We are inclined to believe that a true interest in the past came in with late 19th century figures such as C R Ashbee and William Morris, but in fact a general perception of the nature of history and its different eras had been developing for some time. The Elizabethans' belief that they were separated from the Roman civilisation mainly by a vast tract of time known as The Dark Ages began to give way, in the 17th century, to a better-informed perception, when clever men got together and began to speak their minds. By the 18th century antiquarianism was becoming fashionable. This talk will show a few of the main participants, their creations and campaigns, and what we owe to the records they made of the vanishing past. 

Gillian Tindall is a Vice-President of Camden History Society, and has had a lifetime involvement in the history and growth of London.

Non-members welcome. This talk is preceded at 7.15pm by the Society's AGM (open to CHS members only).