ast Events
Monday Lecture Series
“A Day Without Dissection is a Day Wasted”:
Surgery in the 18th Century
Monday 13th October, 6pm
The eighteenth century saw a variety of changes in surgery, in particular a move from traditional training by apprenticeship to the foundation of hospital and private anatomy schools, such as Hewson’s. Despite the advances in anatomical understanding made by dissection, however, in an era before anaesthetics, surgery could still be a brutal and bloody affair…
£5/£3, not recommended for under 12s
Surgeons’ Lives
Monday 20th October, 6:30pm
Sally Frampton, Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL
The lives of surgeons in the late nineteenth century - the era of such elite surgeons as Joseph Lister, James Paget, Frederick Treves and Victor Horsley - could differ greatly from Hewson’s time. Following the Anatomy Act of 1832, anatomical research and experimentation in the hospital led to further advances in surgery: the nineteenth century saw the introduction and gradual acceptance of anaesthesia and antisepsis – followed by abdominal and brain surgery. Surgeons were also increasingly accorded much wider respect, which impacted both the way they worked, and their social lives.
£5/£3, not recommended for children
William Hewson and the Craven Street Bones
Monday 27th October, 6pm
Tania Kausmally, Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL
Born in Northumberland in 1739, Hewson received medical training in Newcastle-upon-Tyne before departing for London, where he attended William Hunter’s renowned anatomy school, as well as the hospital schools of Guy’s and St Thomas’. He became assistant and partner at Hunter’s school, before setting up his school at Craven Street in 1772. Hewson’s short-lived school provides a well defined snapshot of anatomical teaching prior to the Anatomy Act of 1832 when, without a legitimate source of corpses, surgeons had no choice but to turn to the infamous Bodysnatcher for supply.
£5/£3, not recommended for children
Medical London Day, Saturday 18th October
Blood, Bones & Bodies: Children’s activities
10:30am – 12pm
How did people in the past discover the body under the skin? Find out about important anatomists, like William Hewson, who helped us to understand how the human body works, through a series of hands-on activities: build your own skeleton, play dressing up and puzzle games, and much, much more!
FREE activities, aimed at 5-11 year olds
“A Day Without Dissection is a Day Wasted”:
Surgery in the 18th Century (adult talk)
11am – 12pm
The eighteenth century saw a variety of changes in surgery, in particular a move from traditional training by apprenticeship to the foundation of hospital and private anatomy schools, such as Hewson’s. Despite the advances in anatomical understanding made by dissection, however, in an era before anaesthetics, surgery could still be a brutal and bloody affair…
£5/£3, not recommended for under 12s
US Presidential Debate in Association with the Eccles Centre
Between the Chairs of Republicans Abroad and Democrats Abroad; Sir Robert Worcester, founder of MORI, to moderate.
Wednesday, 29 October 2008, 7pm
£8; £5 Friends and concessions (at Conference Centre, British Library)
Open Rehearsal
From 26-28 October Benjamin Franklin House helped to celebrate the launch of the Cultural Olympiad by taking part in Open Rehearsal. Visitors got the opportunity to speak to 'Polly' backstage after the Historical Experience Show.
Benjamin Franklin House Annual Symposium in Association with the Eccles Centre
Featuring Dr. Richard Horton, Editor of the Lancet, the world's number one global medical journal. Dr. Horton is the 2007 winner of the Edinburgh Medal and will speak on Benjamin Franklin and the Globalisation of Science; tickets include reception.
Wednesday, 3 September 2008, 6:30pm - 20.30pm
£8; £5 Friends and concessions (at Conference Centre , British Library)
Dr. Richard Horton qualified in medicine from the University of Birmingham. In 1990, he joined The Lancet as an assistant editor and became Editor-in-Chief in 1995. He was the first President of the World Association of Medical Editors and is an honorary professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University College London, and the University of Edinburgh. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and a Founder Fellow of the UK’s Academy of Medical Sciences. He co-chairs a WHO Scientific Advisory Group on Clinical Trials Registration and is a Council Member of the Global Forum for Health Research.
