Barbers’ Historical Society

The Barbers’ Historical Society was started in 1987 as the Historical Group, under the chairmanship of Past Master Sir Francis Avery Jones. The aim of the Group was to expand the knowledge of the history of the Company by involving members in original research thereby encouraging greater use of its ever-expanding library and remains its aim today. The Group meets 4 times a year and meetings either take the form of a presentation either by a BHS member or visiting speaker and buffet supper in the Hall, or an outside visit.

Upcoming events:

April 14 2026 11.00am. BHS outing:

A guided group visit to the “secret nuclear bunker” at Kelvedon Hatch in Essex. The bunker tour will offer a historically interesting but also fascinating insight into Britain’s rudimentary preparedness for nuclear war during its 30-year use, and will include lunch in the bunker itself.

May 18 2026 6.30pm-9pm. BHS meeting. With:

A talk by Liveryman Brind Waldron on:-

'Tragedy ignites Inventions' as evidenced by Henry Trengrouse's life-saving Rocket Apparatus in the early 19th century.

Curator’s Corner: Dr Peter Willoughby, Hon. Curator, will display an interesting artifact from the Barbers’ Collection.

A buffet supper will be served at about 7.15pm, followed by:-

A talk from Dr Luisa Dillner, Westminster and tour guide, retired doctor, previous health editor at the Guardian, journalist and author on:-

Angela Burdett -Coutts: The most remarkable woman in the Kingdom (after Queen Victoria)

The story of how a young woman inherited a huge fortune, became “the Queen of the Poor” and did something so scandalous that Queen Victoria stopped speaking to her.

Much of her philanthropic work was delivered through the charitable structures of the livery companies and she was the first woman to be awarded the Honorary Freedom of the City of London in 1872. This is the life of Britain's most deserving and least known philanthropist.

The Society has 3 main aims:

To commission a programme of research and presentations for its quarterly meetings
To encourage members of the Company to use the archives and library for research and to assist the Archivist
To publish at intervals folios of research and to record public presentations and other work done by members

The current officers of the Society are:

Chairman: Sara Cooke
Secretary: Richard Pusey
Treasurer: Richard Mead