This year the Society’s Lectures are being held in the Baptist Church, Duke Street, Richmond, beginning at 8pm, with coffee available from 7.30. Visitors are welcome: admission £1.


Monday October 12th
David Blomfield, Chairman of the Society, will talk on Kew in 1830 - a view from the Thames
This is the fourth of the Society's series of talks based on Leigh's Panorama of the Thames. It will explore the history of the houses, the palace and the businesses depicted on Kew riverside, and of the families that lived and worked there in 1830. Happily, this talk coincides with the splendid exhibition on the Panorama currently on display in the Museum of Richmond.

Monday November 14th
Valerie Bott of the Brentford & Chiswick Local History Society will talk on  "A little country box . . . the story of Hogarth's House and its residents" 
This early 18th century house was long used as a pleasant second home in rural Chiswick. In the 19th century it fell out of fashion and was let to a variety of tenants. From 1890 it was better cared for and in 1904 opened as a museum. The research for new displays at the House has identified almost all those who have lived there in addition to William Hogarth and his family - and their stories have turned out to be remarkable.

Monday December 12th
Professor Simon Owens of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew will speak on The life and achievements of Joseph Hooker, the second Director of Kew Gardens
Followed by Christmas party.

2012

Monday January 16th
Christopher May on the ‘The porridge-pot boils over’: the Middlesex election of 1802 – and the Richmond connection

Monday February 13th
Max Lankester on The Houses of Richmond Park

Monday March 12nd
Elizabeth Norton, author of Anne of Cleves: Henry VIII’s discarded bride, on Anne of Cleves and Richmond Palace

Monday April 23rd
Susanne Groome, co-author of Kew Palace, on Domestic Life in the Georgian Royal family at Kew

Monday May 21st
AGM followed by a talk by David King on French émigrés in Richmond 1789