[online] The Festival of Britain: 75 years later
[online] The Festival of Britain: 75 years later
Thursday 17 September 2026 at 6.30pm
Geoffrey Hollis will assess the impact of the Festival of Britain 1951 in the short, medium and long term – with a sigh of regret for what might have been. He'll briefly describe the genesis of the Festival of Britain, its evolving aims, and what was delivered, not only on the South Bank but nationwide.
Geoffrey will go on to consider the festival’s legacy, from memorabilia and exhibits that are still extant, to its considerable impact on design and architecture over the last 75 years. His talk will go on to look at what might have been saved for the nation had the Twentieth Century Society existed in 1951.
Geoffrey Hollis is a member of the C20 Society and the Festival of Britain Society. In 2021 he gave two online talks to the C20 Society, on the Festival of Britain and its Pleasure Gardens at Battersea, and has led walks for members around Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield.
This booking is for online Zoom lecture. For in-person event
book here.
C20 Society Member £6;
Non-Member £8;
Young C20 member free*;
Student £4 **
*For Young C20 members, please email lukas@c20society.org.uk to secure a place.
**For student pricing please select from the dropdown option next to ‘membership number’ on the booking form below.
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Note: This event is hybrid and is being run both in-person at Cowcross Street Gallery and online via Zoom. The event will be recorded and offered as a catch-up lecture for those who have booked and will be available for two weeks.
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The Twentieth Century Society is an IHBC (Institute of Historic Building conservation) recognised CPD provider and is a registered charity, no 1110244
Image above: The Abacus Screen erected on Waterloo Bridge designed by architect Edward Mills (1915–98).