The Stewes of Bankside Exhibition Poster - Bear Gardens Museum 1973

Specifications
Exhibition: The Stewes of Bankside: An exhibition of the infamous houses of prostitution on Bankside from Roman to Elizabethan times
Institution: Bear Gardens Museum, Southwark, London (June 26th – September 9th, 1973)
Media: Historical Museum Exhibition Poster
Year: 1973
Dimensions: 51 x 75 cm
Status: Vintage Museum Poster, Original 1973 Printing, Clean Condition, Never Framed.
 
About the Poster/Artwork
This highly unusual and rare vintage The Stewes of Bankside Exhibition Poster was published to promote a unique historical exhibition held from June 26th to September 9th, 1973. Subtitled "An exhibition of the infamous houses of prostitution on Bankside from Roman to Elizabethan times," the showcase took place at the historic Bear Gardens Museum, located in Bear Gardens Alley within Bankside, Southwark, London. The poster features a striking, monochromatic crimson red medieval-style woodcut illustration depicting an intimate scene between figures inside a historic interior, reflecting the historical context of the area's notorious entertainment district. This original 1973 print serves as a fascinating social history document of London’s heritage, ideal for collectors of rare British institutional graphics, eccentric history enthusiasts, and unique wall decor.
 
About the Artist / Institution
The Bear Gardens Museum was established in London during the early 1970s on the historic site of the last bear-baiting arena on Bankside, adjacent to the famous Elizabethan playhouses like the Globe and the Rose. Founded by the legendary Sam Wanamaker as part of his grand project to reconstruct Shakespeare's Globe, the museum specialized in the vivid, alternative history of the Southwark and Bankside entertainment districts. Through immersive archaeological displays and provocative historical exhibitions, the institution shed light on the everyday life, underground culture, and social reality of Londoners across centuries, leaving behind a legacy of rare, academically rich graphic publications.