Daily entries from the 17th century London diary
The Public Record Office in London is putting on a costumed reading of excerpts from Pepys’ diary on 13th February including music and a chance to look at the office’s Pepys documents. There’s also an exhibition running from 5th February to 31st May. More details here.
10 comments | Permalink | Wednesday 15 January 2003 | Events
Not only is the Public Record Office holding an exhibition of Pepys materials from February but so is the Guildhall Library (from Feb 10th to June 7th). The press release doesn’t give many more details about the show’s contents other than saying it contains “books, prints and documents.” (Thanks to my sister Sue for the tip!)
4 comments | Permalink | Wednesday 22 January 2003 | Events
So far this year there are exhibitions about Pepys at the Public Record Office and at the Guildhall Library. Now the excellent Museum of London is getting in on the act with an exhibition focusing on the city during Pepys’ life. It runs from 8th May to 3rd November and the press release gives more information. (Thanks for the tip Queen Bee.)
5 comments | Permalink | Sunday 23 February 2003 | Events
Already this year we’ve had three Pepys exhibitions in London. Now the British Library has an exhibition running until 15 June. Their site has a brief blurb:
Samuel Pepys died on 26 May 1703.
To mark this tercentenary, there is a small exhibition of books and manuscripts relating to Pepys from its collections, focussing on Pepys as a naval administrator, on his close friendship with his fellow diarist, John Evelyn, and on the means by which both these famous diaries which transformed our knowledge of Stuart England first came to be published.
In the Entrance Hall, St Pancras building.
And in fact I’ve just noticed that the Samuel Pepys Club has a page listing more events.
7 comments | Permalink | Wednesday 7 May 2003 | Events
Glyn Thomas has pointed out that the Museum of London has a huge list of Pepys-related events happening in the city over the next few months.
25 comments | Permalink | Tuesday 8 July 2003 | Events
Glyn Thomas, one of our annotators, has been very busy putting together a walk through the City of London around places familiar to Pepys and readers of his diary. I know some of you have obtained copies direct from Glyn, but we thought it would make sense to put it on the site for anyone else. The 22 page document describes the route and plenty of background. You can download it in either a 64K Word document or a 242K PDF. Many thanks to Glyn for his hard work on this - do let him know what you think! (glyn_thomas1234 [at] yahoo.co.uk)
Glyn also points out several guided Pepys walks happening in London shortly at london.walks.com. He says:
Saturday 14 August, 2.30pm
From Charing Cross: “Intimate Details & Public Matters - The Westminster of Samuel Pepys”
£5.50, concessions £4.50, accompanied children under 15 freeAnd two Tuesdays in August (17th and 24th) with a qualified City of London Guide:
“From the Temple to the north side of St Paul’s. We see where Pepys was born, and many attractive sights recalling incidents from his life, from the serious to the ridiculous, and often enlivened by his own words. An insight into both this larger-than-life character and the late 17th-century City.” MEET outside Temple Underground Station at 2 pm. COST = £4 or £5.
Let the guide know that you got the information from the Pepys Diary website (she is unfamiliar with the Internet).
Thanks Glyn!
Last year I posted a link to a document describing a walk around the City of London, compiled by regular annotator Glyn Thomas. He’s been busy, because he’s now prepared a sequel, a very detailed walk around Westminster.
You can download both walks here, in zipped Microsoft Word format, or as PDFs:
City walk: Word (64K), PDF (242K)
Westminster walk: Word (64K), PDF (288K)
As ever, many thanks to Glyn for taking the time to put these together — it’s quite a feat! Do email him with praise or questions if you have a look (glyn_thomas1234 [at] yahoo.co.uk).
