Bowl of Chalk's Curistorian Club

Bowl of Chalk’s brand new ‘Curistorian Club’ is an informal way to meet like-minded people in the cosy setting of an historic London pub. Learn from experts about London, its history and how it continues to inspire writers, musicians and of course the incurably curious. Each evening will see two guest speakers either give a talk or delve a bit deeper in to their own particular specialism in the form of a Q and A with London Tour Guide, author and Bowl of Chalk founder Jonnie Fielding.

Curistorian Club #1

With guests Ben Wilson and Monika Buttling-Smith (chewing gum art and a Thames river finds)

Ben Wilson

Better known as ‘the Chewing Gum Man’, Ben Wilson has spent over two decades painting amazing miniature pictures on to discarded pieces of chewing gum so it’s entirely possible you’ve already come across him. For the last 10 years or so he’s been an almost permanent fixture on the Millennium Bridge, but you can find his tiny bits of masticated art all over the city’s streets …and elsewhere in the UK and beyond. I’ll be chatting to him about his life, his art, how he came to be ‘the Chewing Gum Man’ and encouraging him to share with us some of his adventures along the way.

Monika Buttling-Smith

Monika Buttling-Smith co-founded and runs the popular Hands on History Mudlarking Exhibitions, which pop-up all over London. She is a member of the exclusive Society of Thames Mudlarks and a major contributor to the London Museum's Secrets of The Thames Exhibition (ends 1st March). Monika and her museum-worthy treasures have been regularly filmed and published, and she’s ditching her muddy boots and knee pads to share with us some of her most special finds, including a rare medieval Pax, a religious artefact so demonised by Henry VIII and Edward VI that owning one could lead to your death!

Event Timings

7pm - Doors open

7:30pm - First speaker

9pm - Second speaker

11pm - Doors close

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Host or Publisher Bowl of Chalk