Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · 16h

'The Orchard: including management of wall and standard fruit trees...' (GC 2.1.) by Charles McIntosh, 1839 is a detailed horticultural guide to propagating and growing a wide range of fruit trees.

Title page of 'The Orchard' by Charles McIntosh showing the title and a colour illustration of soft fruits.

Colour plate of a Scarlet Nonpareil and a Golden Pippin apple.

1

Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · 22h

This month’s Collection Focus talk was on our Penny Dreadfuls and Penny Bloods. From the best selling Mysteries of London by George Reynolds to The Romance of Reality of which we are thought to be the only library holding a copy. We'll be repeating this talk in our next events programme.

Illustrated front cover for the Miser of Shoreditch

Illustrated page from the Old House of West Street

Issue no 61 from martin's annals of cime

Illustrated page showing a ballet dancer from the Mysteries of the Court of London by George Reynolds.

Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · 4d

#FreeEvent on Tues 14 Oct, 2pm: "Plague Houses and Pandemics" talk by Alison Wall, Health Visitor & Researcher.

Please book via:

plaguehousestalk.eventbrite.co.uk

(online & in-person event)

Plague Houses and Pandemics

The Great Plague struck Stuart England in 1665.

plaguehousestalk.eventbrite.co.uk

1 3

Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · 4d

The final part of our blog series on mid-20th century Chinese cookbooks is now live!

Read here:
guildhalllibrarynewsletter.wordpress.com/2025/10/10/e...

Exploring mid-20th Century Chinese cookbooks | Part 3: The 1980s

In the second part of this blog series, we explored how Chinese cookbooks evolved in the 1970s, particularly in response to the economic crisis, through the lens of Cheap Chow: Chinese Cooking on a…

guildhalllibrarynewsletter.wordpress.com

Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · 6d

📖 It's Banned Books Week 📖

It’s a week to celebrate books which have been challenged, banned, or silenced—and those who defend them.

To celebrate we're sharing our copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Shelfmark: B:D 645) which was banned in China and the United States.

1 6

Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · 7d

Thank you to everyone who attended our 600th anniversary exhibition launch! We hope to see you again at our upcoming events.

Special thanks to Professor Caroline Barron for her fascinating talk on the original Guildhall Library in 1452.

3 8

Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · 8d

It’s #BlackHistoryMonth – this year’s theme is Standing Firm in Power and Pride.

This drawing from 'Souvenirs de Londres' by French artist Lami shows a Black boxer in a London match in 1826. Although we know little about the boxer, Lami's portrayal highlights the presence of Black figures in London

4

Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · 11d

#FreeEvent on Tues 7 Oct, 2pm: "New Beginnings: Rebuilding after the Great Fire" talk by Jill Finch, City Guide.

New rules and regulations and new ideas meant a renewed City emerged like a phoenix from the ashes.

Please book via: (online & in-person event).

newbeginningstalk7oct.eventbrite.co.uk

New Beginnings: Rebuilding after the Great Fire

Work to rebuild the City of London began almost immediately after the Great Fire of 1666.

newbeginningstalk7oct.eventbrite.co.uk

2 3

Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · 12d

New merch alert! 🛍️🎉

Celebrate Guildhall Library's 600th anniversary with our new tote bag and postcard.

Tote bag - £5
Postcard - 40p

Both are ready for purchase at the Library.

2 4

Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · 13d

🌟Online tickets available!🌟

1425 - Off the Shelf!

Wednesday 22nd October, 2-3pm

Tying in with the 600th anniversary of the library, this is an art lover's guide to 1425.

offtheshelftalk.eventbrite.co.uk

1425 - Off The Shelf!

This is an art lover’s guide to 1425.

offtheshelftalk.eventbrite.co.uk

1 4

Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · 14d

Japanning emerged in the 1600s in Britain, France, Italy, and the Low Countries. This decorative art style was developed to imitate East Asian lacquer work and was often used on furniture.
⁣
Below are images from 'A treatise of japaning and varnishing' (shelf mark: AN 9.3.1), published in 1688.

2

Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · 15d

One of our treasures in our new exhibition 'Guildhall Library 600' that tells of its long history. 'The Bible : translated according to the Ebrew and Greeke....' London 1589.

Deposited here by the Tylers and Brickmakers’ Company. It was common practice to chain books to shelves in these times.

A medieval Bible open at the centre, there is a heavy iron chain and weight attached.

4

Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · 20d

This wonderful tiny dictionary is part of our new Guildhall Library 600th anniversary exhibition showing treasures from our collections. 'The World's Smallest English Dictionary'
published circa 1890 by David Bryce, Glasgow. Still with its tiny metal case that makes it particularly appealing. 📖🌟

The World's Smallest English Dictionary
published circa 1890 by David Bryce, Glasgow. Still with its original tin holder.

1 1 13

Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · 21d

Some exquisite drawings of St. Paul's Cathedral from one of the books shown at our recent #OpenHouse exhibition - 'St. Paul's Cathedral, London' by F.E. Poley, 1927 (418.3) Measured, drawn and described by the author.

An architectural drawing of St Paul's Cathedral West Front by F. E. Poley, 1927.

