Arts Society SW London Hosting Talk on Pevsner's Architectural Legacy
Historian Susan Harries will look at his views on local buildings
Richard Burton's tomb. St Mary Magdalen, Mortlake, Picture: Andy Scott
August 15, 2025
The Arts Society South West London will host a lecture on Monday, 8 September at 8pm, exploring the legacy of Sir Nikolaus Pevsner and his influential series The Buildings of England.
The event will take place at The Community Church on Werter Road, Putney (SW15 2LL), with simultaneous access via Zoom.
Renowned writer and historian Susan Harries will present the lecture, titled Nikolaus Pevsner and The Buildings of England: Pevsner in South West London. Harries, whose acclaimed biography of Pevsner won the Wolfson History Prize in 2012, will examine the architectural judgments Pevsner made about buildings in the local area—including churches, houses, shops, town halls and tower blocks—and place them within the broader context of his county-by-county survey of England’s built heritage.
Pevsner, a German refugee from Hitler’s regime, began his career in Britain as an internee and journalist before becoming one of the most influential figures in English art history. His exhaustive documentation of architecturally significant buildings remains unmatched, though not without controversy. Harries will explore both the praise and criticism Pevsner’s work has attracted, offering insight into his enduring impact and the absence of any true successors.
Entry is free for Arts Society members. Non-members are invited to attend with a suggested donation of £10 at the door. The event promises to be of particular interest to those passionate about architectural history, heritage, and the cultural fabric of South West London.
Check the society’s website for details of how to register for the Zoom Lecture.
If you have never attended an Arts Society lecture before you are urged to join and find out about your local Arts Society. Visit the society’s website for further details.
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