Dulwich is an interesting and attractive area of London with ample evidence of its past through the medium of documents, map illustrations and photographs. Yet the area is constantly changing, evolving over time because of wars, social, economic and technical change which have been its drivers. Local historian Brian Green attempts to explain some of these catalysts in this illustrated talk.

Alleyn Road has a pleasant wide aspect with large houses on both sides, it was not like that originally. Although building started in the 1860s, the final houses on the west side were not completed until the early 1890s. Prior to 1900, the east side consisted of the fences of the back gardens of the larger houses in Alleyn Park and it took almost a further 100 years for this side of the road to be fully developed, the last houses being completed in the 1990s. Ian McInnes' talk will cover not only the houses and their builders, but also a range of their occupiers, many of them notable, and interesting, characters.

Historic Kingswood House in South Dulwich, is now under the management of Kingswood Arts, and has become a not-for-profit cultural and community centre. The building we see today dates from the 1890s but there has been a house there since 1814. Ian McInnes will take the story up to WW2 covering the more notable and influential owners and its years as a Canadian Army hospital in WW1.

Just over 100 years ago, the last of the huge old mansions on the northern side of Dulwich Village were demolished. This illustrated talk by Ian McInnes will cover all five, The Hall, Menival/Fairfield, Lake House/Chinese Cottage, the White House/St Austins and Beech House/Warigul along with their wealthy occupants, many of them influential Victorian entrepreneurs.

Jennifer Scott, Director of Dulwich Picture Gallery will present a history of taste through masterpieces from the Gallery's Collection. From its outset, the Gallery has been at the forefront of innovation and creativity.

Spot the difference and see how much (or how little) has changed in Dulwich then and now. Brian Green has a lifetime’s collection of images of past Dulwich together with first-hand memories, interviews with past residents and hours spent in the archives.

Before 1860 East Dulwich had two pubs. By the end of the East Dulwich housing boom in the 1880s, there were nearly 20 together with two beer houses and a similar number of beer shops and off-licenses. Pubs were not only for drinking and socialising they were also entertainment, community and sporting centres. Many licensees were interesting characters as were some of their customers. And, unlike many other parts of London, almost all the buildings are still standing, most still used as pubs - though now run by boutique pub companies rather than large breweries or pub proprietors.

This talk covers Labour politicians with connections to Dulwich including socialist propagandist Russell Smart, the founder of the Camberwell Labour Party (and cabinet minister), Arthur Creech Jones, Dulwich Labour MPs Wilfred Vernon, Sam Silkin and Tessa Jowell and interwar Labour parliamentary candidates, CA Smith, Fred Hughes, Helen Bentwich and Jim Delahaye, together with a few other Labour politicians who lived in the area.

Join Calista Lucy, Keeper of the Archives of Dulwich College, to find out why Joan Woodward (1573-1623) was more than the stepdaughter of theatrical manager Philip Henslowe and a trophy wife for actor Edward Alleyn.

Join us as we explore the crucial role of human connections in academic achievement and well-being. Backed by research from the renowned Harvard Centre on the Developing Child, you’ll gain practical strategies to foster healthy relationships, support executive functioning, and help young people in your care to flourish.

Victoria Bagnall is a pioneer in the field of executive function skills development and passionately believes that applying the latest developments in neuroscience is the key to unlocking the potential of the human brain. She regards executive function challenges as the bottleneck to productivity and is committed to working with people of all ages to help them overcome these challenges in order to flourish.

Victoria is the Co-Founder of Connections in Mind, an organisation of dedicated experts committed to supporting executive function development in children, adolescents, education providers and adults.

Why were MI5, MI6, Special Branch, the CIA and the FBI so interested in a resident of a hotel which once stood on Dulwich Common in the aftermath of WW2?

Along Dulwich Common and within a distance of no more than 100 metres, three different nests of spies existed in World War Two. Follow the incredible story of MI5’s tracking of spies, traitors, Nazis and secret agents in Dulwich during WW2 with local historian Brian Green in this illustrated online talk.

In 1898 Charles Booth surveyed the area of East Dulwich as part of his studies of poverty in London, and defined many streets in East Dulwich as a mix of poverty and comfort.

Into the 1970s housing in East Dulwich, east of Lordship Lane, was approaching 100 years old. One small part of the area was declared a statutory housing action area (HAA) to concentrate resources on improving properties and helping households.

Research shows that fewer children than ever before are helping around the home and yet household chores have been proven to help boost essential skills for learning and personal development; our executive functions.

