Guildhall Library

Engraving of a mosaic pavement of the floor of a Roman general's home discovered in Lincolnshire. A red border and intricate patterns of red, white and blue squares inside.

Engraving of fragments of Roman floors at Fountains Abbey, York. Black, white and yellow tiles in grid and circular patterns.

Engraving of fragmented Roman paving depicting horses and chariots, various animals and scenes from Roman life and mythology. Beautiful intricate patterning. Discovered near Lincoln.

'Coloured engravings of mosaic pavements, stained glass windows…’ by artist William Fowler (1761-1832), published 1796-1809 (ST 417.7) a large-scale collection of striking engravings of mosaics, stained-glass windows, tiles and examples of Gothic architecture around England.

Title page of 'The Excellency of the Pen and Pencil...' (1668), opposite an image showing 4 examples of men using pens, pencils, engraving tools and brushes on different works.

Page showing images of hands close-up demonstrating how to sharpen a burin (an engraving tool) on a stone block.

A fold-out page showing a diagram of the progressive orders of ancient Roman columns. 5 columns shown in a row.

'The Excellency of the Pen and Pencil...' dated 1668 (BAY H 4.6 NO 39) A reader this week requested this unique guide for drawing, painting & engraving. With instruction on techniques in the formats for the best effect. Aimed at gentlemen 'and other Ingenious Spirits, either Artificers or others...'

'London's Lord have mercy upon us: a true relation of seven modern plagues...' - Humphrey Crouch, 1665. (AN 1.5.1) Main image shows London in the background in front of which are people are moving plague victims for burial. A skeleton stands in the middle with raised arms.

'London's Remembrancer: or, a true account of every particular weeks....' - John Bell, 1665. Title page with a grim border of human bones and shovels.

'God's Terrible Voice in the City...' - Thomas Vincent, 1668 (AN 15.2.32) Title page.

'Certain necessary directions....' by the Royal College of the Physicians of London, 1665.

Yesterday we held another Collections Focus talk this time by Senior Librarian Isabelle Chevallot about the Great Plague of 1665, which wiped out 100,000 people in the City of London. A variety of original sources and contemporary accounts were available to consult by a keen audience. 📜📖

Cover of the Daily Graphic newspaper 12th Nov 1918. 2 sepia photos dominate the page showing crowds and soldiers outside Buckingham Palace. The King and Queen are on the palace balcony.

The cover of the 'Daily Graphic' (ST. 1559-1563) from Tuesday 12th November, 1918 announces the end of the First World War. Crowds gathered at Buckingham Palace and all over London.

An invitation card to the Lord Mayor's Show from 1882 with elaborate Victorian decoration and lettering.

A new Lady Mayor of the City of London was celebrated this weekend in all its grandeur. A look into our collections at Guildhall Library has revealed this beautiful & elaborate Victorian invitation to the event from 1882 (S PAM 851)

Tomorrow is the Lady Mayor's show!

To celebrate we're showing a small snippet of 'A full and regulated panoramic view of the military procession of the Lord Mayor's Show' publish in 1865.

The images are woodcuts with black and coloured ink.

Poster for CERL event 'Your Library is Your Portrait' 5th December 2025 at Guildhall Library. Main picture shows a stained glass image of a green shoot growing from an open book.

We wanted to invite you to the second part of the 2025 annual CERL seminar: Your library is your portrait: Engaging with Founding Collections in the 21st century. The full programme: www.cerl.org/services/sem...
FREE to attend in person at Guildhall Library or online. Please email for details.

Our core collection covers London and its history. Below are some images from G.W. Bacon's '"Portable" Atlas of London & Suburbs', published in 1897 (shelf mark: AN 4.5.19).

Can you spot where Guildhall is? 👀

🎆 It's Bonfire Night🎆

To celebrate we're showing our copy of 'The second booke teaching most exactly, the composing of all manner of fire-works for tryumph and recreation' by John Bate, published in 1635 (shelf marl: S PAM 479).

#Onthisday in 1530, Henry VIII's chief minister, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, was arrested for high treason. Shortly after, Wolsey died while be transported to London for trial.

Below are images taken from 'The negotiations of Thomas Woolsey' published in 1641 (shelf mark: AN 2.1.12).

Since 1958, Guildhall Library has housed the Gresham Music Collection, which includes significant musical works.

Among them is an 1840 piano and vocal score of Gioacchino Rossini's opera Guglielmo Tell (Shelf mark: G MUS 170). The opera's 'March of the Swiss Soldiers' is frequently used in media.

Title page of pamphlet 'The impossibility of witchcraft : plainly proving from scripture and reason that there never was a witch; and that it is both irrational and impious to believe that there ever was in which the depositions against Jane Wenham, lately try’d and condemn’d for a witch at Hertford are confuted and exposed.' 1712

🎃Happy Halloween….🎃

‘The impossibility of witchcraft : plainly proving from scripture and reason that there never was a witch…’ from 1712 (PAM 1515) is about the case of Jane Wenham from Hertfordshire convicted of witchcraft. It argues against her conviction with theological & rational reasoning.

Remember, Remember - The Gunpowder Plot Over 400 years on we still celebrate the fact that the Gunpowder Plot failed.

🎇 Remember, Remember - the Gunpowder Plot 🎇

Tuesday 4th November, 2-3pm
Free ONLINE talk (In-person sold out)
Registration required.

Over 400 years on we still celebrate the fact that the Gunpowder Plot failed. With City of London Guide Jill Finch.
thegunpowderplottalk4nov.eventbrite.co.uk

Gold embossed image on brown of a cat at an easel painting a picture of the old lady Dame Wiggins.

