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Summer Walking Tour: Benjamin Franklin’s 18th Century London

Discover the sights, sounds and smells of Benjamin Franklin’s 18th Century London in the re-launch of our walking tour! From famous thoroughfares to hidden streets, you’ll uncover a layer of London history and learn of its transformation over the last 200 years.

Starting at our doorstep, our expert guide will lead you around our local area to follow the steps Franklin would have taken whilst living and working here just prior to the American Revolution. As a witness to George III’s Coronation on September 22, 1761, we will also be retracing the steps that Ben might have taken on that fateful day!

Thursday 7th September 2023, 2.30pm.

Duration: 1.5 hours (approximate)

Location: Starting from 36 Craven Street.

Tickets: £12 per person

Book your tickets now!

 

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Franklin and Collinson: Sowing the Seeds of Revolution

The garden has long been associated with this green and pleasant land. But who knew it could also germinate transatlantic politics?! Our Graduate Researcher in Residence, Alice Hopkinson, presents this online lecture on Benjamin Franklin and Peter Collinson in celebration of Royal Horticultural Society’s National Gardening Week!

Peter Collinson was an accomplished merchant, eager botanist, and one of Benjamin Franklin’s closest friends and allies. What was once initially quite a formal and respectable relationship quickly devolved into something more personal once the two came to realise their personal similarities, as well as their shared ambitions and interests. Throughout his life Collinson outwardly projected a noticeable selflessness, and like Franklin, became deeply interested in the intellectual culture of the American Colonies- seeing great potential in his fellow academics that were beginning to find their feet and settle their own intellectual authority in the evolving American Enlightenment. As such, he became Franklin’s Library Company’s greatest asset and heavily lent himself to supporting Franklin’s scientific pursuits. 

Botany, both as a scientific discipline and hobby, was becoming increasingly popular in the eighteenth century and Collinson, as a merchant and a botanist, was one of the pioneers and instigators of a botany craze that shaped the state of British landscape gardening. By investing in his American colleagues and going to great lengths to promote the botanical prowess of the American Colonies, Collinson curated a reputation himself, and greatly contributed to a scientific correspondence exchange that would later lend itself to the minds of the American Revolution.

Despite his impressive list of achievements, Collinson was Franklin’s lesser known and less celebrated colleague. As such, this talk will acknowledge and give light to his often overlooked contributions, not only to Franklin’s career, but to botany, science and the promotion of American intellectualism as a whole. 

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Family Event: Easter!

Join us on Easter Monday to learn all about Easter in the 18th Century and create some egg-xcellent arts and crafts!

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Date/Time: Easter Monday 10th April 2023 1:30pm-3:00pm

This free family event will explore the history of Easter and how celebrations have evolved over time. We will learn how Benjamin Franklin might have celebrated the occasion in the 18th century as well as some of the popular Easter traditions from the period.

We will then gather in his famous Parlour to create some of our very own Easter decorations, cards and crafts.

If you are looking for a fun-filled family afternoon on Easter Monday, then pop along to Benjamin Franklin House! Recommended ages are 5-10, but all are welcome!

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Book Talk: ‘Poor Richard’s Women’ By Nancy Rubin Stuart

Join us this Women’s History Month as we talk to Nancy Rubin Stuart about her book ‘Poor Richard’s Women: Deborah Read Franklin and the Other Women Behind the Founding Father’, which reveals the long-neglected voices of the women Ben loved and lost during his lifelong struggle between passion and prudence. The most prominent among them was Deborah Read Franklin, his common-law wife and partner for 44 years. Long dismissed by historians, she was an independent, politically savvy woman and devoted wife who raised their children, managed his finances, and fought off angry mobs at gunpoint while he traipsed about England. Nancy also shines a light on Ben’s relationship with Margaret Stevenson, the widowed landlady of 36 Craven Street who managed Ben’s life in London alongside her daughter, Polly.

Weaving detailed historical research with emotional intensity and personal testimony, what emerges from Stuart’s pen is a colourful and poignant portrait of women in the age of revolution. Set two centuries before the rise of feminism, Poor Richard’s Women depicts the feisty, often-forgotten women dear to Ben’s heart who, despite obstacles, achieved an independence rarely enjoyed by their peers in that era.

Nancy Rubin Stuart is an award-winning author whose nonfiction books focus upon women and social history. These include the acclaimed POOR RICHARD’S WOMEN; Deborah Read Franklin and the Other Women Behind the Founding Father published by Beacon Press in March 2022. A paperback version follows in March 2023 in honour of Women’s History Month. Earlier books include DEFIANT BRIDES, named by the Wall Street Journal as one of the best books on Revolutionary-era women, THE MUSE OF THE REVOLUTION, and the best-selling AMERICAN EMPRESS.  Nancy’s journalistic work has appeared in the New York Times, Huffington Post, the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, the New England Quarterly and national magazines. She is the executive director of the Cape Cod Writers Center.

Connect with her at www.nancyrubinstuart.com.

Buy your copy of ‘Poor Richard’s Women’ here.

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Franklin’s Young Scientists: SOUND!

Franklin’s Young Scientists is our FREE science club for aspiring scientists in Key Stage 2/3 (ages 7-14). Participants learn all about the experiments carried out by Benjamin Franklin and his British friends as well as trying their hand at practical investigations. A range of core topics from the science curriculum are covered including electricity, forces, sound and the human body.

