The impact of a single night’s rioting in Croydon is still deeply felt, more than 18 months on from 8/8.

Under fire: troops were called in to deal with rioters in London in 1780, as depicted in this painting by Russell Drysdale

The impact of week of rioting on the streets of the capital in 1780 would impact British society profoundly for decades.

Local historian and member of the Norwood Society, Bernard Winchester, will be giving a talk on Wednesday night about the Gordon Riots, when for an entire week in June 1780 drunken mobs rampaged through the streets, sacking and torching houses and buildings, emptying and burning prisons and “orgiastically” (according to the organisers of the talk) looting and setting ablaze distilleries and breweries.

Parliament and the Bank of England were besieged, justices, bishops and Catholics were attacked and their homes and chapels destroyed at a time of extreme tension over religion.

Winchester’s fully illustrated talk will look at the origins and aftermath of the riots, giving a colourful insight into the extremes of urban life at this time.

• Non-members of the Norwood Society are invited to attend, although they will be unable to participate in any voting at the annual meeting of the society which will also be held that evening. Arrive at 7.45pm for an 8pm start at the Phoenix Centre on Westow Street, SE19.

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