An illustrated talk by Penny Olsen

Friday, 24 January, 2025 at 10.30am , Coffee/Tea served from 10am. Please email Sheila to book a place.

On the morning of Friday, 24th January we will have a fascinating illustrated talk on ‘How to be a House Detective’. Penny will explain how to access and use records in your local archive together with what to look for in the bricks and mortar. 

Penny was born in London though now lives and works in West Sussex. When her family were young she studied with the Open University and then at the Bartlett School of Architecture. Her degrees led her to initially teach Design History at the London College of Fashion and then to work for a Soho-based architectural practice where she wrote a book on Food Service Design. Looking towards a business of her own she identified a niche in the market for historical profiles of  public buildings and the stories of private homes, and more recently, personal biographies.

She set up The Research Workshop in 1988 and from the outset publicity was plentiful and commissions abundant and rewarding. Word of mouth has been the driving force of her work ever since.

Penny has generously waived her fee. The cost is £5.00 pp. which includes tea or coffee.