In 2007, he received the Edinburgh Medal for professional achievements judged to have made a significant contribution to the understanding of human health and wellbeing. He has been a medical columnist for The Observer and writes regularly for the Times Literary Supplement and New York Review of Books. He published a book about controversies in modern medicine, Second Opinion, in 2003.
Benjamin Franklin and his Female Relationships
An Insight into Franklin’s Female Relationships whilst here in London. Given by Lady Reid, one of Britain’s foremost Franklin Scholars.
Throughout his life, Benjamin Franklin forged extremely close and long-lasting relationships with many of his female friends. In London, his landlady’s daughter Polly Stevenson (later Hewson) became a second daughter to Franklin, and a sounding-board for many of his intellectual ideas. Long letters exchanged by the pair show a mutual interest in scientific discovery, and a life-long friendship saw Polly join Franklin’s own daughter, Sally, at his deathbed. Sometimes flirtatious, frequently witty, and always engaging, Franklin’s letters to his female friends provide a comprehensive picture of the many facets of this fascinating man.
(£5 standard, £3 concession. To book, call 020 7839 2006)
Thursday, 24 September 2008, 6.30pm
Benjamin Franklin House
Meet Mrs Polly Hewson - Summer Holiday Family Days 
Every Tuesday in August & September 2008, 11:30am & 2:30pm
Kids go FREE! Adults only £3.50 each. All children must be accompanied.
Discover what life was like in Georgian England by meeting Mrs Polly Hewson, the daughter of Franklin’s landlady, who will guide you around the House, built 1730. Learn about everyday life in the 18th century, as well as the extraordinary story of Benjamin Franklin himself. There will also be the opportunity to follow in Franklin’s footsteps as a scientist, re-creating one of his most famous experiments, a fearsome display of the awesome power of lightning!
World Architecture Day at Benjamin Franklin House
Benjamin Franklin House is celebrating World Architecture Day on the 6th of October 2008.
Throughout the day, we will be hosting detailed tours of one of London’s heritage gems and the efforts that have been employed to conserve its Grade I status.
The house is the sole surviving residence of Benjamin Franklin; scientist, inventor and one of the greatest political figures of the 18th century.
Tours run at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm and 5pm.
Entry: £3.50, free for children under 14.
National Archaeology Week at Benjamin Franklin House
Tuesday, 15th July, 2.30pm – 6.30pm FREE
Numerous families participated in this fun-packed archaeology-related open day, A Midden Of Mystery, which was recommended by Time Out critics. Participants had the unique chance to take on the role of archaeologists and used their powers of detection to uncover more about the rich history of the house and its inhabitants.
National Archaeology Week is a national event which aims to encourage young people and families to explore the archaeological heritage of the United Kingdom. In line with the ethos of the house, this event aimed to satisfy scientific curiosity and enhance historical knowledge in an accessible and exciting way.
National Children’s Art Day
Tuesday, 1 July, 2008
Children’s Art Day encourages and inspires children to engage with art in museums. Students will learn about 18th century portraiture in Benjamin Franklin's only remaining home and create their own works based on Georgian designs, using Franklin as a muse. This family event is free of charge and suitable for children aged 5 to 11.
National Design and Technology Week
Monday, 23 June until Sunday, 29 June 2008
Benjamin Franklin House is helping celebrate the UK's seventh annual Design and Technology Week, which celebrate pupils’ achievements in design and technology. One key feature is presenting exhibitions of student work and, accordingly, Benjamin Franklin House will be showcasing student art inspired by the creative inventor, Benjamin Franklin, in our Grade I building. Working with partner schools, we have provided all necessary materials and guidance. Students will receive certificates and their paintings will be on exhibit throughout the summer.