A talk by Duncan Bowie covering birth control and moral hygiene and sex reformers, housing and planning reformers and anti-slavery campaigners, all of whom at one time lived in Dulwich. Includes Annie Besant, Alice Vickery, Havelock Ellis, Ebenezer Howard, Rev John Harris and Alice Harris and more.

While this talk was beneficial on how to reintegrate learners back into a school environment after the disruptions of COVID-19, it's still relevant to any educational setting - for example, homeschooling.

Dr Amelia Roberts uses Thinking Skills techniques to explore the difference between attempts to transfer knowledge compared to structuring activities to engage and inspire learners, often through dialogue.

There has been a pub on the corner of Dulwich Common and Lordship Lane since the early 18th century and possibly earlier. Originally called the Green Man, it was known as Bew's Corner in the early 19th century and, from the 1860s, the Grove Tavern.

The existing building dates from the 1920s and this illustrated online talk covers not only the buildings themselves but also the men who ran the pubs as well as some of the characters who used them.

This film is about the installation of a ground source heat pump at Bell House.

Just like the Hollywood movie starring Tom Hanks, Dulwich also had its tragedies. Mr Russell who lived at Pond Cottages had five sons and the youngest was about to be called up for service. The vicar of St Barnabas wrote that he thought his four brothers had already been killed.

This talk by Brian Green recalls the enlistment of local men in August 1914 at the rate of 250 per day, the care of wounded at Southwark Military Hospital (Dulwich Hospital), the story of Dulwich’s volunteer battalion and everyday life for civilians.

Local historian and architect Ian McInnes takes us on a tour of Dulwich’s magnificent Georgian heritage: the buildings and the families who lived in them from the time they were built.

Farming in Dulwich, which had provided income for the Priory of Bermondsey for 400 years and for almost as long for Alleyn’s College of God’s Gift, was virtually over by the outbreak of the First World War. Its decline was slow and its demise was finally brought about by the efficiency of home milk deliveries by the new giant dairy companies which sprang up with the introduction of bottling plants, homogenised milk and the use of milk trains for nation-wide distribution. Local historian Brian Green shows us how Dulwich farms became the sports fields of today.

Music writer Patrick Humphries takes us on a musical tour of Dulwich.

Join Neil Wilkin, lead curator of 'The World of Stonehenge', as he explores the exhibition with the help of its key objects from across Europe, including the first loan to Britain of the Nebra sky disc.

Lev Parikian talks about his latest book “Light Rains Sometimes Fall”

Celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and discover more about Dulwich’s many and varied royal connections through this Dulwich Society online illustrated talk, from Elizabeth I through to our current queen.

Join Duncan Bowie to learn about some of the many political activists and social reformers connected to Dulwich who were active at a national and international level.

A teaser of what we offer when it comes to Dyslexia at Bell House!

A talk for parents and guardians of neurodiverse students with Specific Learning Difficulties (SPLD) about preparing and embarking upon GCSEs and A-levels with disability advisor Angie Venchard.

An online illustrated local history talk of fascinating comparisons of Dulwich then with Dulwich now. Spot the difference and see how much (or how little) has changed. Brian Green has a lifetime’s collection of images of past Dulwich together with first-hand memories, interviews with past residents and hours spent in the archives.

An online illustrated local history talk covering the development of Turney Road from fields to the housing we see today with Ian McInnes.

The first Dulwich Society online talk for 2022 is a detailed history of the development of Park Hall Road in West Dulwich with Ian McInnes. It features the long-lost Rosendale Hall, the Manor House and the Croxted Rd shops and will complement the “On the Street Where You Live”; series previously published in the Dulwich Society Journal.

To mark the publication of his new book, Ian McInnes, Chair of the Twentieth Century Society, gives us an illustrated talk on the collaboration between the Dulwich Estate, house builder Wates and the Estate's architects, Austin Vernon & Partners, which saw over 2,000 new houses built in the area from the late 1950s through to the early 1970s.

Duncan Bowie, of the Dulwich Society, talks about a group of Dulwich based communists in the post war period, including George Thomson, Jonathan and Frida Knight, Alan Upward, Monty and Jean Shapiro.

A short film showcasing the Community Quilting Show held at Bell House.

Learn how to use sign language to communicate with your baby. In this workshop speech and language therapist Jennifer Warwick and baby signing expert Charly Lewis provide an overview of language development in babies and top tips for development.

Clare Ewing talks about endometriosis, a commonly misdiagnosed condition where cells that normally line the womb are found elsewhere in the body.

