150 London Wall, London, Greater London EC2Y 5HN
UK
In this the final lecture in his series on the history of English building Simon Thurley looks back. What can be concluded from a survey of 1,400 years of English architecture and social life? How English is English building and how are Saxon halls and modern skyscrapers intimately related?
This lecture will be followed by a book signing for Simon Thurley’s new book ‘The Building of England: The Story of a Nation Stone by Stone’.
Dr Simon Thurley is a leading architectural historian, a regular broadcaster on television and radio and is the Chief Executive of English Heritage, the Government’s principal advisor on the historic environment in England.
English Heritage aims to protect and promote England’s historic environment and ensure that its past is researched and understood. It manages what is in effect the national collection of ancient monuments and historic buildings, with the 400 and more sites ranging from Stonehenge to Dover Castle. Within this, Professor Thurley is particularly interested in making heritage protection fairer and more effective, and in making sure that England’s heritage plays a positive role in improving the quality of people’s lives.
Prior to joining English heritage in 2002, he served as the Director of the Museum of London, the world’s largest city museum. Between 1990 to 1997 he was the Curator and Main Board Member of Historic Royal Palaces, the organisation is responsible for Hampton Court Palace, the Tower of London, Kensington Palace, the Banqueting House, Whitehall and Kew Palace.
He is Honorary Fellow and Visiting Professor of London Medieval History at Royal Holloway, University of London, a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and the Royal Historical Society. He is an honorary member of the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. He is and has been the President of a number of archaeological and historical societies and is Chairman of the Society for Court Studies and serves on the Council of St. Paul’s Cathedral. He received his PhD from the Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London, where he wrote onEnglish Royal Palaces 1450-1550. He is currently the Gresham Visiting Professor of the Built Environment.