Guildhall Library

Victoria Station is the result of 19th century rivalry between London Brighton & South Coast Railway (LBCSR) & the London Chatham & Dover Railway (LCDR) who pooled resources, opening in 1860. This Ordnance Survey Map is from 1914. It’s a station connected with pleasure – for holidays and culture ⭐

FREE TALK! Art, Poetry & the Great War Wednesday 11th November - 2-3pm In the face of strict official censorship, artists with direct experience of the war depicted the conflict in powerful & often deeply disturbing works of art. Join Tate Lecturer Val Woodgate to learn more. Tickets: bit.ly/3W5AfnF

We hold the collections of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers & the Antiquarian Horological Society. They mostly relate to the British Isles, with international resources relating to Switzerland & France. These long-case clock dials are from 1690-95. In 'English Domestic Clocks' by Cescinsky, H

Some remarkable examples of Elizabethan and Jacobean jewellery from the 'Catalogue of the Cheapside Hoard' published by the London Museum in 1928 💍 The Cheapside Hoard was discovered in the City of London in 1912. This book describes rings, chains, pendants, watches, gemstones & other objects.

'Good Soups' by Ambrose Heath, 1935 contains some hearty recipes for this cooler Autumnal season. And some very nice book art too. Ambrose Heath (1891-1969) was a journalist and food writer who wrote or translated over 100 books. Part of our extensive food and drink history collections 🍲🍷🍴

Paddington Station opened in 1854 as the terminus for the Great Western Railway. Brunel designed the iron & glass train shed, influenced by the Crystal Palace of 1851. This old Ordnance Survey map is from 1874. Continuing improvements for modern demand keep this station iconic.

With the weekend getting closer, it's probably time for chocolate cake. Why not try recipes from our food & drink history book collections? One includes a Drs' recommendation to eat chocolate for health 😋 Cadburys Practical Recipes, 1950s. Up-To-Date Cookery Book, 1935.

FREE ONLINE TICKETS AVAILABLE! The Art and Scandalous Lives of the Bloomsbury Group Tuesday 27th October - 2-3pm www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-art-an...

Yesterday a school group from Whitechapel came in to find out more about the Great Plague of 1665 and the ‘medicines’ that were tried. Senior Librarian Isabelle Chevallot showed some original materials. As a treat, the children also saw 'The World's Smallest English Dictionary', published c.1890.

⭐New display!⭐ The River Thames is the theme shown through a selection of books about its historical and cultural significance, working lives, trade, leisure and literature.

King’s Cross Station opened on 14 October 1852 as the terminus of the Great Northern Railway. Designed by Lewis Cubitt, it was the largest station in Britain at the time. With 2 passenger platforms, and 6 for storage and movement of locomotives. The Ordnance Survey map shown is dated 1894. 🚂

BROADSIDES: SPEAKING TO THE PEOPLE 📜 📯 Exhibition ends on 29th October 2026! From the sixteenth century on, broadsides covered the walls of London, dispensing news, gossip, advice, & more. From biting political satire to dry announcement of laws, with songs, illustrations or a heaping of melodrama.

#OnThisDay in 1779, engraver, painter & poet William Blake (1757-1827) began his studies at the Royal Academy. One of the greatest Romantic visionaries, an artistic polymath who was overlooked by peers. His artwork is widely admired. Detail from 'The Marriage of Heaven and Hell' (1927 facsimile)

A researcher interested in medieval glazing and lead production recently looked at this book of 15th-century window pane designs for glaziers to follow in their work - 'Booke of Sundry Draughtes: Principaly serving for Glaziers...' (1615) Some complex and modern-looking designs⚡️

A lovely recent discovery - 'Trip on the Thames' (1873) depicting an idyllic cruise along the river. ⛵️ Likely published as a souvenir book, the illustrations were painted in oil. By J. Nelson & Sons Ltd.

As Euston Station is undergoing redevelopment to meet modern demands, this map shows the station in 1913 🚂 From the old Ordnance Survey Maps range showing the Euston & Regent's Park area.

'Fashion & Folly. Or the Buck's Pilgrimage', written & illustrated by William Heath in 1822, follows the adventures of Lubin with his friend Dashall who leave the countryside to experience the highs & lows of London. However, their antics result in a visit from a bailiff & then being sent to prison.

A section of the District Railway County Map showing south-west London and beyond. Victorian Londoners were quite well served! 🚂 From 'The District Railway Guide to London' Published in 1888 by City-based printers Alfred Boot & Son Ltd.

The authors & artists of this beautiful book 'Modes et costumes historiques...' (1864) were trying to establish authenticity, rather than creating fantasy costumes. While 19th-century scholars & artists reconstructed historical fashions, it is not reliable evidence that people dressed that way. 👗

The curtain has closed on another successful Open House day on Saturday. Thank you for coming!⭐ We had many new visitors viewing an exhibition & display of books showing a journey through time from Norman architecture through to Brutalism, exploring the stories behind London's development.

We are open today!! Open House 2026 Drop in event - 1-4pm Anyone interested in London's architectural history should visit Guildhall Library where an extensive exhibition & display of books & images will take you on a journey through time from Norman architecture through to Brutalism #opencity

Book your place on Eventbrite here: bit.ly/4xdDtCn

A look around our stores 🔎

Book your place on Eventbrite here: bit.ly/4xdDtCn

Open House 2026 🏦 Saturday 19th September Drop in event - 1-4pm ⭐️ Anyone interested in discovering more about London's architectural history should visit Guildhall Library where there will be an exhibition & display of books & images. #opencity Book here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/drop-in-ev...

