The Inspiration of Emerson at Valentines; a Talk & Guided Walk
“Every great and commanding moment in the annals of the world is the triumph of some enthusiasm.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson, quoted in the Garden Cities & Town Planning magazine)
Valentines Park in the London Borough of Redbridge is one of the best parks in the UK! This talk, followed by a guided walk around the nearby Edwardian houses of what was known as the Ilford Garden Suburb, (now the Garden City Redbridge) will examine how admiration for the 19th century American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson helped introduce the Garden City movement locally and ensure the preservation of Valentines after the death of the last owner of the Mansion, Sarah Ingleby.
Ralph Waldo Emerson was much admired by Cambridge scholar Dr Clement Mansfield Ingleby who lived at Valentines from 1870 until his death, After his wife Sarah died in 1906, there was fear locally that the park would be lost for ever to the advance of bricks and mortar. This had been the fate of the Cranbrook estate next door. The talk, inspired by documents from the Friends’ archives, will include other notable people of the 19th and early 20th century who admired Emerson’s philosophy and poetry and the lasting impact this has had on our lives today.
Madeleine Goodall is Humanist Heritage Manager at Humanists UK and co-host of theUnholy Historiespodcast. Since 2019, she has been researching and sharing the history and influence of freethinkers and non-religious people in the UK, on the Humanist Heritage website and through a range of events and resources. A particular passion has been uncovering the stories of women in the humanist movement, and she has written about these for publications includingNew Humanistand History Workshop Online.
Dr Colin Runeckles will lead us around the Edwardian houses of the Garden City Redbridge, built on what had been part of the Valentines Estate, and very much part of the story of how Valentines was preserved for us to enjoy today. His doctorate is about housing in Roman Italy, but he became interested in local history about a decade ago. He joined the Ilford Historical Society and aside from being Treasurer and Membership Secretary, he researches and writes articles for the IHS Newsletter, giving regular talks on a variety of local topics.
After the Talk and the Walk, we will visit the beautiful Walled Gardens and Victorian Gardener’s Cottage Cafe for refreshments.
