London & Middlesex Archaeological Society

12/06/2026

A lot of people have views about tall buildings in London. LAMAS's Historic Buildings and Conservation Committee's aim is not to suffocate development, but to ensure it is appropriate and balanced to protect the unique heritage of London for generations to come. The sighting and impact of tall buildings across London is one key element.

Read the views of two experts on the Committee via the link below:

https://www.lamas.org.uk/who-wants-tall-buildings/

02/06/2026

Did you know that there are over 40 local history and archaeology societies across Greater London that are affiliated to LAMAS? Each has its own schedule of talks and events. It's easy to locate your nearest and join up!

Our new web page lists contact details for each along with their activities between May and September.

Why don't you check it out?

https://www.lamas.org.uk/history-and-archaeology-society-talks-and-events-across-london-may-sept/

A list of meetings, talks and events held by LAMAS affiliated local history and archaeology societies across Greater London in the next quarter

28/05/2026

Exciting news! The programme for our 2026 History Conference 'An Intelligent Interest – Learning and Education in London' at London Museum Docklands on Saturday 21 November has just been confirmed!

We have assembled a fantastic programme of speakers covering a wide and varied range of topics:

* Publicly funded education in endowed London secondary schools leading up to the First World War and its role in facilitating social mobility (Dr Andrew Whittaker)
* Life Opportunities provided through secondary education in Tower Hamlets between the Wars (Robert Kemp)
* Keynote: The Social Wreckage in our Streets: The Deptford Ragged School and its surrounding neighbourhood (Dr John Price)
* Designing Pinnock’s Catechisms, 1812-1828, a popular schoolbook and juvenile encyclopaedia (Margaret Lock)
* Educating Pinner: The History of Pinner National Schools (Pinner Local History Society)
* Learning to Resist: Black Supplementary Schools in London (Jo Large)
* The London housewife at the turn of the twentieth century; learning from everyday life, familial connections, and the Electrical Association for Women (Lucy Wood)

You can now buy tickets on our website at the early bird rate of £17.50. See the link below for further details! We look forward to seeing you there...

https://www.lamas.org.uk/lamas-60th-history-conference-programme-and-registration-announced/

18/05/2026

A fitting way to end our 2025-26 Lecture Series - it was fascinating to hear Diane Abrams, Archaeology Lead, Houses of Parliament Restoration and Renewal, speak about the history and archaeology of the Palace of Westminster.

We learnt about the earliest origins of the site, a small eyot surrounded by streams 6,000 years ago, from 60 flint flakes found beneath Cromwell Green. Diane showed us below ground structures of The Lesser Hall from the medieval Old Palace of Westminster, and also artefacts left behind from the building of the New Palace of Westminster from 1840, on reclaimed land. Excavations in Victoria Tower Gardens revealed a C14th floor tile, lead badge, shoes, animal bones and oyster shells 6 metres below current ground level.

Many thanks to Diane and all our speakers in this lecture series. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements for our 'LAMAS Lates' - evening archaeological and historical walks around London this summer!

11/05/2026

A final reminder about tomorrow's final lecture! Archaeology at the Palace of Westminster, given by Diane Abrams, Archaeology Lead, Houses of Parliament Restoration and Renewal. 1830, 75 Cowcross Street, Farringdon.

To book in person:

https://www.lamas.org.uk/product/archaeology-at-the-palace-of-westminster/

To book online:

https://www.lamas.org.uk/product/archaeology-at-the-palace-of-westminster-online/

Join us for our last lecture of the 2025-26 series on the fascinating subject of Archaeology at the Palace of Westminster! This will be held at Gallery, 75 Cowcross Street, Farringdon at 1830 on Tuesday 12th May.

Diane Abrams, Archaeology Lead, Houses of Parliament Restoration and Renewal, will focus on the history and archaeology of the Palace of Westminster. Learn about the approaches taken to understanding archaeological significance and survival across the site to inform future design and management on this major programme, while also enhancing existing research on this part of the World Heritage Site.

For in-person tickets see this link:

https://www.lamas.org.uk/product/archaeology-at-the-palace-of-westminster/

For online tickets use this link:

https://www.lamas.org.uk/product/archaeology-at-the-palace-of-westminster-online/

We look forward to seeing you there!

01/05/2026

Join us for our last lecture of the 2025-26 series on the fascinating subject of Archaeology at the Palace of Westminster! This will be held at Gallery, 75 Cowcross Street, Farringdon at 1830 on Tuesday 12th May.

Diane Abrams, Archaeology Lead, Houses of Parliament Restoration and Renewal, will focus on the history and archaeology of the Palace of Westminster. Learn about the approaches taken to understanding archaeological significance and survival across the site to inform future design and management on this major programme, while also enhancing existing research on this part of the World Heritage Site.

For in-person tickets see this link:

https://www.lamas.org.uk/product/archaeology-at-the-palace-of-westminster/

For online tickets use this link:

https://www.lamas.org.uk/product/archaeology-at-the-palace-of-westminster-online/

We look forward to seeing you there!

27/04/2026

LAMAS has responded to the City of London's Celebrating Heritage Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). We support the principle of an SPD but have concerns regarding fit with existing policies, legislation and guidance, as well as new terms introduced. See our blog post, and full response here:

https://www.lamas.org.uk/lamas-responds-to-citys-planning-guidance-for-heritage-assets/

LAMAS Responds to City of London’s New Heritage Supplementary Planning Document

20/04/2026

A great lecture last week from Nathalie Cohen, archaeologist at the NNational Trustabout their Greater London portfolio of properties, of which there are many!

Two points to highlight - first, there is potential for further archaeological investigations across some of these sites, to aid further understanding of them. Secondly, the National Trust has now created its own database, a resource which holds information on over 97,717 archaeological sites and historic buildings situated upon, or adjacent to, National Trust owned land. A valuable resource. It can be found here:

https://heritagerecords.nationaltrust.org.uk/home

Our final lecture of the series will be on Tuesday 12th May on Archaeology at the Palace of Westminster.

15/04/2026

London and Middlesex Archaeological Society (LAMAS) has written to Sir Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, to request him to refuse the planning applications for Liverpool Street Station using powers under article 6 of the Town and Country Planning (Mayor of London) Order 2008.

For more details of our letter, its rationale and details of how to object to the current scheme please see the post below on our website. This post also includes other articles we have written regarding the redevelopment of Liverpool Street Station.

The London and Middlesex Archaeological Society (LAMAS) promotes London’s archaeology, local history, and historic buildings. The proposed redevelopment proposals mean substantial harm would be caused to (a) the setting of the Grade II* listed former Great Eastern Hotel and Liverpool Street Station, and (b) the setting of the Bishopsgate Conservation Area as a whole, which is generally an area of low-rise buildings.

On Monday 13 April the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society (LAMAS) wrote to Sir Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, to request him to refuse the planning

10/04/2026

A reminder for next week!

The next lecture in our series is on Tuesday 14th April 1830 at the 77 Cowcross Street Farringdon, and online. Nathalie Cohen will talk about some of the National Trust properties in the Greater London area, across 15 boroughs. She will discuss the wide variety of archaeological sites cared for, from grand mansions such as Osterley and Ham House, to landscapes and parklands, plus some of the smaller properties and curiosities, like the Strand Lane Roman Bath.

It promises to be a fascinating talk - both members and non-members welcome! To book tickets in person use this link:

https://www.lamas.org.uk/product/national-trust-archaeology-in-london-and-middlesex/

For online, use this link:

https://www.lamas.org.uk/product/national-trust-archaeology-in-london-and-middlesex-online/