Daniel Lysons’ sketch of Wright’s memorial tomb, Yale Centre for British Art

7.30pm, 19 January 2026, Chiswick Memorial Club, Bourne Place W4

In this illustrated talk June Ford Crush will introduce you to Richard Wright (c1672–1734), the builder so highly regarded by Burlington that he was commemorated with a superb memorial designed by William Kent. She has been researching Wright and his family and will share more about this man of great skill and substantial property, as well as about his handsome memorial. The Friends of St Nicholas’ Church have an impressive record of raising funds for restoring significant tombs there and this is their latest project.

The talk is open to all, admission free, though donations from non-members are welcome. The membership year begins in January, so this is time to renew your membership or join the Society!

The new programme has now been issued to members and is available on this website. For your diary . . . the first talk of the season will take place at 7.30 on 19 January at Chiswick Memorial Club. The subject will be Richard Wright whose magnificent memorial, designed by William Kent, stands in the churchyard of St Nicholas, Chiswick

The Scott Brothers, pineapples & possibly Chiswick’s first garden centre!
7.30pm, 15 December, Chiswick Memorial Club, Bourne Place W4

The Chiswick Nursery stretched from the High Road to the Bath Road along the east side of Turnham Green Terrace, from at least the 1750s until well into the 19th century. Val Bott will use James Scott’s lavish trade card to show the range of plants, equipment and services he offered in the second half of the 18th century and will also tell his brother’s story, from working as a senior Chiswick House gardener to setting up a pineapple nursery of his own. And she’ll describe a few of the later nursery gardeners who ran the site.

The talk is open to all, admission free, though donations from non-members are welcome. If you missed the talk, a pdf of the slides is available here
There will be a small publications stall with James Marshall’s Great West Road History and Karen Liebriech’s Fruit book on sale – they make good presents!