Thursday 11 September
6pm – 8pm
Led by Dr Matthew Green,
historian, broadcaster and bestselling author
We will explore London's original coffeehouses in the City revealing how, from 1652, a disgustingly bitter black drink known as 'the soot-coloured ninny-broth' transformed the face of London, brought people together, and inspired brilliant ideas that made the modern world. Beginning around Cornhill by the sites of Lloyd's, Jonathan's and Garraway's and moving on to explore Fleet Street and Temple bringing to life the predominant coffeehouses of Legal London. Dr Matthew Green will be leading us and also giving us some insights into a secret diary written by a 23-year old law student (and coffee addict) from Hackney, Dudley Ryder, who studied to become a barrister at Middle Temple. The diary gives a remarkably vivid portrait of early eighteenth-century London when consequential legal developments were afoot: in it, he keeps his darkest desires, most ruthless ambitions and most suppressed fears. He arose to become Lord Chief Justice in the 1740s. A dish of 17th-century style coffee will be provided for every participant along with a cup of clairet — the lawyer's preferred drink in 18th-century London.
There will be a quiz at the end to win a signed copy of one of Matthew’s books - London: A Travel Guide through Time, Shadowlands: A Journey through Lost Britain .
£45 each for BACFI members and their guests, £55 others
Numbers are limited
Please contact events@bacfi.org to reserve your space.