Miscarriage is the most common complication of pregnancy with 1 in 4 women experiencing at least one miscarriage during their reproductive lifetime. A miscarriage is the loss of a baby before 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Contrary to the widespread belief that early pregnancy is too soon to grieve a loss, or that only mothers feel bereft, medical research charity Tommy’s have found profound psychological effects on both parents. And yet, a woman currently has to go through 3 miscarriages before she is offered care or treatment.

Experts Hanine Fourie and Anna Nella discuss early, later, and reccurent miscarriage, and explore some of the current areas of research and care pathways available.

Julia, a representative from Lyme Disease UK, talks to us about tick bite awareness in the UK, the effects of lyme disease and how to prevent it.

Learn to cook with Zita as she teaches us the basics of cooking and the kitchen.

Learn to cook with Zita as she teaches us the basics of cooking and the kitchen.

Learn how to cook with Zita as she teaches us the basics of cooking and the kitchen.

Learn how to make a very simple and tasty omelette with Zita!

Make this super easy and delicious one-tin wonder with Zita!

An easy recipe of Chilli con Carne by Zita for cooking beginners.

Learn how to make stir-fry with Zita’s easy to follow video - a great dish for beginners to practice basic cookery skills.

Learn how to make some filling and budget-friendly egg-fried rice with Zita.

A great recipe for cooking beginners - tomato, anchovies and garlic pasta as part of our Cooking with Zita series.

Zita shows us how to cook (or, bake, rather) a tasty apple galette. A delicious and simple recipe for beginners.

Learn how to make this easy Shakshuka with Zita!

Learn how to cook this easy and delicious vegetarian curry with Zita.

Keeping moving is important for people of all ages to make sure we stay healthy and happy and it's especially important when we spend more time indoors.

Gabriella Kountourides traces the history of PMS, discussing how it has gone through several re-inventions, from labelling women as 'hysterical' and moving to pre-menstrual tension. A feminist lens is used to discuss how the labelling of women’s experiences before their period as a ‘syndrome’ could have helped to keep them out of the workplace. To conclude, the talk also discusses the state of current research on PMS and hypotheses on why some women experience PMS.

Get answers to your questions about vaccinations for your baby with paediatrician Dr David Elliman in this online Q&A session which looks at some of the common questions.

Did you know that period products are a major source of pollution? Most period products contain plastic - a menstrual pad can contain up to 90% plastic.The average person who menstruates throws away up to 200 kg menstrual products in their lifetime so that could be up to 180 kg of plastic (about three times your body weight!).

You can make eco-friendly choices and this short film from Bell House Films explains some of the choices available today

Doctor Sangeeta Mahajan shares with us her extensive insights in teen mental health, risk factors, things to look out for and where to get help.

Dr Sangeeta Mahajan offers her personal perspectives and reflections on the importance, possibility and ways of finding meaning after deep loss.

Do you remember your first period? Are you comfortable talking about periods? Some young girls do not know what to expect. In this film, women and girls talk about their first period and how they felt. Share your stories and show the film to your daughters, nieces and friends.

This is the first of three films from Bell House Films made following our parent and daughter event on periods.

What is a period? How do you know it's going to come? Do you keep track of your period with an app or do you use a good old-fashioned diary? Is your period heavy or irregular? These and many other questions are answered in this short film - the second of three Bell House Films made following our parent and daughter event on periods

What is involved when you go for a cervical screening, and why should you go? This film explains all. It was made as part of our Wipe Out Cervical Cancer event, and our Bell Health programme.

An evening with Nigel Osner In conversation with friend and author Maggy Pigott

Maggy shared how her sixties have become her happiest and most surprising decade (so far), including getting her first book, “How to Age Joyfully: Eight Steps to a Happier, Fuller Life”, published at 68!

Journalist Marie Le Conte looks at the role gossip, whispers and tittle-tattle play in all areas of politics - for the MPs and their advisers, the press who cover them and the civil servants in the middle of it all. Here’s a taster of the evening spent with Marie.

Leading writer and lecturer on the English language, David Crystal, illustrates the development of pronunciation from Old English (Beowulf) through Middle English (Chaucer) to Early Modern English (Shakespeare), and explains the sources of evidence that have been used to reconstruct 'original pronunciations’.

Jeremy Brackpool, climate change expert, talks about the evidence showing the huge potential in Dulwich to grow towards a low-carbon future.

Dave Clark looks at the birds of South East London and their migration.

Flowers are billboards, advertising to insects and other animals that pollinate them. Our speaker Dr Sarah Arnold will discuss threats to pollinators in our human-dominated world, and some of the things we as individuals can do to support populations in the future.

Learn about the common mushrooms and fungi you can find in Britain with Dan Greenwood.

