Käthe Strenitz used her husband’s factory on Market Road as a base from which to roam over much of London, from the 1960s to 1980s, drawing street scenes and industrial landscapes, working mostly in pen and ink, but also in watercolours, oils, and woodcuts. Camden and the railway lands of King’s Cross and St Pancras provided many subjects close to her base. She attributed her fascination with industrial landscapes to her arrival at Liverpool Street Station from Prague with Kindertransport at age 16 and waiting in a large, gloomy, blackened station. An extraordinary resource of over 200 drawings is held by London Metropolitan Archives, to ensure her drawings remain together as a body of work. 

Peter Darley's forthcoming book, ‘The King’s Cross Story’ has been greatly enriched by Käthe Strenitz's drawings and is dedicated to her. Her drawings are a unique record of Camden’s past and deserve far greater recognition.

Peter Darley is Secretary of the Camden Railway Heritage Trust, which he founded in 2007.

As this is our Christmas meeting, the talk will be preceded by mince pies and wine/fruit juice from 7pm.

Price: Free to members. Non-members welcome (£1 at the door).