Programme for 2025 – 2026
Meetings in September and October 2025, and March and April 2026 will be held at Hounslow United Reformed Church, Chapel Road, Hounslow, TW3 1UL. Non-members are welcome to attend and will be asked to pay a visitors fee of £2.00 per person, per talk. The meetings will start at 7.30 pm. For our three other meetings in the current programme, in November, January and February, members are invited to log-in to local history presentations that will be web-cast, via ZOOM. These will be held on our society’s normal meeting nights, which are the last Tuesday in every month, from September to April, excepting December.
Presentations made remotely, over the internet and hosted by the Hounslow and District History Society use ZOOM. All members for whom we have e-mail addresses will be invited to join these sessions. Please contact James Marshall [ajmarshall54@gmail.com] if you would like to be enabled to log-in to one of our society’s ZOOM meetings.
2025
30th September 2025, Brentford Gas Works by David Shailes. This was a very early gas works, which dominated the town until closure in 1963. David’s talk covers its history, advances made in gas production and the expansion of supply to provide a service for all households. David Shailes is a local historian whose ancestors worked for the Gas Light & Coke Company. [This is an in-person meeting at Hounslow URC]
28th October 2025, The Home Guard in Hounslow and Feltham during WW2 by Max Carrington. In the summer of 1940 Anthony Eden called for a citizen army- the Local Defence Volunteers. 400,000 men responded! Who were ‘Dad’s Army’? And how were they transformed into an effective defence force? Max Carrington is an amateur Historian who works in the film and television industry and lives in Feltham. [This is an in-person meeting at Hounslow URC]
25th November 2025, Hanworth: village and palace by James Marshall [ZOOM]. James will present an illustrated history of Hanworth, from Anglo-Saxon times up to the present day. James Marshall is a Local Historian who writes for our twice-yearly Honeslaw Chronicle and is the author of THE GREAT WEST ROAD, A CENTENARY HISTORY (2024).
2026
27th January 2026, Thames Islands by Nick Pollard [ZOOM]. This illustrated talk looks at the history of the islands in the Thames between Shepperton and Weybridge. Nick is an experienced speaker and a Local Historian. He is chairman of the Sunbury and Shepperton Local History Society and Curator of Spelthorne museum in Staines.
24th February 2026, Devotion, Lust and an Exploding King by Howard Simmons [ZOOM]. Stories from the rich and turbulent history of Syon Abbey, founded by Henry V in 1416 and the 10th wealthiest monastery in England at the Dissolution. Howard is a Hounslow Heritage Guide, a Senior Guide at Syon House and a committee member of the Hounslow & District History Society.
24th March 2026, Strawberry Hill House by Nevil Tomlinson. Strawberry Hill is a Grade 1 listed building in Twickenham, transformed by Horace Walpole in the 18th century. It is famous for its unique style, which pioneered the Gothic Revival. Nevil is a trustee of the Strawberry Hill Collections Trust and an expert on Horace Walpole and his house. [This is an in-person meeting at Hounslow URC]
11th April 2026 (Saturday), The West London Local History Conference: Shopping in West London. At Duke Street Church, Richmond-upon-Thames. The conference programme and ticketing information will be available soon.
28th April 2026, Our AGM at Hounslow United Reformed Church Hall. Light refreshments will be provided. The formalities will be kept to a minimum, but are important for the society’s continuing ability to function. The main business of the evening will be a talk by Christine Diwell on JMW Turner’s Local Connections. 2025 saw the 250th anniversary of the artist’s birth. The Thames Valley, and Brentford, Isleworth and Twickenham in particular were both home and a lifelong source of inspiration to Turner. Christine Diwell is a Hounslow Heritage Guide and a committee member of our local history society. Her talk will include illustrations of Turner’s work. [This is an in-person meeting at Hounslow URC]
*** The presentations will begin at 7.30 pm on each occasion***
Please contact the H&DHS via this web site to ask for a ZOOM Link invitation to log in to one of our on-line talks. The ZOOM meetings will be open to log-in to from 7.15 pm.
Please ensure that the Membership Secretary has your e-mail address if you would like to take part. Thank you for supporting the society.
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Past Programmes of the society can be seen here