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Family Event: Halloween

Trick or treat! Join us on Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th October at Benjamin Franklin House for a fun-filled morning as we explore the history of America’s spookiest holiday and craft some terrifyingly good decorations to take home!

Discover where Halloween comes from and why we celebrate it! Ever wonder why we carve pumpkins, dress up in scary costumes, and eat lots of candy? You’ll learn the answers to these questions and more as we uncover the mysteries behind this frightfully fun festival!

Create your very own Halloween-themed decorations to take home and decoration your coffins with. Glue sticks at the ready! There will be lots of arts and crafts happening throughout the session. Make your very own Halloween card, a garland of ghosts to hang from your rafters, and a wickedly wonderful witch ornament for your window.

This event is most suitable for families with kids ages 5-12. However, everyone is welcome dead or alive! This a FREE event, but donations are most welcome.

Event Times

WEDNESDAY 26th

11am-12:30pm – SOLD OUT

1:30pm-3pm – SOLD OUT

THURSDAY 27th

11am-12:30pm – SOLD OUT

Book Tickets HERE

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After Dark: The Cadavers of Craven Street

Thursday 27 October 2022, from 5pm.

Are you ready to explore the darker side of Benjamin Franklin House?!  Join us for an after-hours tour this Halloween to hear of haunted happenings at our Historic House.

  • See Benjamin Franklin House transformed for the occasion and experience a eerie evening in an original Georgian home
  • Hear the spine-chilling stories of the cadavers that were found in our basement
  • Immerse yourself in our small and spooky candle-lit rooms
  • Listen to the haunting tones of Franklin’s Glass Armonica

There might even be some tasty treats (or tricks) along the way…

Your history-lovers Halloween starts here! Limited capacity with timed entry. Book now to secure the tour time of your choice.

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

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Children’s Summer Fair 2022

This year, Benjamin Franklin House is collaborating with the William Morris Society and Fulham Palace for an exciting Children’s Summer Fair to end the Summer Holidays!

Join us on Saturday 27th August for an exiting day of family friendly activities.

Get stuck in with the range of activities on offer:

  • The William Morris Society will be getting inspired by our latest exhibition on May Morris by recreating her Orange Tree in 3D form and creating beautiful tissue paper flowers.
  • Benjamin Franklin House will be exploring letters from the past with the chance to write your own 18th century letters using quills, ink and parchment!
  • Fulham Palace will be bringing along some mystery objects from the past. Get curious and guess what they are, who used them, and when and where you think they come from. Complete with a chance to get into costume!

The event will be taking place at The William Morris Society, 26 Upper Mall, London, W6 9TA and is FREE! Although we do request that you book tickets to secure a place as there are limited slots available. You can book your tickets here.

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Virtual Talk: Benjamin Franklin and Popular Culture

Thursday 1st September 2022 – 5pm BST/12pm ET

Join our Front of House and Marketing Supervisor, Jessica Eykel, as she explores why and how Franklin has endured within the popular imagination since his death in 1790.

She’ll also attempt to answer that one question on everyone’s mind … ‘where on earth is Franklin in Hamilton?!’

 

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Family Event: Portrait Perfect

Strike a pose! Discover the secrets of portraiture and explore the hidden messages behind some of the most famous paintings in the world! In this session we will look at some of the most famous portraits of Benjamin Franklin to uncover the stories they tell us about his fascinating life.

About this event

Explore the home of one of the most famous figure from American history, Benjamin Franklin, who lived in London for almost 16 years! Inside you will get a feel for 18th century London and find the perfect backdrop for your very own portrait!

Examine the interesting details hidden throughout some of the most famous paintings in the world as well as those featuring Benjamin Franklin himself!

Create a fantastic Georgian portrait of yourself and fill it with your very own hidden meanings and messages!

This is an event for KS2-3 school children and our recommended age is 7-13. Accompanying adults welcome. There are two opportunities to join us for this event; come along on either 30th or 31st August for our fourth and final week of Summer Break @ Ben’s House!

Book Tickets

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Family Event: Bones in the Basement!

Uncover the truth behind the bones that were found buried in the basement of Benjamin Franklin House and learn all about Georgian medicine!

About this event

Explore the home of one of the most famous figure from American history, Benjamin Franklin, who lived in London for almost 16 years! Inside you will get a feel for 18th century London as well as the secret location of an undercover anatomy school!