Image of Dame Wiggins dancing with a farmer neighbour and her cats.

Cats going off to school with their books, Dame Wiggins is seeing them off.

Dame Wiggins dining with her cats at a cloth-covered table.

🐱To mark #nationalcatsday & the companionship of cats, this charming children’s tale of 1885 ‘Dame Wiggins of Lee’ by A Lady of Ninety (AN 19.1.15), ed. by John Ruskin, tells of an old lady who lives with her 7 cats. They help her with work & keep her good company. Illustrations by Kate Greenaway.🐾

Faraday (27th July, 1857) with his heavy glass that showed 'the action of magnetism on light'.

Faraday in his studio at the Royal Institution.

#OnThisDay in 1831, Michael Faraday demonstrated his pioneering invention, the electric generator. 'The Life and Letters of Faraday' (B:F 219) by Dr Bence Jones (1870) examines his life and work.⚡️

🥂 It's World Champagne Day 🥂

To celebrate we're show our copy of 'A history of champagne' by Henry Vizetelly, published in 1882 (shelf mark: WTC 1796).

Here our a glimpse of our collection relating to Black History to celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth!

Stacey Grimaldi's "A Suit of Armour for Youth" (1824) is an early example of a "moveable" book with flaps that could be lifted. We’re lucky enough to have a copy with all its moveable parts intact!

Each flap displays a knightly item, revealing virtues like loyalty and wisdom beneath.

On this day in 1805, the Royal Navy, led by Admiral Nelson, defeated the combined French and Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar—crushing Napoleon’s invasion hopes. The battle occurred west of Cape Trafalgar, Spain.

Below are images from Orme’s Graphic History of Nelson (GR 6.2.6).

🦥 Happy International Sloth Day!🦥

To celebrate we're showing this image of a sloth from 'A new dictionary of natural history' by William Frederick Martyn published in 1785 ( shelf mark: AN 14.3.13).

1425 - Off The Shelf! This is an art lover’s guide to 1425.

#FreeEvent on Wed 22 Oct, 2pm: "1425 - Off The Shelf!" talk by Louise Halfpenny, City of London Guide.

Tying in with Guildhall Library 600th anniversary, this is an art lover’s guide to 1425.

Booking is essential: (online & in-person)

offtheshelftalk.eventbrite.co.uk

#artlovers
#treasures

Examples of Victorian innovations in refrigeration are shown in ‘Ash’s Patent ‘Piston’ Freezing Machine and Wine Cooler….’ (PAM 9077) by George Simpson, 1863.

The device was a metal-lined wooden tub with cylinders and an agitator to mix crushed ice and 'freezing powders' to maintain the cold🍧🍦

Coventry Cathedral: Icon and Inspiration The extraordinary story of the rebuilding of Coventry Cathedral as a symbol of peace and reconciliation.

#FreeEvent on Thurs 16 Oct, 2pm: "Coventry Cathedral: Icon and Inspiration" talk by Alexandra Epps, Arts Society Lecturer.

Experience the work of many of the world-class artists associated with its treasures.

Please book via:
coventrycathedraltalk.eventbrite.co.uk
(online & in-person event)

Colour print of Westminster Hall interior emphasizing the wooden beam roof structure. From 'Microcosm of London' by R. Ackerman (1808-11?)

New blog! Read our new blog on Early London and Gothic Architecture: guildhalllibrarynewsletter.wordpress.com/2025/10/15/e...

Lee Miller Lee Miller went from being a sought-after artists’ model to being one of the most important photographers of the 20th century.

⭐️Lee Miller 📸⭐️

Thursday 23rd October - 2-3pm

Free online talk tickets available!

leemillertalk.eventbrite.co.uk

Title page of 'The Orchard' by Charles McIntosh showing the title and a colour illustration of soft fruits.

Colour plate of a Scarlet Nonpareil and a Golden Pippin apple.

'The Orchard: including management of wall and standard fruit trees...' (GC 2.1.) by Charles McIntosh, 1839 is a detailed horticultural guide to propagating and growing a wide range of fruit trees.

Illustrated front cover for the Miser of Shoreditch

Illustrated page from the Old House of West Street

Issue no 61 from martin's annals of cime

Illustrated page showing a ballet dancer from the Mysteries of the Court of London by George Reynolds.

This month’s Collection Focus talk was on our Penny Dreadfuls and Penny Bloods. From the best selling Mysteries of London by George Reynolds to The Romance of Reality of which we are thought to be the only library holding a copy. We'll be repeating this talk in our next events programme.

Plague Houses and Pandemics The Great Plague struck Stuart England in 1665.

#FreeEvent on Tues 14 Oct, 2pm: "Plague Houses and Pandemics" talk by Alison Wall, Health Visitor & Researcher.

Please book via:

plaguehousestalk.eventbrite.co.uk

(online & in-person event)

Exploring mid-20th Century Chinese cookbooks | Part 3: The 1980s In the second part of this blog series, we explored how Chinese cookbooks evolved in the 1970s, particularly in response to the economic crisis, through the lens of Cheap Chow: Chinese Cooking on a…

The final part of our blog series on mid-20th century Chinese cookbooks is now live!

Read here:
guildhalllibrarynewsletter.wordpress.com/2025/10/10/e...

📖 It's Banned Books Week 📖

It’s a week to celebrate books which have been challenged, banned, or silenced—and those who defend them.

To celebrate we're sharing our copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Shelfmark: B:D 645) which was banned in China and the United States.