3 comments | Permalink | Saturday 5 March 2005 | Events
Next Tuesday, 20th September 2005, there’s a solo play in Greenwich, in which actress Siobhan Nicholas plays the part of Elizabeth Pepys. From the blurb:
Samuel Pepys? …his diary! …his world!! …his women!!! How do you think his wife felt! What was it like being married to a serial sex addict! In this hour-long solo show, Elizabeth shares with us her life as the wife of Samuel Pepys: love, commitment, excitement — the joys and trials of their household, the gossip of the Court, the horrors of the Great Plague, the flames of the Fire of London and finally her raging trauma when, in her own house, she witnesses her husband
2 comments | Permalink | Thursday 15 September 2005 | Events
The Original London Walks website is advertising a special Pepys-inspired walk on the morning of Christmas Day. Clicking a link in the right-hand column of their home page pops up this page:
In the morning — at 11:00 am — we’ll be doing the Christmas Morning 1660 — Samuel Pepys’s London Walk.
And in the afternoon — at 2:00 pm — it’ll be the Christmas Day Charles Dickens’s London Walk.
The meeting point for both of the Christmas Day walks is by the big Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square.
Elsewhere on the site it says “A London Walk costs £5.50 — or £4.50 for Super Adults (65+), full-time students, and Discount Walkabout Card holders … Children under 15 go free if accompanied by their parent(s).” I assume this also applies to the Christmas Day walks.
4 comments | Permalink | Wednesday 30 November 2005 | Events
Glyn Thomas has had the idea of organising a meet-up for any readersof the site who’d like to get together in person. It’s Pepys’ birthday very soon so it seems as good an excuse as any (but apologies for the short notice).
So, Saturday, 25th February, three days after the birthday, seems the best time to meet. We’ll gather at The Anchor pub, on the south bank of the Thames, next to Southwark Bridge, at 2pm. Even better: it is claimed that Pepys watched the Great Fire from here! Here’s a map of the location.
There’s an outdoor seating area, so if the weather’s mild we may be there. Otherwise you’ll have to search around inside. There are a load of photos of me at Flickr which should help in recognising the group, and I’ll make sure a volume of the diary is visible, just to be sure!
The best way to get to the Anchor is to go to London Bridge tube/rail station and walking west past Borough market through the picturesque little streets and alleys along the south bank. But there are plenty of other stations a pleasant walk away too.
Saturday 25th February, 2pm, The Anchor, by Southwark Bridge. Try not to be too late, as I don’t know how long we’ll be there, but I hope a few of you can come along and we can meet each other in person!
17 comments | Permalink | Friday 17 February 2006 | Events
I’ve been very bad at organising another get-together for anyone who can make it. But Glyn Thomas has gently badgered me enough and has a good suggestion:
Every September, hundreds of buildings throughout the city that are normally either closed to the public or charge an admission fee are opened for free — it’s become one of the city’s most popular annual events. This year London Open House weekend is on 15th and 16th September, and details of the places that can be visited will be published in mid-August. No doubt some of them will have a Pepysian connection as, for example, in previous years these have included the Government Treasury Offices on the site where Pepys once lived, the Crypt of the Guildhall which has a stained glass window in his memory, and Trinity House of which he was a director.
It seems a good time to hold the second of our “annual” Pepys meetings, in this case at The Samuel Pepys in Stew Lane, 48 Upper Thames Street, London, from 2pm on Saturday 15th September.
So, put it in your diaries and I hope some of you can make it! The only downside is that I won’t be able to make it myself as I’m away at a wedding that weekend. But tying it in with Open House weekend sounds a good plan for those who would be making a special trip to London and we have several years left if, for some reason, you’re desperate to meet me!
9 comments | Permalink | Wednesday 27 June 2007 | Events
Just a reminder of two meet-ups happening this coming Saturday 15th September, in London and Boston, coincidentally marking our half-way point through the diary. First, the London gathering, suggested by Glyn Thomas:
Every September, hundreds of buildings throughout the city that are normally either closed to the public or charge an admission fee are opened for free — it’s become one of the city’s most popular annual events. This year London Open House weekend is on 15th and 16th September, and details of the places that can be visited will be published in mid-August. No doubt some of them will have a Pepysian connection as, for example, in previous years these have included the Government Treasury Offices on the site where Pepys once lived, the Crypt of the Guildhall which has a stained glass window in his memory, and Trinity House of which he was a director.
It seems a good time to hold the second of our “annual” Pepys meetings, in this case at The Samuel Pepys in Stew Lane, 48 Upper Thames Street, London, from 2pm on Saturday 15th September.
