The Soane Museum Study Group is an open forum for scholars – both established and emerging – to present new research into an aspect of architectural history and/or Soane’s collection.

Rosamund West – "Rats or rents": The London County Council's Silwood estate, Rotherhithe

Rotherhithe's Silwood estate is situated between railway lines and a stone's throw from what were the Surrey Commercial docks. In this paper Ros will discuss the estate from its early conception in the 1943 County of London Plan, to its construction and the artwork 'Neighbourly Encounter' by Uli Nimptsch, commissioned by the LCC and installed on the estate in 1964. She will examine how the estate and the artwork responded to the local community, the location of the area, and the LCC's policies on housing and community.

Rosamund is a museum professional and PhD student at Kingston University, researching the London County Council's post-war housing and artwork between 1943 and 1965.

Tuesday 19 February – 6.00pm drinks for 6.30-7.30pm lecture