4 July 2008
Fourth of July cake and bubbly
Friday, 4 July 2008
Tickets £8, £5 Friends and concessions
Craven Street Lecture
An Apple A Day: Benjamin Franklin and Medicine
With Lady Joan Reid, the UK’s foremost Franklin authority
Thursday, 19 June 2008
Tickets £5 standard; £3 Friends and concessions
29 May 2008, 6pm - 18th Century Soiree in association with the Concordia Foundation. Concordia's talented young performers, at the start of their professional careers, will entertain with period music; tickets are £30 and include a reception (at Benjamin Franklin House)
21, 22 and 28 May 2008, 6-8pm - ‘Uncommon Place,’ a dynamic art installation featuring the work of Michael De Guzman and other artists; free entry (at Benjamin Franklin House)
Benjamin Franklin House Annual RSA Lecture: Heritage and Learning Beyond the Classroom
Barry Sheerman MP, Chairman of the House of Commons Select Committee on Children, Schools and Families, was guest speaker for the first Benjamin Franklin House-RSA Lecture in celebration of Franklin's 302nd birthday on 17 January 2008 - the start of the House's third year as a dynamic museum and educational facility. The Royal Society of Arts was a fitting location given Franklin's membership and service to the organisation during his many years in London.
Barry, a member of Parliament since 1979, is Chair of the House of Commons committee that considers policy to improve education services and childcare in schools, colleges, and the care sector. His theme was the importance of engaging young people with cultural heritage, in particular, the benefits for citizenship when we make the experience of key historical figures relevant to young people today.
He has long been a fan of Benjamin Franklin and highlighted Franklin’s legacy of harnessing personal curiosity and responsibility for a greater good: whether investigating the nature of lightning and distilling his discoveries into the life and property-saving lightning rod or fostering civic institutions like schools, hospitals, and libraries. This is a legacy, he said, that can inspire young people.
In his career, first as the head of an American studies department at a Welsh university, and then as a Parliamentarian interacting with teachers and other educational experts, Barry stated he discovered that learning outside the classroom is where real learning can take place. He cited the educational offerings at Benjamin Franklin House as an example of a fresh approach to public education through the Historical Experience and Student Science Centre, which melds the great heritage of the site with the timeless character of the man who called it home for nearly 16 years.
Barry referenced the project he is leading to similarly spur awareness of an intriguing figure from the past through his historic former home: British environmental poet, John Clare's former cottage in Helpston, England, located in Barry's district. His John Clare Education and Environment Trust is working to conserve the 18th century building and create an international environmental educational centre which shares Clare's respect for the environment with young people and adults.
Benjamin Franklin House Director, Marcia Balisciano, chair of the session, recognised Barry's important message with a quote: "As the historian Karl Weintraub noted, 'I doubt that the study of history provides us with simple lessons. Its promise is less in easy lessons than in the hope of understanding and wisdom about human affairs. It can curb our egocentrism, and perhaps it endows us with an essential sense of proportion. …Our humanity is in its essence historical…we cultivate our humanity when we cultivate our historical sense and consciousness.'”
Listen to the Podcast
Read more about Barry Sheerman
Benjamin Franklin House Christmas Event
Ben's old home was filled with joy during the 2007 Family Holiday Day in December. With their parents, young people listened to tales of Christmas in the 18th century, made festive decorations, and enjoyed seasonal treats!
Benjamin Franklin House Symposium
We were honoured to have Sir Harry Kroto, a Nobel Prize winning scientist, feature in this year’s Benjamin Franklin House Symposium, held in association with the Eccles Centre for American Studies at the British Library, on 7 August.
Sir Harry was knighted in 1996 for his contributions to chemistry – with colleagues he discovered C60 Buckminsterfullerene, a new form of carbon. Franklin would have liked the association with such a kindred spirit. As he has noted, “I have ended up a supporter of ideologies which advocate the right of the individual to speak, think and write in freedom and safety (surely the bedrock of a civilised society).”
He took as his theme Science, Society and Sustainability: what science is, how people, the media, politicians and others perceive science and scientists and some of the problems non-scientists have in understanding science, engineering and technology.
He began by sharing how he fell in love with science when he discovered the essence of the discipline is the "quest for beautiful patterns." He highlighted areas he sees as essential for future research including highly sustainable technologies like solar electricity and genetic developments like seedlings that can fix their own nitrogen. In response to a question on whether nanotechnology bodes good or ill for society, he argued that science is never intrinsically bad, "it's the use that men put to it."