An architectural drawing of St Paul's Cathedral lanterns in cross-section by F. E. Poley, 1927.

6

Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · 21d

#FreeEvent on Wednesday 24 Sept, 2pm: "Shakespeare in the City" talk by Pete Smith.

This talk will introduce you to what traces of him can still be found in and around the City.

Please book via: (online & in-person event)
shakespeareinthecitytalk.eventbrite.co.uk

Shakespeare in the City

Although we may think of Shakespeare as “the man from Stratford”, he spent most of his creative life in London.

shakespeareinthecitytalk.eventbrite.co.uk

1

Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · 22d

We had a busy #OpenHouse2025 on Saturday 20th showing an exhibition on the history of London's architecture through many of our architecture-related treasures & materials. From the Normans through to Brutalism via English Baroque, the Arts & Crafts and Modernist periods. Enjoyed by many! 🏛️🤩

View over the complete history of architecture exhibition in Guildhall Library's reading room, showing visitors going around it.

Section of exhibition about the English Baroque period (1901-1914) showing books, plans and images of buildings and profiles of significant architects of that time.

Visitors looking at books, plans, images and architect profiles from the Arts & Crafts period (1880-1920)

The last section of the exhibition showing materials on post-war architecture including Modernism and Brutalism (1945-1979)

1 2

Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · 25d

Discover the Story of London Through Its Architecture! 🕍🌟
Saturday 20th September - 12-4pm

#dropin: Learn how London’s buildings have evolved, blended, and sometimes clashed to create the city we know today.
#freeevent
#openhouse2025

guildhalllibraryopenhouse.eventbrite.co.uk

London Open House: London’s Historical Architecture (In-person Only)

Celebrate London's historical architecture at Guildhall Library.

guildhalllibraryopenhouse.eventbrite.co.uk

2

Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · 26d

New blog post!

Read part 2 of our blog post series about mid-20th century Chinese cookbooks here: guildhalllibrarynewsletter.wordpress.com/2025/09/18/e...

If you missed the first part, you can read it here: guildhalllibrarynewsletter.wordpress.com/2025/08/29/e...

Exploring mid-20th Century Chinese cookbooks | Part 2: The 1970s

In the first part of this blog series, we explored the emergence of Chinese cuisine and cookbooks in Britain during the early 20th century. In this part, by examining Cheap cheap: Chinese cooking o…

guildhalllibrarynewsletter.wordpress.com

Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · 27d

Dorothy Tennant (1855–1926) was a painter & illustrator. At Guildhall, we hold the 8th edition of 'London Street Arabs' (Shelf mark: A 3.6 NO 40), featuring 28 plates of her striking illustrations of London’s children.

3

Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · 28d

These beautifully coloured illustrations from Loyal Volunteers No. 9 (Shelf mark: AN 9.5.7) depict members of London’s volunteer corps, formed in response to the threat of a Napoleonic invasion.

Right: Guildhall Infantry volunteer
Left: Cheap Ward volunteer

2

Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · 28d

Event on Tues 16 Sept, 2pm: "The 1890 Penny Postage Jubilee Exhibition at Guildhall" talk by John Davies.

A grand Exhibition and Conversazione, organised by the Corporation of the City of London at Guildhall in May 1890.

Please book via:
1890pennypostagejubileetalk.eventbrite.co.uk

The 1890 Penny Postage Jubilee Exhibition at Guildhall

Fifty years of Uniform Penny Postage and the introduction of the Penny Black were celebrated with major events.

1890pennypostagejubileetalk.eventbrite.co.uk

1

Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · 29d

Augustus Charles Pugin (1762 – 1832) was an architectural draughtsman & worked with architect John Nash. Later, he became a commercial artist.

His work is featured in The Microcosm of London (STORE 408.1). See his works at our Open House event on London’s architecture - Sat, Sept 20, 12-4pm.

4

Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · Sep 12

Please share! Our new FREE exhibition celebrating 600 years since the founding of Guildhall Library is up! Opening Monday! It'll be open Mondays-Thursdays 10-4 as well as Saturday 20th for Open House! Includes the history of the original library, medieval manuscripts and early printed books!

Entrance to the exhibiton featuring a large sign saying Guildhall Library 600

Two of the display cases holding 14th and 15th century manuscripts and printed books.

A selection of the books on display, Top left, modern illuminated manuscript, the Chronicles of France from 1399, a 16th century chained Bible, A tiny 19th century dictionary, John Stow's Survey of London, and the Library's oldest book, an 800 year old Bible! Our only book owned by the original library 600 years ago!

4 9

Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · Sep 9

New blog! Read here:
guildhalllibrarynewsletter.wordpress.com/2025/09/09/p...

Post-war London Architecture – Part 3

In June 2025 library staff presented an exhibition as part of the London Festival of Architecture representing all recorded eras of London’s architecture from the Normans to Post-War to the Millenn…

guildhalllibrarynewsletter.wordpress.com

3

Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · Sep 9

Our new exhibition celebrating 600 years since the founding of the original Guildhall Library is opening next Monday 15th!!!
This exhibition looks at the founding of the library, what it was like, why it closed, and the origins and development of the current Guildhall Library.

A sign Saying Guildhall Library 600 in a combination of text and colours

6