Gentlemen’s Relish: Prostitution in the Georgian Era

Schedule

Tue Oct 28 2025 at 12:30 pm to 01:45 pm

UTC+00:00

Location

Dr Johnson's House | London, EN

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Explore prostitution in Georgian Britain - a tale of winners and losers, humour and despair - in a talk by Sheelagh James.
About this Event



Join us this October for the Dr Johnson's House monthly lecture, sponsored by the Fleet Street Quarter.


Perhaps it was the work of the satirical cartoonists and poets and the increased access to their art that made prostitution more visible in the 18th century than it had ever been before. But was the oldest profession always a road to ruin? This talk looks at some of the ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ associated with prostitution in the Georgian period.


Sheelagh James

After working in health, education and the law, I now spend an increasing amount of time in Lichfield’s two Georgian museums - Erasmus Darwin House and the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum, volunteering as a tour guide and researching for fund-raising talks on life in the 18th century.

Tickets:

Your ticket includes the opportunity to look around Dr Johnson's House, to learn about the unique architectural features of the last surviving Grade I listed historic townhouse in Fleet Street Quarter. It also includes a complimentary lunch from local business Dilieto on Fleet Street.

The small charge for this lecture is to ensure good attendance and reduce drop outs, and is far below the normal cost for a similar event. This lecture series has been sponsored by the Fleet Street Quarter.

Lunch:

A sandwich lunch (meat, fish, vegetarian, vegan) along with fresh cut fruits, and bottled water will be served at this event. Please be advised that we are unable to guarantee that the food provided is free from allergens.

Find out more

Fleet Street Quarter website

Fleet Street Quarter Instagram

Fleet Street Quarter LinkedIn


Image Title: An Evenings Invitation; with a Wink from the Bagnio

© The Trustees of the British Museum, released as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

1935,0522.1.186).jpg - Wikimedia Commons commons.wikimedia.org

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Where is it happening?

Dr Johnson's House, 17 Gough Square, London, United Kingdom

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Tickets

GBP 3.96

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