Dan is an environmental writer and photographer with a focus on woods and trees, fungi, and macro photography. He hosts a podcast called “Unlocking Landscapes”, which explores the relationships between people and places https://unlockinglandscapes.com/

See more of Dan’s beautiful photos on Twitter @djgwild or on his website danieljamesgreenwood.com

Simon Saville describes Butterfly Conservation’s new “Big City Butterflies” project. He talks us through:

- the life cycle of butterflies

- which butterflies you might see in London

- where to go to see them in our area

- how to manage parks and gardens to benefit wildlife

- how to get involved with butterflies

Dave Clark, a local ornithologist and environmental campaigner joined Bell House to talk through some regular bird calls and songs with audio clips from some of Britain’s most common birds. With a particular interest in the interactions between birds and humans, Dave has a MSc in Ornithology from the University of Birmingham and has written widely on the subjects of bird feeding and the benefits of engaging with nature. Do tune into the delights of bird song.

Simon Saville is a lifelong butterfly enthusiast and resident of South London. He has spent the last few years exploring the green spaces of south London for wildlife, and the emerging message is that butterflies and moths are spreading their range. He is keen to encourage people to get out and explore the parks and green spaces around them. More than 47% of London is green space and in this talk for Bell House Simon introduces the species of butterflies that you will find in your garden or local park in South London.

It’s often said that the British are a nation of nature lovers; but what does that really mean?

Warm, humorous and full of telling detail, Into the Tangled Bank puts the idiosyncrasies of ‘how we are in nature’ under the microscope. And in doing so, it reveals how our collective relationship with nature has changed over the centuries, what our actions mean for nature and what being a nature lover in Britain might mean today.

A short film of our Dyslexia Fair during 2021.

The Connections in Mind co-founder, Victoria Bagnall, takes a look at the latest research from the Harvard Centre for the Developing Child. She looks specifically at the relationship between trauma and executive functioning - the brain processes which underlie many neurodiverse traits.

Nick Posford, the CEO of the British Dyslexia Association, explores the charity’s evolving strategy and its potential impact for dyslexic people of all ages, and for all of us.

Imogen Moore-Shelley, founder of Connections in Mind Foundation talks about executive functions and their connection to neurodiversity and dyslexia in this Bell House online talk .

Parents of dyslexic children are likely to be concerned about their child's level of positive self-esteem but what is it and why is it important to have positive self-esteem as a child develops through education and beyond?

Dr Susie Nyman is passionate about discovering how children learn and supporting them in ways which enable them to succeed. In this webinar Susie showcases her ‘Multi-sensory Toolkit' strategies based on 25 years teaching at Farnborough Sixth Form College and 7 years at the Oratory School.

What are the main difficulties that a student with dyslexia faces while learning music and specifically an instrument? Maria Nikitidou, a curriculum school teacher, has based this talk on her ongoing research on music learning and dyslexia.

Here are four tips on how to overcome maths anxiety, taken from a talk given by Judy Hornigold.

A film with Susie Nyman about mind palaces - how to use them, and why you should use them to revise, especially if you have dyslexia.

This is a short film designed to help people understand the difficulties of dyslexia.

Highlights of a talk given by Dr. Frances Knight at Bell House, about ways to help your child sleep.

This video contains edited highlights of a talk given by Elaine Halligan at Bell House, about parenting children with special needs.

This video contains edited highlights of a talk given by Dr. Marion Long at Bell House, about helping children with dyslexia.

This video contains edited highlights of a talk given by Caroline Bateman at Bell House on how technology can transform learning for dyslexics.

Filmed at Bell House's 2019 Dyslexia Fair. Please visit bellhouse.co.uk for more information about Bell House and our programme of dyslexia support.

This video shows highlights of the Dyslexia Fair, held at Bell House on 22nd September, 2018.

Jack, who studies History at Durham university, discusses how to navigate the changes from school to university including academic changes, living independently and making the most of your first year.

Hannah Snell, Senior Outreach Officer at St Anne's College Oxford, gives us an introduction to the Oxbridge application process, how best to prepare and the support available to prospective applicants.

Feel like going to university is daunting? Watch this talk with mental health activist and educator, Dr Sangeeta Mahajan, as she discusses mental resilience at university and offers practical tips on keeping a healthy mind.

Aoifke, an English student at Durham University, discusses applying to university from an underrepresented background and draws from her own experiences to give tips and advice for help in applications.

This is the first short film in our Learning to Care project. It presents a few simple tips for first-time carers dealing with their new responsibilities.

