LATEST NEWS

Who lived in Richmond’s Hogarth House after Virginia Woolf left?

The latest addition to our website’s Resources section is an article by Emeritus Professor Robert B Todd on Saxon Sydney-Turner’s tenancy of Hogarth House.

New volunteer editors appointed

We have appointed Doug Pinchin as our newsletter editor and Julian Holden as editor of our journal, Richmond History. A warm welcome to them both!

Julian Holden lives in St. Margarets and has been a resident of Richmond borough for over 40 years. He has worked most of that time as a marketer and marketing coach for local businesses, helping them through the tricky waters of internet marketing. He is a regular lecturer at RHACC in Richmond and at City Lit in Covent Garden. He is also a volunteer room and tour guide for the National Trust at Ham House.

A long-term fan of history and a lover of art and architecture he holds an honours degree in Humanities and an MA in History of Art from the Courtauld Institute, University of London, and is also a qualified teacher.

As our new journal editor, he’d be delighted to hear from anyone with an idea for an article relating to our area of interest – Richmond, Kew, Petersham and Ham.

Doug Pinchin was born and grew up in Richmond.  He has always been fascinated by the rich history of the area.

After a career in marketing Doug became an antiques dealer specialising in late 19th- century and early 20th-century ceramics, particularly the products of Royal Doulton.  He edited a collectors’ magazine, wrote several books and lectured on the subject.

More recently he has produced a number of large-scale charity galas in major West End theatres, Ham House and the Great Hall at Hampton Court.

He has written a play, Secrets and Rumours, about local author Mary Elizabeth Braddon ,which has been produced at the Orange Tree Theatre, Ham House and the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.

New videos on our YouTube channel

Video recordings of the three short talks that followed our AGM on 19 May have now been added to our YouTube channel.

WELCOME TO THE RICHMOND LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

Our Society explores the history of Richmond, Kew, Petersham and Ham and the people who have lived here.

Each of these areas has a rich tapestry of history that includes royal connections, significant architectural developments, and a deep cultural heritage. Exploring their history offers an insight into the broader historical narrative of England, especially in terms of royal influence, horticultural advancements, and architectural heritage.

What we offer:

• Evening talks: Usually held on the second Monday of each month, our evening talks feature expert speakers who delve into various historical topics related to our area.
• Guided walks and visits: Explore the historical sites and hidden gems of Richmond, Kew, Petersham, and Ham with our organised walks and visits.
• Richmond History journal: Our award-winning journal offers in-depth articles and research on local history.
• Books: We publish a range of books on topics of local interest, providing valuable insights and detailed accounts of our area’s past.

TALKS

Our YouTube channel now has video recordings of 30 of our talks (including Nathen’s).

• Find out more about our forthcoming talks

• • You can now watch video recordings of 30 of our previous talks

MEMBERSHIP

Join the Society online

You can now join the Society or renew your membership online.

Annual membership is:

• £12 single
• £20 for two people at the same address.

By joining our Society, you will enjoy:

• Free admission to our monthly evening talks and (subject to places being available) free access to our summer walks.
• An informative newsletter, three times a year, keeping you updated on events, talks, and new publications.
• Discounts on our extensive range of publications, including our Richmond History journal.

If you are already a member and have a standing order in place, this will renew automatically when your next subscription payment is due – there is no need to contact us unless you wish to cancel or to amend your personal details.

If you prefer to join by post, please download our membership form; print, complete and post to us with an accompanying cheque or cash.

If you have any queries about membership, please email our Membership Secretary, Mark Lucas.

Join us now! 

PUBLICATIONS

Have you visited our online bookshop?

All of the Richmond Local History Society’s publications still in print are available from our online bookshop.

You can also purchase our most popular publications from the bookstall at our monthly talks and from local independent bookshops.

          Our award-winning journal

• • • Our journal, Richmond History, has received an award as London’s best local history journal for four years in a row. 

Our most recent issue, Richmond History 44, includes articles on Kew Gardens, Richmond Park, Sudbrook Park and Ham House, on the explorer George Vancouver (who lived in Petersham and is buried there) and on attitudes in Richmond to the new Nazi regime in Germany in 1933.

£7.00 (£5.00 for members)

Find out more about this issue and how to order a copy online.

Copies of all four issues, which include some pages  in colour, are available from our online bookshop. They can also be bought at Kew Bookshop, the Museum of Richmond, The National Archives’ shop and The Open Book in Richmond.

• Our two most recent books are on our local area’s contribution to the Second World War

  Our latest book, an expanded fourth edition of Kew at War 1939-1945, uses eyewitness accounts, diaries and official records to tell the story of local people and those who were stationed in Kew in the Second World War.

  American soldiers, who made the maps that helped the Allies’ D-Day landings, were based at a camp where The National Archives is now. After the Americans left, the camp housed Italian prisoners of war.

  This new edition of David Blomfield and Christopher May’s book has been fully revised and expanded by Simon Fowler and includes additional new appendices.

  It is available from our online bookshop and local independent bookshops.

  £10.00 (£7.00 for members)

  You can order a copy now from our online bookshop.

  A second edition of Petersham: Radar, also published in  2024, is on the transformation of Petersham during the Second World War. Anti-Aircraft Command requisitioned several buildings, including All Saints’ Church and the vicarage. The  important experiments carried out there led to discoveries that made British radar such an effective instrument of war.

  This second edition of Michael Lee‘s book includes a new, additional appendix by Timothy M M Baker on Petersham as a birthplace of radio astronomy.

  £8.00 (£5.00 for members)

  Order a copy from our online bookshop.

  ONLINE RESOURCES

  Resources on Richmond’s history at your fingertips

  Our Resources section includes a wealth of articles on various aspects of local history, such as:

  • Richmond Park: Explore the history and significance of London’s biggest royal park.
  • Richmond’s almshouses: Learn about the origins and development of these charitable institutions.
  • The Royal Star and Garter Home: Discover the history of this former iconic residence for ex-servicemen and women.
  • Richmond’s Congregational Church in The Vineyard: Delve into the history of this important religious site and its impact on the community.
  • Saving Kew Gardens: How a national campaign thwarted plans to build the National Physical Laboratory (now in Teddington) in the botanic gardens

In November 2024, Richmond History 44 won in the Journal category at London & Middlesex Archaeological Society (LAMAS)’s Local History Publications Awards. Our Society received a certificate and a £100 prize