The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald
An elegant short novel about Florence Green, a "small, wispy and wiry" widow who in 1959 is determined to open a bookshop in a small seaside town, against polite but ruthless local opposition. Penelope Fitzgerald is herself a true original, a superb and perceptive chronicler of eccentricity as well as conformity, with a firm moral […]
A Journey through the most Beautiful Places in the Middle East
On this journey with Wafà, we will discover 25 of the most beautiful places of the Middle East. We will visit lush oases, endless deserts and UNESCO World Heritage sites from the Valley of the Kings, to Wadi Rum and Petra, to the Island of Qeshm, the largest in the Persian Gulf. We will discover […]
Exploring Opera
Using a combination of talk, live and recorded musical examples and video, this course will steer you through the joyous experience of opera whether you are already experienced, a complete novice, or somewhere in between. The emphasis is on enjoyment of each work and many of them will be available to watch in the ‘Met. […]
Chinese Intermediate
This course is for those who have a good basic knowledge of spoken Mandarin and Chinese characters. We will be following a textbook and lots of videos for conversation and vocabulary building. We will also be having fun practising more Chinese characters (excellent for mindfulness), reading simple Chinese books and news headlines, and following the […]
Chinese Beginners Plus
This course is for those who have a basic understanding of Mandarin Chinese, including Pinyin. We’ll be extending your vocabulary, learning from everyday conversations, having fun practising Chinese characters (good for mindfulness), reading simple Chinese books, and finding out about Chinese culture and customs. By the end of the course, you should be able to […]
Printmaking: Playing with Print
Let’s get printing! During this short course we will experiment with different types of printing techniques, gelli plate printing, silk screen, collograph, tetrapak, and lino using a variety of inks and paints. This will be a very informal relaxed course where we can share ideas and find inspiration for our printing projects.
Exploring Interior Design
This new course will develop your ability to visualise in three dimensions and make your Interior Design concept an exciting reality! You will learn how to measure, make a scale plan, use a colour wheel, create a mood board, and, crucially, work within budget. Suitable for beginners seeking a structured approach to their personal projects […]
The Wright Brothers and the Science of Flight
In 1903, the Wright brothers kick-started the modern era of high-speed travel by air. With practically no data to work with, they built up their own with painstaking experimental kites and gliders. Their final mastery of powered flight is one of humanity’s greatest engineering achievements. The photographic evidence available online brings the story to life.
Settlement Players – The Flint Street Nativity
The Flint Street Nativity by Tim Firth (writer of Calendar Girls, Neville's Island and Kinky Boots) Miss Horrocks' class of seven-year-olds is about to perform their nativity play at Flint Street Junior School for the proud mums and dads - and the occasional social worker. But squabbles arise when Gabriel wants to play Mary, the […]
Five Remarkable Women – Natalie Kalmus
Christopher Budd talks about Natalie Kalmus, the Dynamic Executive Head of the Technicolor Art Department. Natalie Kalmus was credited as ‘Colour Consultant’ of Technicolor films produced from 1934 to 1949.
The Educational Philosophy of the Settlement
What was the Settlement Movement? What were its goals for adult education? Does the Letchworth Settlement have the same goals today? What are the goals of adult education likely to become ?...and can we meet them? What is education for, anyway? If you are interested in these questions - or you have some of your […]
The Art of Architecture – 20th Century
Come and explore the history of architecture from its beginnings in the ancient world to the present time. This three lecture overview with James Willis will take you to ancient Egypt and Rome, the French Cathedrals, English Country gardens, modern New York and so much more! As the modern world expands through international trade and […]
Quiz Night
It’s that time of year when our Quiz Setters come along to the Kincaid Hall to tease us with another of their fiendish but fun quizzes. Maximum teams of 6 (one table) can be booked at £10 per head. Please book together to help us allocate seats. We can also allocate spaces if there are […]
Straw stars: Traditional Scandinavian Decorations
Join us for a cozy workshop where you’ll learn to create beautiful, handmade straw star decorations, perfect for adorning your home and Christmas tree. Inspired by the timeless tradition of Scandinavian craftsmanship, these elegant ornaments are often seen hanging in the windows of Scandinavian homes, adding a touch of warmth and charm. As well as […]
Christmas Wreath
Start the festive season with a fabulous handmade long lasting, hanging wreath ; if you would rather create a circular table piece that is also fine, just let your tutor know. All wonderful foliage and a lovely variety of decorations including ribbon are included along with a mossy ring to create a fantastic, natural style […]
Fused Glass Christmas Decorations
Personalise your tree or make a wonderful gift with hand-crafted fused glass decorations. During this workshop you will use pre-cut glass pieces to make your chosen design of decoration. You will make 3-4 decorations.
Sustainable Christmas Tree
Make this contemporary looking willow Christmas Tree complete with its’ own star and add twinkling lights of your choice when you get home. The tree will be approximately 1m tall x 35cm in diameter. Similar to a small plant support, it is made much more decorative by the use of many spiral coils and added […]
Christmas Table Centrepiece
You will learn all the tips and techniques to create a beautiful, long lasting elongated festive table centrepiece including candles and festive décor. A lovely session to follow the morning of wreath making for a full festive day out! Please let us know of any plant allergies when enrolling.
Tin treasures: Embossed folk art decorations
Join us for a festive workshop at The Settlement in Letchworth Garden City, where you’ll learn the art of embossing tin to create beautiful folk art decorations. In this hands-on class, you’ll discover traditional embossing techniques to craft intricate designs on tin sheets, transforming them into stunning ornaments perfect for your holiday decor. Whether you’re […]
Five Remarkable Women – Leonora Carrington
Join Louise Lahive for a talk about Leonora Carrington. In May 2024 Leonora Carrington’s work ‘Les Distractions de Dagobert’ was sold for £22.5 million at Sotheby's auction house in New York. At the time, this was a record amount paid for a work by a British-born female artist. But not many people have ever heard […]
Christmas Arts and Crafts Fair
Free Entry to Fair. Events include Raffle, Tombola, Tea, Cakes, Music and Mulled Wine.
The Beertles Saturday 7th December
The Beertles in Letchworth! Following the success last year of this fabulous Beatles tribute band, the Settlement presents, The Beertles in Letchworth live in the Kincaid Hall on Saturday 7th December at 8pm (doors: 7.30pm). “Mark & Tom as John & Paul are incredible” “What an amazing show, I’m buzzing! Licensed bar provided by Garden […]
A Hard Day’s Night
Come and relive all the fun, excitement, and chaos of Beatlemania at our special 60th anniversary screening of A Hard Day’s Night. Packed with classic Beatles songs written and recorded at lightning speed, this modestly made, relatively low budget pop flick captured a real sense of a cultural moment unfolding. Six decades on, it remains […]
The Beertles Sunday 8th December
The Beertles in Letchworth! EXTRA SHOW DUE TO PUBLIC DEMAND! Following the success last year of this fabulous Beatles tribute band, the Settlement presents, The Beertles in Letchworth, an extra show in the Kincaid Hall on Sunday 8th December at 7pm (doors: 6.30pm). “Mark & Tom as John & Paul are incredible” “What an amazing show, […]
