Wren before Wren (Talk only or Talk & Supper options)

Rory Coonan’s talk focusses on ‘Wren before Wren’, namely how young Christopher, the astonishing, home-tutored child prodigy who after the Civil Wars went up to Wadham at Oxford at the age of 16 in 1649/50, spent his first 30 years.

Appointed Savilian Professor of Astronomy at Oxford at the age of 25, Wren worked as a professional mathematician, geometer and ‘experimental philosopher’ (later termed ‘scientist’) before he taught himself architecture with the aid of books. Coonan explains Wren’s approach to design and, most remarkably, the calculation of risk.  The talk also presents an account of Wren’s modern reputation.

Extend your evening and join us for supper after the talk.

We have a limited number of tickets for an intimate supper with speaker Rory Coonan in the Temple Bar Chamber, from 20:15.