London is a place quite unique for a world city made up of lots and lots of very successful small urban ‘villages’, and Smithfield is very much one of these. Closing of the Smithfield meat market and the uncertain future that brings this immediate area of London. This icon really is a part of our sense of Belonging, just as Cloth Fair, St. Barts hospital and churches and even the coming of the Museum of London are too and very deeply really.

At various stages of history each has faced discontinuity in “belonging” and yet each has adapted and adopted a renewed sense of belonging – Cloth Fair is still a commercial thoroughfare, if now more focused on hospitality (pubs and restaurants) than cloth; St Bartholomew is still a centre of Christian mission and ministry; its former mission hospital is still a hospital with a medical mission of great importance to its local community and much of London; Smithfield Market metamorphoses (in part) to the London Museum, thus potentially belonging to a much wider “ownership” than previously.

Theis talk will focus on how architecture affects our senses, and what it is that we cling to in terms of architectural language and style - modern, traditional or post-modern and interpretative like Founders’ Hall itself - to give us pride, purpose, security and indeed that essential sense of Belonging that we all need.

This talk follows the our guided walk along Cloth Fair - see other listing!