1901-2000
Once Liberty’s picturesque silk printing works, abandoned in the 70s, saved from demolition and reborn in 1989 as a popular arts, crafts and heritage centre, complete with the archaeological remains of Merton Priory and the only one of over 50 Wandle waterwheels still turning - founding manager John Hawks tells the tale
As Britain faced the threat of Nazi invasion it became clear our Airforce was outnumbered 4:1; so the British Government turned to scientists for a solution. They asked for a “Death Ray”, but what they got was even more advantageous.
This is the story of how two unlikely men and a mathematical formula changed the tide of the war.
They say truth is stranger than fiction. Indeed, it was here.
A welcome return for "Guy in the Sky", who gave us a brilliant talk on Concorde last year.
By Richard Morgan
More details to follow
This talk will cover the gadgets and methods spies have used across the world and throughout history. It was inspired by the speaker’s recent visit to the Berlin Spy Museum–if you haven’t been there, it’s highly recommended. We’ll be hearing about some of the wildly creative schemes, and just plain weird devices, creative people from Britain, America, Russia, Germany and elsewhere have devised over the years.
This talk will narrate the history of the Channel Tunnel through the 18th & 19th centuries, featuring the proposals that were put forward over this period, up to the final decision to build a tunnel.
This talk uncovers a lost industry of the Adur valley – the making of salt. Rents were sometimes paid in salt, as it was such a valuable commodity. The farmers of the Adur valley would have known all about it.