The second was suggested by Carl in Boston and it sounds like several people are planning to meet:
You are all invited to a Boston Pepys Party on Sept 15, 2007 at Ye Olde Union Oyster House, 2 PM to 4 PM, near Faneuil Hall in Boston, Mass, USA. I will be there with a picture of Samuel Pepys at my booth. I hope others will show up too. My cell phone is 781-521-4272 that we may further consult. This is my invention without knowing anyone else, but I know you’re out there with your ears on, good buddies. We can salute Sam with raw oysters and ale, or other food if you like, and discuss our favorite diarist.
So there we go — I hope everyone attending both events has a wonderful time!
(If you use Upcoming I’ve created events there, for London and Boston).
2 comments | Permalink | Sunday 9 September 2007 | Events
Glyn Thomas has discovered a series of monthly talks about Pepys, given at St Olave, Hart St, London. Here’s a PDF flyer with the full information and here are the dates and topics for the rest of the year:
Tickets are £10 each and the February event apparently started at 6.15 (food served, with the talk half an hour later). To book, or for more information, call Phil Manning on 020 7488 4318.
2 comments | Permalink | Thursday 14 February 2008 | Events
In June the Society of Historically Informed Performance are holding three concerts of music from Pepys’ time interspersed with readings from the diary. There’s more on their website and the dates and locations are are:
Tuesday, 10 June 2008, 8:00pm: St. Peter’s Church, 320 Boston Post Rd, Weston MA
Wednesday, 11 June 2008, 8:00pm: The Chapel At West Parish, 129 Reservation Rd, Andover MA
Thursday, 12 June 2008, 8:00pm: Lindsey Chapel, Emmanuel Church, 15 Newbury St, Boston MA
Tickets can be bought here.
7 comments | Permalink | Thursday 22 May 2008 | Events
Last year St Olave, Pepys’ local church, held a series of talks. They’re doing the same again this year, with one every month. Here’s the schedule of the remaining talks for 2009:
Food is served from 6.15pm with the event starting at 6.45pm. Tickets are £12 on the door or can be booked from Phil Manning on 020 7488 4318.
The church is on Hart Street, London, EC3R 7NB. Here’s a map.
You can also download a PDF flyer.
If anyone goes along, do post a comment to let us know how it goes.
Samuel Pepys’ local church near the Tower of London, St Olave’s, has been hosting talks about their famous former parishioner for some time and are about to launch a new series to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the start of the diary.
Each talk will look at a month’s worth of the diary from 1660. You can download a flyer from this page, but here’s the basic information:
Food is served from 6.15pm and the events start at 6.45pm. £15 on the door or contact Phil Manning (admin.stolave [at] me [dot] com, or 020 7488 4318). The address is St Olave Church, Hart Street, London EC3R 7NB.
2 comments | Permalink | Friday 15 January 2010 | Events
I thought diary readers would be interested in a new piece of music that’s been commissioned to celebrate 350 years of the diary, in association with Pepys’ local church, St Olave’s. Here are the details:
St Olave’s Church are commissioning composer Benjamin Till to help them celebrate 350 years of Pepys’ Diary with a major new choral work. Benjamin is planning to write a 40-part motet; a choral work with 40 individual parts based entirely on passages from the great work. His starting point is Tallis’ Spem In Alium but the Pepys work will feature singers from a huge range of choral backgrounds from opera to gospel, each representing a different aspect of Pepys’ character.
Benjamin started a blog on January 1st and would love Pepys fans to have a read. It’s about the project, and what Pepys was up to 350 years ago to the day. At the moment he’s in the process of selecting passages and needs feedback!
The Pepys work will be performed alongside Benjamin’s Oranges and Lemons, which was performed for the first time last year. This work features every bell in every church mentioned in the longer version of the famous nursery rhyme (200 separate bells, 17 churches). He had to climb into dangerous belfries in order to record them — and nearly died twice! The bells are accompanied by a choir of people who live or work within earshot of one of the churches. You can hear this work here. This might give you a bit of a taste of what’s to come with the Pepys Motet!