He is passionate about furthering scientific understanding and established The Vega Scientific Trust and Global Educational Outreach (GEO) to allow young researchers to explain their science to young people around the world through the Internet. Says Sir Harry, “we are pioneering new ways of using the Internet to get the next generation of children to work together to address some of humanity’s most pressing problems. After all if the future is in anyone’s hands it’s in theirs.”
4th of July at Benjamin Franklin House
Benjamin Franklin House opened its doors for a special celebration on the 4th of July 2007, when we welcomed friends to the House for some Independence Day cake and bubbly.
2007 Benjamin Franklin House Science Day
On 27 April, Benjamin Franklin House held its annual Science Day at the Royal Society featuring three inner city London schools: Streatham and Clapham School, Cayley Primary School, and Kobi Nazrul Primary School. The Royal Society, a premier UK scientific academy where Benjamin Franklin was an early member, is housed in a historic building with state of the art facilities (much like Benjamin Franklin house located nearby) which delighted the young participants. They were inspired by the original portraits of famous scientists like Isaac Newton!
More than 120 pupils took part in the fun and informative sessions which highlighted some of Franklin’s most important investigations. Franklin had a deep interest in the practical application of scientific knowledge and our special guest, scientist Dr Bryson Gore, captured the children’s attention with experiments that popped, illuminated, and crackled, showing how the great man’s 18th century explorations have led to some of today’s most important technologies. As Benjamin Franklin House Education Manager, Ana Doria Buchan notes, “Franklin liked to ask questions and in his search for potential answers, he broke new ground. This spirit of enquiry, an approach central to the UK National Curriculum, enthused both the children and their teachers alike!”
Volunteers helped make the 2007 Benjamin Franklin House Science Day a success and plans are underway for the Benjamin Franklin Science Fair with local schools in June.
2007 Benjamin Franklin House Science Fair
Students from schools in the London boroughs of Newham, Southwark and Croydon will take part in the annual Benjamin Franklin House Science Fair at the Royal Society of Medicine on 25 June.
The children will be grappling with a timely question – which Franklin posed in the 18th century: How can we get more energy from less fuel? Franklin’s response led him to attempt design of more fuel-efficient stoves. His, and others that came later, are known as Franklin stoves. The children will apply their ingenuity in developing a 21st century response. They will also have the choice of a weather-related question as this subject also fascinated Franklin and played a part in his experiments with lightning and in his invention of the lightning rod.
All participants will be prize winners but the overall winner will be judged by visiting scientists on the day. The Benjamin Franklin House Science Fair satisfies our mission to engage young people in science through hands-on investigations and to conduct outreach from 36 Craven Street to the wider community.
2007 National Archaeology Week
Benjamin Franklin House will be participating in this year’s National Archaeology Week (NAW). The fit is perfect given the House’s architectural significance and archaeological importance (with more than 1000 bones found during basement conservation, remnants of an anatomy school run by the son-in-law of Franklin’s landlady). For nine days in July, children from across the UK will take part in excavations, guided tours, exhibitions, lectures, craft workshops and more.
We will open our doors to NAW participants on Tuesday, 17 July, allowing young visitors to discover more about the history of 36 Craven Street. We will be offering special activities that demonstrate how found objects give clues to the past, while emphasising such skills as research observation/recording/interpretation and team work.
Happy 301st Ben! Happy Birthday Benjamin Franklin House!
17 January 2007
Today is the 301st anniversary of Benjamin Franklin's birthday and today Benjamin Franklin House has been open to the public for one year!
Click here for the complete story
A Web of Relationships
Michael De Guzman, Benjamin Franklin House's Development Manager and resident artist until early 2007, installed a temporary sculpture comprised of over 20,000 rubber bands in Franklin's Parlour! The complex web alluded to Franklin's entanglement in 18th century diplomatic relations. It is the first in a series of temporary artistic installations to be featured at the House. Watch for future previews.