In this session, we will carry out some exciting experiments involving SOUND.

Our SOUND workshop will be taking place on Friday 21st February 2025 – 4:30pm-6:00pm

BOOK HERE

Where does sound come from? How is sound made? How does sound travel? How do we hear sound? These are some of the questions we will answer during the session using some interactive experiments to help consolidate learning.

Our Young Scientists will also get an exciting opportunity to learn all about Franklin’s fascinating Glass Armonica and even have a go at playing our replica in the House!

This is a FREE after-school workshop most suitable for KS2 and 3 pupils and anyone else with a keen interest in Science and History!

Please note: Parents are welcome to attend, however there is a cap of one adult per child during busier sessions.

BOOK HERE

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Family Event: Inside Benjamin Franklin’s House

Our first family event of 2023 will explore Benjamin Franklin House to uncover what life was like in 18th century London. We will learn about the history behind each room of this Grade-I listed Georgian townhouse to understand what would have been happening here over 250 years ago!

Inside Benjamin Franklin’s House will be taking place on Thursday 16th February – 11am-12:30pm

BOOK HERE

What did the Georgians have for dinner? In our Historic Kitchen, we will learn about 18th century food & drink and even read some rather interesting recipes from 1785… pickled eels and turnip wine, anyone?

How did the Georgians entertain themselves? On our first floor, we will discover how tourism and leisure activities began to boom in the 18th century with new and exciting forms of entertainment becoming popular across the country. From firework displays to travelling zoos, curiosity shops to waxwork museums – the Georgians really knew how to enjoy their spare time!

What was Benjamin Franklin’s daily routine? On our second floor, where Benjamin Franklin lived for 16 years, we will read his very own account of his day to day living. We will hear all about his morning routine, his fitness regime, and even his personal hygiene! After hearing some of his tips, you might think that the Georgians weren’t so gorgeous after all!

For the final half of the session, we will craft our very own Benjamin Franklin House and fill our rooms with beautiful 18th century decorations! Each attendee will be able to take their homemade houses home at the end of the session, or donate their creations to the museum for us to put on display!

This is a FREE family event. You must reserve tickets for all those attending the event (including adults). The recommended age for this event is 5-11, however, all ages are welcome!

BOOK HERE

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Franklin’s Young Scientists: FORCES!

Franklin’s Young Scientists is our FREE science club for aspiring scientists in Key Stage 2/3 (ages 10-14). Participants learn all about the experiments carried out by Benjamin Franklin and his British friends as well as trying their hand at practical investigations. A range of core topics from the science curriculum are covered including electricity, forces, sound and the human body.

Our Forces workshop will be taking place on Thursday 9th February 2023 – 5pm-6:30pm

BOOK HERE

In this session, we will carry out some exciting experiments involving air and water resistance. We will learn all about Franklin’s travels to the Lake District and the Netherlands and recreate some of his research into hydrodynamics.

The Young Scientists will test his famous oil on water experiment, which he carried out in the Lake District in 1772. They will explore the various forces involved in water and air resistance to support their learning in KS2/3 and apply these to a fun experiment at the end of the session. Each Scientist will be tasked with creating their very own parachute to experiment with air resistance and aerodynamics.

This is a FREE after-school workshop most suitable for Year 6-9 pupils and anyone else with a keen interest in Science and History! These workshops will run monthly with the next session occurring on 9th March.

Please note: Parents are welcome to attend, however there is a cap of one adult per child during busier sessions.

BOOK HERE

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Events Calendar 2023

To view all upcoming events for the year, please check out our Event’s Calendar via the button below!

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Franklin’s Young Scientists: ELECTRICITY!

Franklin’s Young Scientists is our FREE science club for aspiring scientists in Key Stage 2/3 (ages 10-14). Participants learn all about the experiments carried out by Benjamin Franklin and his British friends as well as trying their hand at practical investigations. A range of core topics from the science curriculum are covered including electricity, forces, sound and the human body.

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In this session, we will carry out some exciting experiments with static electricity in our Student Science Centre and learn all about Franklin’s Key and Kite.

The Young Scientists will create sparks with our Wimshurst Machine, see their hair stand on end with our Van Der Graff Generator and watch 250,000 volts of electricity strike our miniature key and kite with out Tesla Coil!

This is a FREE after-school workshop most suitable for Year 6-9 pupils and anyone else with a keen interest in Science and History! These workshops will run monthly with the next session occurring on 16th February.

Please note: Parents are welcome to attend, however there is a cap of one adult per child during busier sessions.

BOOK NOW

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Ben’s Birthday and the House’s Anniversary Bash!

You’d have the Custom broke, you say,
That marks with festive Mirth your natal Day;
“Because as one grows old,
One cares not to be told,
How many of one’s Years have pass’d away.”  – 1767

Celebrate Ben’s 317th birthday and the House’s 17th anniversary of being open to the public:

  • An after-hours tour of the Home Benjamin Franklin knew and loved
  • Hear fun facts about 18th century birthday celebrations
  • Learn how to play Happy Birthday on his Glass Armorica
  • A slice (or two) of birthday cake in his parlour

Party hats strongly encouraged!

Tour starts at 5pm. Limited capacity with timed entry. A toast to the man will follow the tour!

Tuesday 17 January.
Tour at 5pm. A toast to the man will follow! Limited capacity with timed entry. Book now to secure the date and tour time of your choice.

£15 per person (plus booking fee), refreshments included.