No time to write much, so in brief… Benjamin Till’s Pepys Motet is being performed live this Thursday at St Olave’s. You can also listen to a recording of most of the piece or follow Benjamin’s blog. More from him:
To put the work in context: It is a 40 part motet (in the style of Spem In Alium), scored for 40 individual voices, each of whom sing a unique line.
The 40 singers are grouped into 8 choirs of 5, each representing a different vocal tradition, which itself represents a different aspect of Pepys’ personality/ life.
Gospel singers sing about his family, early music singers sing passages relating to those uncomfortable bed fellows; religion and royalty, folk singers perform sections about life on the streets of 17th Century London, opera singers sing passages about social climbing, musical theatre singers perform passages relating to Pepys’ guilty pleasures and a choir of trebles sing passages relating to children. On top of this, there’s a choir from Magdalene College, Cambridge (who sing passages relating to Pepys’ quest to learn about life) and a choir from the Royal Navy (!!) Genuine singers from the Navy.
2 comments | Permalink | Wednesday 24 November 2010 | Events
Andrew Hamilton writes about a meeting in March…
Thanks to Michael Robinson, we have arranged March 13 at 5 PM at the Hunter’s Head in Upperville, Va., as a time and place to celebrate Sam’s 378th birthday. So far Todd Bernhardt and wife and Rex Gordon have accepted, along with several of my family, Michael and myself. We cordially invite other Pepysians to join us in a venison pasty and a toast to Sam. RSVP to Andrew Hamilton at jahamiltonjr@gmail.com before Feb. 23 so we can be sure of adequate provender.
So, if you’re able to get there, drop Andrew a line!
I’ve given a talk about this website three times in recent months, and the most recent event, SkillSwap Seeking Stories, has put up an audio recording of my talk. I’ve also put up the slides I used that evening, so you can try recreating the talk in the comfort of your own chair…
Here’s the presentation on SlideShare (requires Flash).
And here’s the audio on Huffduffer (requires Flash, or can be downloaded as an MP3).
You’ll have to make educated guesses about when to move on to the next slide if you’re really trying to follow along!
The talk has varied a little each time, but not too much. It’s always about looking at the diary as if it were a story, and how best to tell a complex narrative like this online.
2 comments | Permalink | Wednesday 13 April 2011 | Events
Anyone in London next month might be interested in this “dramatic reading” about Samuel Pepys and the theatre. Here’s the full blurb:
PEPYS AND THE PLAYHOUSE
A dramatic reading devised and presented by Colin Pinney
Thursday 16 June 2011, 7pm (doors open 6:15pm)In his own words Pepys gives a frank picture of the intrigues and affairs (including his own) of the 1660s, wrestling with his conscience — and sometimes his wife — as he follows the drama, on and offstage, of the Restoration playhouse. This was the age of plague, fire — and Nell Gwyn. The performance takes place in the Withdrawing Room of Dr Johnson’s historic house in the City of London. In costume.
“Hugely enjoyable” — Cheltenham Festival
£15/£13 concessions, includes a glass of wine, must be booked in advance.
To book tickets online go to our website or contact us to arrange payment by cheque on 020 7353 3745 or curator@drjohnsonshouse.org
There are many unavoidable steps at Dr Johnson’s HouseDr Johnson’s House, 17 Gough Square, London EC4A 3DE
www.drjohnsonshouse.org
020 7353 3745
Be the first to comment | Permalink | Saturday 21 May 2011 | Events
As most of you are probably aware, the diary ends next year. (Apologies if this is a spoiler for you, but I fear this particular surprise is unavoidable.) It would be great to see Sam off with a gathering in London for anyone who’s able to make it.
So, a date for your diary: Saturday 26th May 2012. I don’t have a precise plan yet, but consider that a definite date on which anyone who’s able to be in London can celebrate Sam, Elizabeth, the diary and the past nine-and-a-bit years.
I’m currently thinking of maybe a guided walk of Pepys’ London in the afternoon and a dinner together in the evening. Any other suggestions are very welcome!
At some point nearer the time I’ll need to know how many people will be able to make it, but that’s not necessary right now — I just thought some advance warning would be good for anyone hoping to come over from far afield!
