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Virtual Talk: A Day in the Life of Benjamin Franklin

Thursday 7th July 2022 – 5pm BST/12pm ET

Join our Education Manager, Henry Wilkinson, as he discusses what could have been a day in the life of Benjamin Franklin whilst he resided here at 36 Craven Street over 250 years ago!

Follow in Franklin’s footsteps to unlock the secrets of success and happiness in the 18th Century. You will explore his ‘thirteen virtues’ and gain the perfect template for an orderly life, in Franklin’s own words.

From his morning routine, you’ll learn how to start the day right and pick up some excellent tips on cleanliness and healthy living, Georgian style. You also will broaden your palette to get a taste for Georgian cuisine as we explore the food and drink that was cooked up in our historic kitchen.

The talk will last roughly 1 hour and is FREE. To secure a slot, please register for the webinar here.

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Virtual Talk: The Limits of Diplomacy

Join us as Benjamin Franklin House Director, Dr Marcia Balisciano, will discuss Benjamin Franklin and the limits of diplomacy.

Even though Franklin worked tirelessly to avoid war between the UK and the American colonies, he was ultimately unsuccessful. Dr Balisciano will explore the reasons why diplomacy is not always successful and draw parallels to current events.

April 25, 5pm BST/12pm ET.

Register here.

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Franklin’s Young Inventors Science Club: Sound

Saturday 21 May, 10:30am-11.30am. Register here to attend in-person.

Join our science club at Benjamin Franklin House, the London home of the famous Founding Father of the United States who was also a scientist and inventor. You will learn about the experiments carried out by Benjamin Franklin and his British friends as well as trying your hand at practical investigations. This week we will be exploring the core physics topic of sound.

Most suitable for Years 7-9 (ages 11-14) but all ages welcome! Franklin’s Young Inventors is free to attend but booking is essential.

Parents are welcome to join, however, if you would prefer to drop off and pick up your child(ren) we will ask you to sign a permission form when you arrive.

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Family Event: Dress Like a Georgian!

Tuesday 26th July 2022 at (11am-12pm) & (1:30pm-2:30pm)

In this Family Event, explore the fashion and style of Georgian London. Join Polly, resident of 36 Craven Street during Benjamin Franklin’s time in the house as she guides you through the history of the House and the proper attire to wear inside it!

Interactive activities will explore the different dress codes of the day with an opportunity for children to make their own Georgian hat!

Most suitable for ages 5-11, but all are welcome!

If you would like to attend the Morning Session (11am-12pm) tickets are FREE and can be booked here!

If you would like to attend the Afternoon Session (1:30pm-2:30pm) tickets are FREE and can be booked here!

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Family Event: Inside Benjamin Franklin’s Georgian House!

Tuesday 31st May 2022 – (11am-12pm) & (1:30pm-2:30pm)

This Family Event is designed to introduce children (KS1-3) to Georgian architecture, design, and history as we explore the preserved rooms of Benjamin Franklin House.

We will begin with an interactive tour of 36 Craven Street that explores how each room would have been used almost 300 years ago! In the second half of the session, families will create their very own Georgian home in an arts and crafts workshop that builds on the knowledge gained during the initial tour.

Recommended ages are 7-11 – but everyone is welcome!

Due to popular demand, there are now two sessions available for booking;

If you would like to attend the Morning Session (11am-12pm) tickets are FREE and can be booked here!

If you would like to attend the Afternoon Session (1:30pm-2:30pm) tickets are FREE and can be booked here!

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Georgian Easter Celebration!

Join us for Easter-themed crafts and games. Take part in a special Easter egg hunt inspired by Benjamin Franklin’s inventions and scientific work.

Create an Easter card, decorate eggs and make Georgian Easter bonnets!

Tuesday 5th April 12.30pm-14.30pm.

Suitable for children aged 5-11.

Book a ticket now! Tickets can be found here.

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Ben’s Book Club: ‘The Gun, the Ship & the Pen’ by Linda Colley

Wednesday May 18 2022, 5pm BST/12pm ET. Register here.  

Join us for the May 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 Linda Colley about her book ‘The Gun, the Ship & the Pen: Warfare, Constitutions and the Making of the Modern World.’ Starting with the Corsican constitution of 1755, the book moves through every continent, disrupting accepted narratives and demonstrating how constitutions evolved in tandem with warfare, how they have functioned to advance empire as well as promote nations, and worked to exclude as well as liberate. 

Whether reinterpreting Japan’s momentous 1889 constitution, or exploring the significance of the first constitution to enfranchise all adult women on Pitcairn Island in the Pacific in 1838, this is one of the most original global histories in decades. 

Linda Colley is an expert on British, imperial and global history since 1700. She is currently Shelby M. C. Davis 1958 Professor of History at Princeton University and a Long-Term Fellow in History at the Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study in Uppsala. She previously held chairs at Yale University and at the London School of Economics. 

Buy ‘The Gun, the Ship & the Pen’ here. 

 Join us even if you don’t have a chance to read the book by the event date!  

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

 

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Ben’s Book Club: ‘Slave Empire’ by Padraic X. Scanlan

Wednesday February 23 2022, 5pm GMT/12pm ET. Register here.  

Join us for the February 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 Padraic X. Scanlan about his book ‘Slave Empire: How Slavery Built Modern Britain,’ which puts enslaved people at the centre the British empire in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. 

In intimate, human detail, the chapters show how British imperial power and industrial capitalism were inextricable from plantation slavery. With vivid original research and careful synthesis of innovative historical scholarship, Slave Empire shows that British freedom and British slavery were made together. 

Dr Padraic X. Scanlan is Assistant Professor in the Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources and the Centre for Diaspora & Transnational Studies at the University of Toronto and a Research Associate at the Joint Centre for History and Economics at the University of Cambridge. He has also held appointments at the London School of Economics and Harvard University. 

Buy your copy of ‘Slave Empire’ here. 

Join us even if you don’t have a chance to read the book by the event date!  

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

 

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Family Day: Children’s Christmas Fair

Saturday 11 December, 10am-11.30am. Book your free tickets here.

We’ve teamed up with friends from across the heritage world to bring a range of fun festive craft ideas to you this December! Create paper wreaths and Christmas cards with Benjamin Franklin House. Make your own angel decorations with Arts & Crafts Hammersmith (William Morris Society and Emery Walker House) and construct a snow globe with Newington Green Meeting House. There’ll be festive snacks and we’ll also play some Christmas tunes on the glass armonica, a musical instrument invented by Benjamin Franklin while he lived in London!

Most suitable for ages 5-11.

COVID-19 Safety Precautions:

  • We are limiting bookings to 30 people so please book a ticket for each adult and child in your group
  • We will be managing the flow of people throughout the morning to ensure that there are only ever 10 visitors on each floor
  • Activities will take place in a well-ventilated historic space with hand sanitiser and sanitising wipes available
  • All staff and adult visitors are encouraged to wear a face covering

For further details, please contact our Education Manager.

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Thanksgiving at Benjamin Franklin House

25 November 2021, 12pm-5pm

It’s time to give thanks! Join us for this important American holiday and celebrate with a tour of Benjamin Franklin’s London home followed by pumpkin pie and a Thanksgiving Quiz in his parlour! Franklin, in addition to suggesting the turkey become one of America’s national symbols, practised cooking it as part of his early work on electricity.

Join us for tours at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3.15pm, and 4.15pm to see this historic place and to enjoy all the festivities!

Tickets are £10/per person plus online booking fee, refreshments included.

Purchase tickets via Eventbrite here.