New money in an old world: talk with Alexis Haslam

New money in an old world: a financial investigation into the East India Company and its influence at Fulham Palace.

When William Howley became Bishop of London in 1813, he began a series of ambitious and costly changes to Fulham Palace. But where did the money for these grand works come from?

This talk from community archaeologist Alexis Haslam investigates the financial puzzle behind Howley’s renovations, exploring the possible connections between his spending, his wife Mary Frances Belli, and the East India Company, which at the time was the most powerful commercial enterprise in the world. It will also examine the broader role of the Church of England in supporting the company’s global operations.

This talk is part of the Fulham Palace Black History 365 event series where we re-examine historical narratives and bring to the forefront the voices of those who have been marginalised.

About the speaker

Alexis Haslam, community archaeologist, joined Fulham Palace Trust in May 2017. He holds a BA in History and is a Member of the Institute for Archaeologists. He began working in archaeology upon graduating in 2000, working his way up from a field technician to a project officer. He has directed and published numerous archaeological excavations including his most recent work ‘Tales from the Vaults and other Newington Horror Stories’. After 16 years he left Pre-Construct Archaeology to join Fulham Palace Trust and is currently working on writing up the Palace’s long and complex history for a monograph to be published soon.

Event details:

• This talk is part of the Black History talk series.
• This event is suitable for ages 16+.
• This is a free talk, donations are gladly accepted.
• This talk is approximately one hour.