Unearth the secrets of 36 Craven Street. Why are there bones in the basement? How did they get there? Who were they? We will explore the history of the undercover anatomy school that operated in the house whilst Franklin remained in residence!

Create your very own model of a human skeleton as we learn all about the anatomy and explore medicine in the 18th century.

This is an event for KS2-3 school children and our recommended age is 7-13. Accompanying adults welcome. There are two opportunities to join us for this event; come along on either 23rd or 24th August for our third week of Summer Break @ Ben’s!

Book Tickets

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Family Event: Letters From the Past

Quills at the ready! Join us as we learn about Benjamin Franklin’s literary success as a famous writer and printer in the 18th century. Join our letter writing workshop and experience writing with quills, ink and parchment!

About this event

Explore the home of one of the most famous figure from American history, Benjamin Franklin, who lived in London for almost 16 years! Inside you will get a feel for 18th century London as well as the rooms where Franklin wrote some of his most famous letters.

Learn all about Benjamin Franklin’s life as a successful printer, author and the first US Postmaster General! You will even get a chance to see one of Benjamin Franklin’s handwritten letters up close!

Create your very own letter from the 18th century as we roll up our sleeves for some good old fashioned tea staining! Write a letter using your freshly made parchment using our quills and ink pots!

This is an event for KS2 school children and our recommended age is 7-11. Accompanying adults welcome. There are two opportunities to join us for this event; come along on either 9th or 10th August for our second week of Summer Break @ Ben’s!

9th & 10th August 2022, 10:30am-12:30pm

Book Tickets

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Family Event: Let’s Go Fly a Kite!

Discover the true nature of lightning at Benjamin Franklin House as we recreate one of the world’s most famous science experiments!

About this event

Explore the home of one of the most famous figure from American history, Benjamin Franklin, who lived in London for almost 16 years! Inside you will get a feel for 18th century London as well as the rooms where Franklin conducted much of his scientific research.

Watch an electrifying demonstration from our Education Manager who will recreate Franklin’s famous kite experiment. Our Tesla Coil will send 250,000 volts zapping through the room, you wont want to miss it!

Create your very own kite and put on your lab coat as we unpick the science behind Franklin’s experiments with lightning and electricity.

This is an event for KS2 school children and our recommended age is 7-11. Accompanying adults welcome. There are two opportunities to join us for this event; come along on either 2nd or 3rd August for our first week of Summer Break @ Ben’s!

2nd & 3rd August 2022, 10:30am-12:30pm

Book Tickets

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

Thursday 03 August 2023, 3pm. 

Discover the sights, sounds and smells of Benjamin Franklin’s 18th Century London in our brand-new summer walking tour!

Starting at our doorstep, our expert guide will lead you around our local area to retrace the steps Franklin would have taken whilst living and working here just prior to the American Revolution.

From famous thoroughfares to hidden streets, you’ll uncover a layer of London history and learn of its transformation over the last 200 years.

Duration: 1.5 hours (approximate)

Location: Starting from 36 Craven Street.

Tickets: £12 per person

BOOK HERE

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Ben’s Book Club: ‘Benjamin Franklin’s Last Bet’ By Michael Meyer

Wednesday August 10, 2022, 5pm BST/12pm ET. Register here.

Join us for the August instalment of Ben’s Book Club, a quarterly virtual gathering looking at themes relating to Benjamin Franklin, the 18th century, and American history.

This month we will be talking to Michael Meyer about his latest book ‘Benjamin Franklin’s Last Bet’ which tracks the use and abuse of Benjamin Franklin’s two-thousand-pound parting gift to the working classes of Boston and Philadelphia. Through a critical lens, charting the fund alongside the history of America itself, Michael shows how the money is still in use today and offers us an inspiring blueprint for prosperity in our modern era of growing wealth disparity and social divisions.

Michael Meyer is a Professor or English at University of Pittsburgh and author of many acclaimed nonfiction books that focus on the history of China. He arrived in China in 1995, where he lived and worked for many notable journals such as ‘The New York Times’ ‘Chicago Tribune’ and ‘This American Life’. He has taught Literary Journalism at Hong Kong University and is currently a member of the National Committee on United States-China Relations.

Buy your copy of ‘Benjamin Franklin’s Last Bet’ here.

This event is free of charge but please consider making an online donation here to support the work of Benjamin Franklin House.