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:
March 9 2026 6.30pm-9pm. BHS AGM. With:
A talk from Richard Mead, Angela O’Neill and Frances Ottaway on:-
‘Mudlarking’ in the Minutes
Adventures in transcription and unearthing historical treasures in the Barbers’ archives
A buffet supper will be served at about 7.15pm, followed by:-
A talk from Liveryman and Arts Society lecturer Dr Michael O'Brien on:-
Khmer History, Art and Architecture
Covering Cambodia in the 6th to 13th century, this will include a brief account of the geography, history, language and religion of the Khmers tracing the development of the empire from small Indianised coastal city states in the 6th century to the establishment of their capital in the Angkor region in 802, and on to its demise after the mid-13th century.
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.
A buffet supper will be served at about 7.15pm, followed by:-
A talk from Dr Luisa Dillner 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: Derek Adams