’ in the early 2000s to 2017’s ’The Pearl in the Attic’, which both feature Alexandra Palace.
For this talk, as part of Women's History Month, Karen will focus on the writing of her WW2 evacuee novel ‘Catching Falling Stars’, partly set in Wood Green, including details of her invaluable research at Haringey Archive at Bruce Castle.
As this year marks 80 years since the start of the Second World War and the beginning of evacuation of children from wartime threats in London, do come and hear about familiar memories connected with your own or your families’ experiences.
Signed copies of the book ‘Catching Falling Stars’ will be available to buy on the night.
Doors open at 7pm.
Refreshments available.
Kindly supported by the Friends of Bruce Castle.
