The Griffin Brewery, 7.30pm Chiswick Memorial Club, Bourne Place W4

As a film-maker, David Rust worked with B&CLHS members some years ago on the Brewery’s history and the process of brewing, including oral histories and information from the then staff team. At the time the film was published on DVD and his illustrated talk will include excerpts from this film. Now he manages The Chiswick Pier Trust, based a stone’s throw away from the Brewery site. The talk is open to all, admission free though donations from non-members are welcome.

The DVD is still available on the bookshop pages of this website

Turner’s greatest work of art: preparing Sandycombe to receive his paintings
Chiswick Memorial Club, Bourne Place, W4, 20 October 2025, 7.30pm

The artist, J M W Turner, lived in Brentford in his youth in a house where the Weir pub stands today; a new commemorative plaque has been installed this year. He built Sandycombe Lodge in Twickenham for himself, acting as architect. Marking the 250th year since the artist’s birth, Ricky Pound will describe his unusual role as house director there, making it the only place in the world where Turner’s paintings were displayed in his own house. He will highlight practical logistical problems such as security and environ-ment and look at the work of art historians and curators on subsequent exhibitions.

All are welcome, no need to book. Doors open 7.15, talk starts 7.30pm.
We are sorry but we cannot upload the presentation. We do not have reproduction rights to use the Turner images from museum collections which the speaker shared with the audience.

Find the rest of our autumn 2025 programme here

Plate 1 from Pyrus Malus Brentfordiensis, Hugh Ronalds Jnr’s apple book, a lithograph by Elizabeth Ronalds, his daughter

The Ronalds of Brentford & beyond, 7.30pm Chiswick Memorial Club, Bourne Place W4
Using over 20 years’ research, David Shailes will tell the story of this important horticultural family from the 1750s onwards, when Scot Hugh Ronalds Snr established a Brentford nursery; the last descendant in Brentford, Robert Ronalds, died in 1880. David’s sources include an archive in Canada and a descendant in Australia. Ronalds family members include the inventor of the electric telegraph, the author of a definitive book on fly fishing and famous chemist.The family tomb at St Lawrence’s has been restored and a new road named for them.

This will be an in person talk and all are welcome – no need to book. We intend to place a record of the talk on our website later.

Details of the rest of our autumn programme are listed here