Painting of The Lenox by Richard Endsor ©2013

Today, an article in HistoryExtra.com (the official website of BBC History Magazine) quotes Andrew Lambert, professor of Naval History at King’s College London, as welcoming our project. He said, “I have long held a view that the biggest problem we face with history and heritage is that they are static. We need an opportunity to actually watch people making these things. It will mean that over the course of time people will come back, because they will want to see what has happened since they were last there. Having sailed on a replica of Captain Cook’s Endeavour there’s nothing better than the opportunity to sail on a real ship, doing real work. You learn so much more.”

Prof Lambert said the replica will enable historians to better understand the workings of a warship. “It’s about the environment of the ship and how the ship worked. For example, it’s very difficult to fit that many people into the ship – how did they do it? How did they keep everyone fit and healthy, how did they provide food? Are they operating as one team or, as I have long suspected, working as teams of teams?

“Lenox is steeped in the history of this country and she took part in fights that saved the nation. It really is a wonderful opportunity for anyone who is interested in this period to get to grips with the difficult working environment, and it will help us to understand what important people sailors are in the creation of our national history.”

Read the article by Emma McFarnon in full here.

Saturday 7th September
GREAT RIVER RACE
London’s River Marathon
Featuring the UK Traditional Boat Championship – 21 miles from Docklands to Ham in Surrey – a spectacular boat race up the Thames with 300 crews from all over the globe. With fancy dress and charity stunts as well as serious sportsmen and women.
The Lenox team will be accompanying the VIPs in a support boat and talking more about the project at the finish line. The event programme features a spread on the King’s Yard, its history and the Lenox Project, in celebration of 500 years since the inception of King Henry VIII’s royal naval yard in 1513.
www.greatriverrace.co.uk

Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th September
MAYOR’S THAMES FESTIVAL
A massive celebration which runs for ten days (6th-15th September) featuring river cruises, river relays and races, walks and talks, art exhibitions, plus a spectacular water-borne operatic performance 1513: A Ships’ Opera whose performers include nine ships and HMS Belfast on Saturday evening. Download the programme here.
Build the Lenox will have a stand in the Blue Ribbon Village at Potter’s Fields – an ‘interactive zone’ of organisations involved in the history, ecology and industry of the Thames. We’ll be displaying our restored 1620s naval Saker cannon!
www.thamesfestival.org

Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd September, from 10am
OPEN HOUSE LONDON – the capital’s greatest architectural showcase
at the Master Shipwright’s House, Watergate St, SE8
featuring Deptford 500
The Master Shipwright’s House is the oldest surviving building from King Henry VIII’s Royal Naval Dockyard, built in 1513 and remodelled in the early 18th century. The house will be celebrating the quincentenary anniversary of the dockyard – Deptford 500 – with some added attractions and talks, as well as displaying plans and images of the dockyard.
Build the Lenox will be joining in the celebrations.
events.londonopenhouse.org/building/3380

The National Maritime Museum is hosting a day of remembrance on the anniversary of the first successful slave uprising in the western hemisphere – on 23 August in Haiti in 1791.

Although the Lenox was a warship and not directly involved in the slave trade, the dockyard where she was built was inextricably linked to this abhorrent business. As well as playing a vital role in exploration, naval history and the development of new technologies, Deptford docks was the place where many slave ships were built, repaired, or started or ended their journeys.

The event – this Friday 23 August at the National Maritime Museum – will explore the Museum’s vast collections relating to the trade of enslaved people, as well as focusing on the many local connections to be found in the Greenwich World Heritage Site. One of the special events is a walk around Greenwich led by Lenox supporter, author and historian SI Martin (an advisor to Build The Lenox), who will reveal the hidden impact of the transatlantic slave trade during a walk around Greenwich.

Art historian and creative educator Dr Temi Odumosu will explore the themes and attitudes of George Cruickshank’s The New Union Club, which is considered one of the most racist and complex prints of the 19th Century.

Critically acclaimed composer Dominique LeGendre will discuss the impact and work of influential black composers during the period of enslavement, including the celebrated Ignatius Sancho.

Storyteller Rich Sylvester will lead interactive family learning tours around Greenwich Park, exploring Ignatius Sancho’s early life. Starting at Yinka Shonibare MBE’s eminent Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle, the tour concludes at The Ranger’s House, and with a ceremony investigating the importance of names. Young people are invited to leave their names in remembrance.

Full programme details are at the National Maritime Museum website.

Build the Lenox project was one of the local community groups from Deptford that were invited to participate in the recent ‘My Deptford’ neighbourhood weekend at the South Bank Centre in central London.

Although we sadly weren’t able to take the cannon into the first floor exhibition area in the Festival Hall, we made very effective use of our new banner to provide an impressive backdrop to the stall.

The ‘ideas market’ played host to other local groups such as APT, Deptford X and Second Wave Arts, and generated interest among South East Londoners who had come specially to attend the event, as well as some of the visitors from around the world who pass through the Festival Hall every day.

The event spaces and ballroom also hosted an exhibition of art from local artists, a replica of the High Street’s famous anchor in cardboard, and a full weekend programme of performances, music, poetry and other events from our many talented neighbours in SE8.