Lecture to Look at Cultural Context of Foundation of Bedford Park
Nicholas Friend examines the world that shaped it 150 years ago
James Tissot ‘The Fan’ 1875, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford Connecticut
September 1, 2025
As part of its ongoing 150th anniversary programme, the Bedford Park Society will host its annual lecture on Wednesday 24 September at The Arts Educational Schools in Chiswick. The event, titled The Year of 1875 — Bedford Park and the World That Shaped It, will be delivered by cultural historian Nicholas Friend MA, FRSA.
Nicholas Friend
The lecture will examine the broader artistic, literary, and political landscape of 1875—the year Bedford Park was established as what is widely considered the first garden suburb. Friend’s presentation will situate the suburb’s founding within a wider context of cultural transformation, referencing developments in design, philosophy, and visual arts that influenced its early character.
Among the historical touchpoints of the year are the founding of the Theosophical Society by Madame Blavatsky, whose ideas later influenced Bedford Park resident W. B. Yeats; the opening of Arthur Liberty’s Regent Street shop, which helped popularise Japan-inspired design; and the production of key works by William Morris, Albert Moore, Whistler, and Tissot. The lecture will also consider the rise of Impressionism in Paris and its reception among contemporary audiences.
Liberty Department Store, London, opened in 1875. Photo: Luis Villa del Campo, Wikimedia Creative Commons
Nicholas Friend has previously contributed lectures and articles to the Bedford Park Society and has taught at institutions including the Wallace Collection, the National Gallery, and Sotheby’s. He formerly directed Cambridge University’s Art History Summer School and continues to lead study tours and lecture series.
Furniture designs by E W Godwin
The event will take place in the Atrium at The Arts Educational Schools, 14 Bath Road, Chiswick W4 1LY. The lecture begins at 8.00pm, with the bar open from 7.00pm. Tickets are available for £15 per person (plus administration fee) and can be purchased online or from Postmark on Turnham Green Terrace.
The logo for the Bedford Park 150th anniversary
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