September 26 - December 13 2008
Tea and Coffee in the Age of Dr Johnson

Tea and coffee, now so familiar, were once viewed as exotic and sometimes suspicious entities. Coffee was described as tasting like 'boiled soot' and accused of destroying men's virility, while tea was said to sap the nation's moral fibre and wreck the beauty of English women. This exhibition will look at the rituals, social connotations and mystique of these two drinks in Dr Johnson's day, covering the rise and fall of London's famous eighteenth-century coffee-houses and their legacy, and the triumph of tea as England's national beverage.

The exhibition will display items from small and private collections which have rarely been displayed before, including such items as Johnson's own teapot, Sir Joshua Reynolds' beautifully preserved, velvet-lined tea-caddy, and many other contemporary essays, tea and coffee equipage, and contemporary prints.

Entry will be free with admission to the House.

Wednesday 10 September 2008, 7pm
Benjamin Franklin's Friendships in London

Franklin and Johnson lived only a few minutes' walk from each other for many years, yet their paths rarely crossed. This talk will discuss why they lived in such different circles, what this tells us about the nature of mid-eighteenth-century society. It will look at Franklin's place in the excitement of the Enlightenment, the early scientific discoveries, the inspiration behind the Industrial Revolution, and above all his search for practical progress. This contrasted with Johnson's circle with its literary interests, yet in spite of all, Johnson and Franklin had areas of unexpected common ground.

Time: Doors open at 6.15pm. Lecture begins at 7pm sharp
Tickets: £12 or £10 concessions
Place: Dictionary Garret, Dr Johnson's House, 17 Gough Square, London EC4A 3DE. There are many unavoidable stairs
Booking: See below. A glass of wine following the lecture is included in the ticket price.

20 September 2008, 11am - 5.30pm
Open House Weekend

Dr Johnson's House will be open for free on Open House Weekend. There will be short talks on the House throughout the day and works by contemporary artists Jana Haldrich, Emily Jost and Lucy Williams, inspired by the House, will be exhibited.

Please note that the House will NOT be open on the Sunday of Open House Weekend.

14 October 2008, 6.30pm
Repeat of 'Dr Johnson and the Law' by Lord Bingham of Cornhill

A repeat of the talk 'Dr Johnson and the Law' by Lord Bingham of Cornhill, given at Dr Johnson's House in April this year, will be held in Inner Temple Hall.

Bookings can be made at :

http://www.templemusic.org/events/2008/10/14 or by phone on 0207 427 5641.

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Places for all events are limited so you are advised to book early. Most events take place in the Dictionary Garret, with many unavoidable steps. 

BOOKING
If you would like to book any of these events, please send a cheque made payable to Dr Johnson's House Trust along with details of the event, date and type of ticket to Dr Johnson's House, 17 Gough Square , London EC4A 3DE, or call 0207 353 3745.

*** Please include your email or telephone number so that we can let you know when your cheque has arrived. ***

Those entitled to a concessionary rate ticket are the over 60s, students and the registered unemployed.