B&CLHS programme 2016
18 January 2016
Rediscovering Sarah Trimmer’s Brentford Schools
An illustrated talk by James Wisdom on the history of the early and possibly unique Listed school building which stands beside St George’s Church in Brentford. (Later in 2016 the speaker produced a detailed history of the uilding, which was being very poorly treated by a developer with little expertise in the conservation of historic buildings)
15 February 2016
The Layton’s Library Project
an illustrated talk by Val Bott, Janet McNamara, Francis Ames-Lewis and James Wisdom about this unusual project, designed to reveal 17th and 18th century books from Thomas Layton’s collection in exhibitions and events at Hogarth’s House and at Boston Manor House. The project was supported by a grant to the Thomas Layton Trust from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
21 March 2016
The Valley of the Stamford Brook
an illustrated talk by Derek Chambers, using research for his recent MSc in Applied Landscape Archaeology to explore the shaping of our suburban landscape
17 April 2016
The History of the Royal Brewery
an illustrated talk by Stephen Hine, telling the story of one of Brentford’s substantial and significant but now lost riverside industries.
16 May 2016
The Battle of Brentford of 1016
a short talk following the AGM by Howard Simmons, marking the 1000th anniversary of the little-known battle and the Danish Wars of that time.
19 September 2016
The Greenings of Brentford End: 18th century royal gardeners
An illustrated talk by Val Bott about several generations of the horticultural family who ran royal gardens at Kew, Richmond, Kensington, St James’ Park, Windsor and Hampton Court.
17 October 2016
The Bedford Park ‘House History’ Project
An illustrated talk by Nigel Walley about the Bedford Park Residents’ Association’s project, researching and recording the history of local homes in their area.
21 November 2016
Improving Chiswick 1858-1883
An illustrated talk by Tracey Logan on the Chiswick Improvement Commission, our first modern form of local government. Her recent MRes in Historical Research tells of a body born at a time of extraordinary local change then killed off by angry ratepayers
