We continued to hold talks on the internet using Zoom.
Monday 17 January 2022
Making a living from the Thames in Brentford & Chiswick
James Wisdom, our chairman, presents a revised version of the talk he gave to the 41st West London Local History Conference, with a special emphasis on our area, showing how important the river has been to the local economy in the past – such as fishing and river transport, ferries and bridges, boat-building and sport.
Monday 21 February 2022
The impact of the Great War on health and housing in Brentford
Dr Alison Appleby‘s recent research reveals how the Great War brought about changes in the lives of local people. A local resident since 1985, her long career, teaching history, politics and related subjects, includes over 20 years as an Open University tutor. She currently teaches at the City Lit.
Monday 21 March 2022
Perry, Monk & Billings: three local men who voyaged with Captain Cook to the far side of the world, 1768-1780
Phil Philo knows our area because he was Curator at Gunnersbury Park Museum in the 1980s. His wide-ranging knowledge of Cook’s journeys in the 18th century comes from his work managing the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum in Middlesbrough 2002-17 and a voyage on the replica of the Endeavour in 2003
Monday 25 April 2022
Black Chiswick through history
Nadege Forde Vidal is leading the volunteer research team on the Black Chiswick Through History project at Chiswick House. She will share some of their findings, revealing the hidden histories of 18th and 19th century black people who lived and worked at Chiswick House and nearby.
Monday 16 May 2022
Annual General Meeting and a short talk on some Chiswick houses
The business meeting will review the year and receive the financial report. A short talk will follow: The Hartington Park Estate: Histories of a row of 1890s houses in Hartington Road, Chiswick, in which Val Bott will share her recent study of past owners of these suburban homes and the changes made to the buildings over 125 years. Issue 31 of the Journal will be sent out by post after the meeting. Copies will also be made available for sale on the bookshop pages here by the end of May.
Monday 19 September 2022
POSTPONED BECAUSE OF THE ROYAL FUNERAL – TO BE RESCHEDULED IN 2023
Commemorated at St Nicholas, Chiswick
An illustrated talk by Ann Rix and Francis Ames-Lewis, from the church’s archives team, about their new exhibition which features some of the lesser-known but noteworthy people buried at Chiswick’s ancient parish church. The subjects include an admiral, a gardener, a photographer and a publisher.
Monday 17 October 2022
Refurbishing Boston Manor House
John Collins, Hounslow’s Historic Houses Manager, will reveal the stunning work that has been undertaken recently at Boston Manor, describe how its story will be presented to visitors when it re-opens and the ways in which the restored building will be used.
Monday 21 November 2022
Syon abbey, an internationally important site on our doorstep
Archaeologist Bob Cowie has been involved in excavations here over many years. He tells us his illustrated talk features “Time Team, foreshore archaeology, excavations at Shene Charterhouse and Richmond Palace, Swedish nuns, medieval England’s wealthiest nunnery, Henry V’s plans for a royal palace and three great religious houses (two mentioned by Shakespeare) with a bit of gratuitous violence thrown in for good measure“. This is a joint event with the Isleworth Society and the Hounslow & District History Society
Monday 19 December 2022
A Winter Scrapbook from Brentford & Chiswick History
Glimpses of past life in winter, a joyous time for some, grim and harsh for others. The lives of local people, from diary extracts and newspaper reports, descriptions of the frozen Thames in Brentford, Christmas postcards from local publishers and cards designed by local artists, a poem by Jessie McGregor. There was even a Chiswick Mummers play in the 1840s, recited by boys begging for money in the street