I’ll post further updates both here and on the discussion group. If you have any questions or concerns, do post a comment below, or email me directly.
20 comments | Permalink | Sunday 27 November 2011 | Events
For those unable to make it to the end-of-Diary gathering in London, but might be closer to Massachusetts, here’s something for you!
UPDATE: “Due to Mother’s Day, the Wayside Inn where we’d originally planned to meet has no availability. Once we get a final headcount we’ll pick a location nearby with a similar venue. We need to get final numbers by May 1. Please email Carl for further details, or to confirm, at carl_wickstrom@comcast.net .” (24 April 2012)
From Carl in Boston and Jeannine Kerwin:
Where the Diary is ending in May, the folks in the Massachusetts will be getting together on May 13th at 1:00 PM, for a “Dutch Treat” lunch at the Wayside Inn, Sudbury MA, USA. Lunch menu here.
Feel free to come for lunch, a snack or a just a visit. We’ll try to make a reservation in advance so if folks can please confirm if they will attend and how many, we’ll get a proper place set aside. Please check your calendars as it may be the last chance to drink at toast to Sam with fellow Pepysians!
We’ll try to firm up the final numbers in early May.
For further details, or to confirm, feel free to contact Carl at carl_wickstrom@comcast.net.
4 comments | Permalink | Tuesday 31 January 2012 | Events
As mentioned late last year we are planning to round off our journey through the diary with a small celebration in London on Saturday 26th May 2012. It’s only a couple of months away, so I’d like to get some idea of how many people will be coming.
(UPDATE: Places are limited to 20 on the walk and we currently have that number of people confirmed. If you still want to come, let me know, but I’m afraid you’ll be on the waiting list. 18 Apr 2012.)
So, if you’re planning on being around on that day, please do email me and let me know how many of you there are.
My vague plans so far are for a walk around the City area of London for probably a couple of hours in the afternoon, followed by dinner somewhere in the early evening. These plans might change, but we’ll definitely be doing something on that day — I’ll confirm plans when I get a better idea of roughly how many people will be there.
I’m going to see if there’s anyone who could do a good guided Pepys walk (let me know if you have ideas) or, if I do a bit of preparation, we could probably manage our own! If I go for the former option there may be a small charge involved to pay the guide.
Anyway, let me know if you’re coming!
(If you have questions about what happens on this site after the end of the diary please see this post.)
4 comments | Permalink | Wednesday 14 March 2012 | Events
Both the previous posts about end-of-diary events in London and Massachusetts have been updated, so I thought it might be worth highlighting those here.
The London event on 26th May (now a guided walk followed by lunch) is now full. After a few weeks it seemed like interest was tailing off so I arranged with a guide to take us on a Pepys-oriented walk. He, understandably, has a limit of 20 people, which seemed like more than enough.
Since then a few other people have enquired and we’ve now reached the limit (with a few already on the waiting list). So I’m very sorry if you were interested in coming but haven’t yet got in touch with me.
The Massachusetts event on 13th May has had to change location due to Mothers’ Day filling up the original venue. If you’re planning on going, please email carl_wickstrom@comcast.net for more details, or to confirm.
11 comments | Permalink | Tuesday 24 April 2012 | Events
This coming Friday, 25 May, there’s a commemoration service at noon at St Olave’s church:
Since 1927 (allowing for some years’ interruption following the catastrophic bombing of April 1941) St Olave’s has held an annual service to commemorate its most illustrious former parishioner, Samuel Pepys. The service is organised in association with The Samuel Pepys Club.
The service traditionally features an address on aspects of Pepys, his life and times and the church has been honoured to welcome a number of extremely fine speakers over the years.
This year we will be pleased to have with us Prof. Peter McCullough of Oxford University, who will speaking on the subject “Pepys and Faith”. This is a subject which we have wanted to address for a number of years and are very glad that Prof. McCullough has been able to accept our invitation on this occasion.
It is apparently open to anyone who wishes to go, so do pop along if you’re in town and nearby!
Thanks to Glyn Thomas and Peter Easton for this.
Be the first to comment | Permalink | Sunday 20 May 2012 | Events