Upcoming event
Wednesday 21 st December From Source to Sea – Tom Chesshyre
In the summer of 2016, a month after referendum in favour of Brexit, Tom Chesshyre took to the footpaths of England’s longest river. Beginning in Gloucestershire, where the source of the Thames is little more than a damp spot in a field, Chesshyre sets off along the 215- mile route aiming both to enjoy the scenery and appreciate the “golden thread of history” (Winston Churchill) that covers the story of England from pre-Roman days, through the signing of the Magna Carta, the dissolution of the monasteries, the Civil War, industrialisation, the rapid growth of urbanisation and current concerns: the likely consequences of leaving Europe being very much on people’s minds. It is a tale of a ramble along a river that has seen much while the water runs softly by minding its own business.
Encounters aplenty along the way bring colour to the walk, from fellow hikers to the chief helmsman of the river’s RNLI, down-and-outs, publicans, fishermen, boat builders, policemen and many others.
Tom Chesshyre is the author of ten travel books and worked on The Times travel desk for 21 years. He is freelance now, contributing to newspapers and magazine. He lives in Mortlake in London by the banks of the Thames.
Past events
16th November 20022 Tales of a House Detective – Marian Miller
Other people’s homes are a constant source of fascination. This profusely illustrated talk will feature some of the buildings – not just houses – Marian has investigated and the sources she used. So, this talk is designed for those who’d just like a “look through the keyhole” as well as those seeking inspiration for research into the history of their own homes.
After 20 years as a commercial property solicitor Marian retrained, gaining an Undergraduate Diploma in Local History and an M.Sc in Historic Building Conservation. Whilst working as a Conservation and Design Officer with South Bucks District Council she was responsible for preparing several of their Conservation Area Appraisals. After a spell as an independent heritage consultant, she now volunteers, chiefly with the Buckinghamshire Historic Buildings Trust and the Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society.
June 8th London’s Great Railway Stations Oliver Green ZOOM
London has more main line railway stations than any other city in the world, all of them dating from the nineteenth century. The city’s earliest termini, London Bridge and Euston, opened in the late 1830s just as Queen Victoria came to the throne. The last main line to London was built to Marylebone in 1899 two years before Victoria died. In the 21st century London Bridge has just been completely rebuilt, St Pancras has reopened as an international terminus and Euston is being reconstructed for HS2. Is this the new age of the train?
Oliver Green has a history degree from Cambridge University and began his museum career at the new Museum of London in the 1970s, becoming the first curator of the London Transport Museum in 1980. Oliver has also managed museum and cultural services in Colchester, Poole and Aylesbury, returning to LTM as Head Curator in 2001. He is currently an independent historian, writer and lecturer specialising in transport and design history.
Wednesday 21st December 2022 8pm Hedgerley Memorial Hall
In the summer of 2016, a month after referendum in favour of Brexit, Tom Chesshyre took to the footpaths of England’s longest river. Beginning in Gloucestershire, where the source of the Thames is little more than a damp spot in a field, Chesshyre sets off along the 215-mile route aiming both to enjoy the scenery…
Wednesday 18th January 2023 8pm Hedgerley Memorial Hall
Metro-Land to HS2 – Oliver Green Railways have had a key role in shaping the development of the country areas northwest of London in the twentieth century. This began when the Metropolitan, the world’s first underground railway, was extended beyond its original urban network of the 1860s to run through Middlesex, Herts and Bucks to reach…
The History of Holly Hill House, Stoke Poges – Mike Dewey
On Wednedsay 15 September at 8pm Mike Dewey will present the ‘History of Holy Hill House’. In recent years the site of the Sikh school in Hollybush Hill, Stoke Poges, has been the subject of much controversy. Originally part of the Stoke Park Estate the site was first developed in 1783. This talk will trace…
“An Underground Guide to 1950’s London”
On Wednesday 16th June at 8pm Nick Dobson will present”An underground Guide to 1950’s London”. Take the Time Tube Train back to London of the 1950’s and discover a decade during which wartime austerity gave way to growing optimism. This fully illustrated talk will reveal a City quite different from today’s London, but a City…
19th May 2021 Beacons of the Past – Investigating a prehistoric Chilterns
Beacons of the Past is a 3.5 year project part funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Chiltern Society, and the National Trust, amongst others. It’s purpose is to engage and inspire communities to discover, conserve, and enjoy the Chilterns’ Iron Age hillforts and their prehistoric chalk landscapes. Now at the project’s midpoint, Project…
Follow My Blog
Get new content delivered directly to your inbox.
HHS 