This film offers six tips for carers on how to support a loved one living with dementia to maintain an independent lifestyle. The film is part of the Bell House Learning to Care project.

A short film on how to care for yourself when you are a carer for somebody else. Made as part of our Learning to Care series, about how to look after elderly friends and relatives.

In this film we hear from three people who spoke at our Learning to Care: Dementia event at Bell House about their personal and professional experiences with dementia.

A short film outlining the benefits of setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). The film features tips and guides on setting up LPAs for future decisions on health and welfare as well as property and financial affairs. It also includes information on the costs involved and organisations who can help with any questions around LPAs.

A short film from Bell House's Learning to Care programme on taking medication and tips to help you manage medication.

A short film as part of Bell House's Learning to Care Series. This film gives 5 simple tips for carers for improving safety in the home for someone they help look after.

As part of Dulwich Festival's Artists' Open House , Bell House opened its doors for a 3D printing exhibition. This film demonstrates explains 3D printing works, shows 3D printers in action and showcases art and fashion that incorporates 3D printing in its creation.

Learn how to make a doctor's appointment by telephone when you are feeling unwell with Karen and Florence. A short quiz will help you see what you've understood.

This video is an excerpt from a talk given by Paul Olding at Bell House, about the creation of his urban vineyard in an allotment just of the South Circular in Lewisham.

A group of volunteers meet every Saturday morning to tackle the tasks and maintenance around the extensive gardens of the Georgian house. Various members of the team explain why they enjoy the gardening and what it means to them. Film by George Okello. Music by Ryan Andersen

One of the volunteer beekeepers at Bell House in London explains why she enjoys learning about bees. The film highlights joys of the beginners courses offered at Bell House.

Sonia invites you to join her for tea in her home and introduces you to the words used in making tea in this short film. There is a short quiz to check that you have understood everything.

A charming video highlighting the reasons why regulars at the Bell House Quilting Academy enjoy the many aspects of their quilting get-together. They meet at Bell House every Thursday, 10.00-16.00 - All are welcome.

Craft tutorial to make a fun and simple journal from recycled materials from Bell House Volunteer Ve as part of our Community Idea Swap. Full Instructions and examples (PDF) Credit: Veronica Lenz

Edited highlights of a talk given by the dyslexia charity Helen Arkell at Bell House, about helping children with dyslexia.

Edited highlights of a smartphone filmmaking workshop given by Cassius Rayner at Bell House.

Comings and goings at Bell House during the Dulwich Festival - film music composed for Bell House by Hanxin Zhang

A short film explaining the ongoing work at Bell House to establish it as a centre for wider learning. A local architect, the house historian, an exhibition curator and Bell House's co-founders describe the history and future plans for the house. 

Dulwich Players' first online offering, Open Your Ears, devised by Ignatz Ratskywatsky and Ruth Landowne Giordano, is a 30 minutes piece inspired by Shakespeare’s affection for actors and the theatre with illustrative sections from, among others, Hamlet, Henry V, As You Like It and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Director Hayley Blundell explored scripts that would work on the Zoom platform and Matthew Wilkie’s “Horst Buchholtz and other Stories” with its pub quiz setting and revealing monologues fits the bill perfectly.

A craft tutorial to make a fun and simple journal from recycled materials from Bell House Volunteer Ve as part of our Community Idea Swap.

What techniques do you use to help you revise? Tina guides Erenie on how to actively revise for exams using mind maps, notes and coloured pens.

This film is about the Quilting Academy at Bell House which has been working with the Linus Project UK to create incubator covers for King's College Hospital.

Part of a new Bell House in Your Home series 'Meet the Musicians', watch violin/cello duo 82 Degrees perform Biber's Rosary Sonata No. 1 'The Annunciation'.

Part of a new Bell House in Your Home series 'Meet the Musicians', watch Georgie West perform her alternative cover of Paranoid Android by Radiohead.

The Bell House 'Meet the Musicians' series featuring Q&A interviews with young up and coming musicians from the local area. Learn about their work and enjoy a recorded performance! The Fibonacci Quartet recorded this performance of Beethoven's string quartet in C minor over lockdown from four different corners of the world.

Maria Nikitidou is a pianist and music educator with a particular interest in teaching the piano to students with dyslexia.

In this keynote talk opening the Bell House Preparing for University week of events, Naomi de la Tour, a Senior Teaching Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Teaching and Learning (IATL) at Warwick University, will be exploring the purpose of education for learners in both the university environment and beyond.

A short film highlighting the range of wider learning events and courses that go on at Bell House in Dulwich. Sign up to our mailing list to get full details of the latest offerings.