The Grosvenor Museum Society’s Special Lecture Tuesday 2nd September 2025
Bendor Grosvenor
The Invention of British Art
SOLD OUT
Last autumn, Bendor Grosvenor published his new study of British art from the neolithic era to the mid-19th century. Looking at key moments, objects, and individuals from each era, it explores how they were shaped by the world in which the artists lived, and why – above all – it took so long for the art from these isles to actually become ‘British’. From folk art to the role of female artists, from the influences of invaders to the territories of the British Empire, the story of British art is just as much a story of Britain’s place in the world, and its impact upon it, as the art and artists themselves.
The new assessment was very well received: ‘Inventive, profound, fabulously quirky, Bendor Grosvenor’s journey to the heart of British art takes him in directions that have never previously been trodden … A triumph.’ Waldemar Januszczak, art critic for The Sunday Times.
Bendor Grosvenor is an art historian specialising in Old Masters and British art. Best known from the BBC series Britain’s Lost Masterpieces and Fake or Fortune?, he has discovered a number of important paintings by prominent artists including Van Dyck, Rubens, Titian, Gainsborough, Beale and Lawrence. He previously worked in the London art trade, and is now based in Scotland. He is a regular columnist for ‘The Art Newspaper’ and has discussed ‘The Invention of British Art’ on BBC Radio 4.
- We are now selling priority tickets to members and supporters.
- Tickets are £10 (£11.00 by post). SOLD OUT
- Tickets include a welcome glass of wine or juice
For tickets please either email your request to info@grosvenormueumsociety.co.uk. When we receive your request we will send details of payment and ticket delivery.
We do hope that you will be join us for what promises to be a very special evening.
Tuesday 9th September at 7.30 pm
Barry Cave - A Detective’s Lot
Barry Cave’s career has taken him in many directions, from treading the boards to Freeman of The City of London, JP and lecturing on cruise ships. In between, he served in the Metropolitan Police’s Special Branch and CID. Barry is a natural storyteller, and he returns to give his vivid insights into his ‘life of crime’ with the Met, recalling his times with offenders, colleagues and victims.
Tuesday 14th October at 7.30 pm
Celia Drew - John Summers - a rise from Rags to Riches
Have you walked along the Dee Estuary path at Connah’s Quay and wondered about the story behind the imposing five storey office building of Ruabon brick and tile opposite Harwarden Bridge Station? This was the head office of John Summers and Sons, the steel company started by Bolton-born shoemaker John Summers. In 1851, Summers visited The Great Exhibition and bought a nail making machine. From this beginning grew one of the British Empire’s largest iron and steel companies. Flintshire historian Celia Drew will introduce us to the man behind the business.
Tuesday 11th November at 7.30 pm
Ken Pye - A Nest of Crows
Cestrians are often guilty of overlooking Liverpool’s place in the English Civil War. The city was the site of major battles, sieges and the destruction of Liverpool Castle and great loss of life. The castle and town were besieged and captured three times between 1643- 1644, twice by the New Model Army and once by Royalists, including Prince Rupert (complete with dog and monkey) and his army of over 10,000. Ken Pye will use his unrivalled knowledge of Liverpool to make sure we cannot ignore this history any longer!
Thursday 4th December at 7.30pm
Seasonal Social Evening and Concert with Duo Aerius
Join us for our December social evening with Duo Aerius. Christopher Karwacinski, violin, and Christopher Godhard, guitar, are professional musicians from The Royal Northern College of Music embarking on their performing and teaching careers. They will play their own arrangements of well-known pieces of music as well as solo pieces, including ‘Lark Ascending’ and from ‘Concerto de Aranjuez’.
SPECIAL LECTURE
16th December at 7.00pm(NB earlier start time)
Alexander Mariotti - Gladiators: from Fact to Fiction, from Myth to Movies
Alexander Mariotti is a Roman historian and widely recognised as one of the world’s leading authorities on gladiatorial history, combat, and weaponry. He has served as a historical consultant on numerous major productions, including Ridley Scott’s epic Gladiator 2, and has advised some of the world’s most prominent celebrities and public figures. Alexander will inform us about the real lives of Roman gladiators.
2026
Tuesday 13th January 2.30pm
Judith Beastall - Women in the Great War
By the armistice of 1918, lives of women in Britain had changed fundamentally. Judith Beastall is a local historian from Bromborough with a special interest in World War One. Her talk examines the many different tasks and jobs undertaken by women through the war both on the home front and at work on the Western Front and further afield. The talk will be informed by Judith’s research into lives of local women giving an appreciation of their lives in war and afterwards.
Tuesday 10th February at 2.30pm
David Hearn - The First Mersey Road Tunnel
The Queensway Tunnel from Liverpool to Birkenhead was a masterpiece of engineering which was hailed as the 8th Wonder of the World when completed in 1934. Hear of this great venture from inception to the royal opening. David’s special interest is the history of Merseyside. He skilfully brings his subjects to life with insights, anecdotes and intriguing photographs.
Tuesday 10th March at 7.30 pm
Mike Royden - Titanic Survivors
The precise number of passengers and crew that survived the sinking of the Titanic is unknown but thought to be 712 people. Millvina Dean was the youngest, aged just 2 months when rescued from the disaster. She was the last survivor when she died in 2009, aged 97.
Mike Royden has a particular interest in maritime history – his lecture will reveal many details about the survivors and how their lives were affected by the tragedy. Mike has previously given us a splendid talk on the Lusitania disaster.
Tuesday 14th April at 7.30 pm
Rina Tillinger - Overpaid, Oversexed and Over Here.
GIs in Britain and My Father’s Wartime Experiences. The title says it all! Learn more about the arrival of GIs, how locals greeted them and the legacy of US troops in the UK.
Tuesday 12th May at 7.30 pm
Peter and Gillian Bolt - A history of Saughall Massie
The village of Saughall Massie lies at the foot of the Wirral and today it is peacefully sheltered from 21st century traffic by local by-passes. Its origins potentially stretch back 5000 years to the early bronze age. In the 18th century it was home to murderous wreckers who lured passing vessels onto the mudflats. It is the site of Thomas Brassey’s first civil engineering project.
Gillian and Peter Bolt are great supporters of Saughall Massie’s conservation society and will lead us through the history of this village.