Sheila O’Connell , Assistant Keeper of Prints and Drawings, British Museum and author of The Popular Print in England takes a close look at some of Hogarth’s prints, providing a chance to discover how he worked and see what the content of the images meant to 18th century viewers.

Reserve your ticket by calling 020 8994 6757 or emailing hogarthshouse@laing.com

an illustrated talk by Penelope Treadwell, his biographer and a former owner of his Strand on the Green house. Born in Frankfurt in 1733, Zoffany came to London in 1760 where he found success. He was welcome in court circles and took London Stile House in Chiswick to be near the royal family at Kew. He travelled to Europe and to India but returned to build his own house on Strand on the Green. An exhibition at the Royal Academy, Johan Zoffany RA: Society Observed, runs from 10 March to 10 June 2012.

Gill Clegg died in February 2012. Our Chairman, James Wisdom, paid this tribute to her: “The Society owes an enormous debt to Gill for her work as Honorary Editor of our annual Brentford & Chiswick Local History Journal. In 1996 she revived it and oversaw its editing and production until 2007. She set it on a firm footing, balancing high quality and reliable historical content with material presented so well that it was able to reach a wide, general audience. We are very proud of the Journal, and will always thank the memory of Gill for setting such a standard.”

The Society will be funding the conservation of some appropriate books in the Thomas Layton Collection in Gill’s memory.

Janet McNamara, our Vice Chairman, spoke of their friendship at her funeral on 3 March 2012. The full text of Janet’s tribute can be read here.

an illustrated talk on the controversial and corrupt election at Brentford in 1802 by Christopher May of Richmond Local History Society

Thursday 23 February 2012, doors open 7pm, talk at 7.30pm at St Nicholas Church, Chiswick

Martin Postle, curator of the Royal Academy exhibitionopening on 10 March, will give this illustrated talk about Zoffany, the 18th century artist whose home was at Strand on the Green.

The event has been organised jointly by the Friends of St Nicholas and the Friends of St Anne’s Kew. A donation of £5 is suggested for admission and refreshments

Simon Shorvon will give an illustrated talk about Lucien and Esther Pissarro and their private press in Stamford Brook. Dr Shorvon was a contributor to the recent exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum. Copies of the book which accompanied the exhibition, with his essay about the Pissarros’ life in our area, will be on sale at the meeting

photo by Anna Kunst

16 January 2012, 7.30pm at Chiswick Memorial Club, Afton House

In this illustrated talk, Val Bott will reveal the full history from 1713 to the present day, using her detailed research for the new displays at Hogarth’s House.

This is our usual annual get-together. Small contributions of seasonal food to share will be very welcome, while drinks will be on sale in the bar. Our book stall offers a chance for last-minute present buying and there will be jolly things to do with a local history theme.

21 November 2011

An illustrated talk on 18th century farming in Chiswick,  by James Wisdom. This talk is based on recent research using an inventory of Burford’s property and possessions.

17 October 2011, 7.30pm, at the Chiswick Memorial Club

Jon Cotton, formerly of the Museum of London, presents an illustrated talk about Thomas Layton (1819-1911) and some other antiquarian collectors of his time.

This talk marks the centenary of the bequest of Layton’s collection of antiquities, books, maps. Most of the artefacts are in the Museum of London where many are displayed in the London Before London Gallery.