If you think sticky notes are a modern era invention.... this one dates from the 1560s! Found today in a Worshipful Company of Vintners accounts book. The Vintners received its first Royal Charter in 1363 and managed the import, regulation & sale of wine. Today it supports many causes.

As railways seem to be a popular subject, here's a 1910 map of the London Underground. Part of a pocket-sized pamphlet 'London: what to see & how to see it. The Excursionists' Guide with Map' 🗺️ If there are any requests for historic maps of particular areas in and around London, let us know!

An Iris Aphylla from Curtis Botanical Magazine 1804-05. 🌺 The Library of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners has been housed at Guildhall Library since 1891 & contains over 500 vols. Also vols from our own London history collections, celebrating the history of gardening. Visit us to discover more.

‘News from Bartholomew Fair, or The World’s Mad’ (166-) (PAM 4834) is a satirical work about the ‘vanities and fooleries of this present age’ at Bartholomew Fair. This fair lasted a fortnight in West Smithfield in late summer. Established in 1133 and suppressed in 1855 as a nuisance. 🎪

Tues 1st Sept - 2-3pm It’s at the end of the line – the Victoria Line that is. It’s got a market that’s nearly a mile long, a boy band borrowed its post code – but there’s a bit more to Walthamstow. Take a virtual stroll round E17 with City of London Guide & Lecturer Jill Finch. bit.ly/3Ukn2Xd

The Victorians were great at railways and maps. 🚂 These show some central London lines from 'The District Railway Guide to London'. Published in 1888 by City-based printers Alfred Boot & Son Ltd.

The idea of being on a summer cruise right now is very appealing! These stylish Cunard menu cards are from 1939, part of the Newall Dunn collection - one of the world’s most comprehensive photographic & ephemera resources for Merchant Shipping, covering about 1880 to the turn of the 21st century.

Yes, they would have been as fascinated and maybe mystified at what was happening.

Open House 2026 🏦 Sat 19th September Drop in event - 1-4pm Anyone interested in discovering more about London's architectural history should visit Guildhall Library where an exhibition & display of books & images will take you on a journey from Norman architecture through to Brutalism. #opencity

💫 🌔🌘🌑🌒🌔💫 An eclipse is a rare and stunning celestial event that has fascinated people throughout time. These diagrams depict the occurrence beautifully over London on 14th July 1748 - 'The cause of eclipses and the motion of the earth delineated', an engraving from Universal magazine of the time.

What a difference 188 years makes... This 25-mile radius map around the capital is from ‘A New Pocket Guide to London and Its Environs’ (1838) by John H. Brady. Including ‘descriptions, from personal knowledge, of everything worth seeing or knowing within twenty-five miles of the metropolis’.

On Friday Senior Librarian Isabelle Chevallot gave a talk at the London Centre about the Great Fire of London of 1666 and how this major event affected the development of London. A display of original source materials from our collections was shown.

🌟 Welcome to Guildhall Library's new event brochure for Sept-Dec 2026! 🌟 Book through Eventbrite here: bit.ly/4wKuN7d

Always a delight when readers find such beautiful items in our collections!

There are a 1000 more of these! A burst of high Victorian colour and style from 'One Thousand and One Initial Letters' (1864) by Owen Jones, recently discovered in our stores. Jones was an influential British architect, designer and colour theorist. Come and see stunning works such as this IRL! ✨

A reader recently requested materials from the Parish Clerks Company from the 1600s, including these meeting minutes. The parish clerks were originally responsible for assisting with worship & keeping church records in parishes. Now they support churches, parish history, charities & the Lord Mayor.

Our friends at East London Recovery College have officially launched their first term prospectus. All courses are free to people in City of London, Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Newham. The cover health and well being, life skills and study and work opportunities. www.elft.nhs.uk/sites/defaul...

This definitely deserves its own post. But in the meantime here are some of these wonderful images from Stephen Batman in the complete works of Chaucer. If you'd like to see it in person do get in touch. Will be having it out at tomorrow's history and treasures talk.

The number of items consulted in our reading room for June was up to 1832 in June, up from 1024 in June last year! We are so pleased that more people are coming in to use our amazing collections! Reminder that as a public library our collections are availble to everyone! No membership required!

A special evening edition of our History and Treasures talk is happening at the library this Thursday 6-7pm. The talk is FREE please book via eventbrite www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/in-person-...

A Day of Discovery: Free Art, Antiques & Design Valuations with Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers 💫 Monday 6th July, 10-2pm Join the specialists from Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers for a complimentary valuation day dedicated to art, antiques and design. Book your free place here:

Last week we hosted an evening Collections Focus talk ‘Our Relationship with London’s Neoclassical Architecture’ by Senior Librarian Isabelle Chevallot. Books were shown with plans & images of the work of prominent Neoclassical architects. Visit us to learn about London’s architectural history! 🏛️

Our Senior Librarian Melanie Strong is giving a FREE talk on LGBT+ history in London at Shoe Lane Library tomorrow. If you can't join in person the event will also be steamed online. Please book your place here. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lgbtq-and-...

As temperatures in London soar we'd like to invite you all to the visit the library which is lovely and air conditioned. Feel free to drop in to use our computers, have a quiet sit down, study or even look at some of the wonderful items in our collections. Free and open to all!

It’s getting hotter! 🌞 How about a refreshing cordial mint water? This 1736 recipe includes a healthy amount of Claret and numerous ingredients and processes. From ‘The Compleat City and Country Cook….’ Would you try making this at home? Tell us about your own homemade drink recipes.