A Look at Liverpool Street Station (1874-1977)
Through original nineteenth and twentieth-century maps, photographs, and press cuttings you’ll ‘meet’ characters with a connection to the station, among them a platform announcer, multiple fare dodgers, petty criminals, commuters, and a celebrity belly dancer. Political ephemera from Bishopsgate Institute’s special collections then introduces the successful campaign to save the iconic structure from controversial redevelopment in the 1970s.
Who is this course for?
- Informal learners seeking an enjoyable introduction to the social history of Liverpool Street Station (1874-1977)
- Conservationists curious to see which campaigning methods have worked in the face of redevelopment threats in the past
- People new to the City, wishing to familiarise themselves with the history of one of its landmark locations
- History lovers keen to spend an evening immersed in original historical sources such as photographs, pamphlets, press cuttings, and guidebooks
What can I expect?
- The subject is examined through 100+ original items from Bishopsgate Institute’s special collections, many of them rare and some unique
- The tutor provides an overview of the items
- A set of questions is shared to focus and support the research process
- Students handle and view the items, which have been arranged in curated sets representing different themes relevant to the history of Liverpool Street Station
- Students spend time with each set of items, with the tutor on hand to give guidance and answer questions
- A timeline handout provides historical background and context
- A closing discussion session offers an enjoyable opportunity to share findings and reflect on the research process
Will I need any equipment or materials?
We will be looking at written texts during the session. Make sure to bring reading glasses if worn.
Super interesting and a completely new perspective resulting from thorough research by the tutor.
Image: London Collections
Need to Know
You will learn
- Richly-detailed human stories taken from published and unpublished sources produced between the 1870s and the 1970s.
- Unique insight into the men, women, and children who have passed through Liverpool Street Station and its immediate environs during our period
- Information on how changing technologies have had an impact on life at the station
- The joys and challenges of reconstructing the past using original historical materials
Meet the Tutor
Dr Michelle Johansen
Dr Michelle Johansen is a social historian specialising in the history of modern London, with a particular emphasis on social class and mobility, gender, professional lives, and regional identities. Her publications include articles in Teaching History, the London Journal, and Cultural and Social History. Michelle has more than ten years' experience of delivering learning sessions at Bishopsgate Institute for all types of learners, from primary school pupils to undergraduates to informal adult learners. Her teaching approach places the emphasis on access to original historical documents, which provides a uniquely dynamic and immersive classroom experience.
Dates and Times
A Look at Liverpool Street Station (1874-1977)
, 4:02 - 6:02
