Barnes & Mortlake History Society
The Barnes & Mortlake History Society (BMHS) is a local history society dedicated to researching and preserving the heritage of Barnes, Mortlake, and East Sheen. Founded in 1955, it is a registered charity (no. 292918) with approximately four hundred members. The society holds monthly lectures, publishes books and papers on local history, and maintains a digitised picture archive.
History
The society was established at a public meeting on 25 November 1955 at East Sheen Library, on the initiative of Maurice Cockin, a resident of Leyden House, Thames Bank, Mortlake. Originally named the Borough of Barnes History Society, it was renamed to Barnes & Mortlake History Society on 17 March 1965, after Barnes was absorbed into the Greater London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in 1965.
The first lecture was held on 9 January 1956, and the first publication — Mortlake Parish Register (1599–1678) — appeared in 1958. Maurice Cockin served as chairman until ill health forced him to step down in 1958; he died in 1961. The last surviving founder, Mary Grimwade, died in 2011 at the age of ninety-four.
The society celebrated its seventieth anniversary on 11 December 2025 with four mini-talks at St Mary’s Church.
Lectures and Activities
The BMHS runs a programme of approximately nine lectures per year, held monthly from September to April at St Mary’s Church, Barnes and periodically at All Saints Church, East Sheen. Lectures begin at 8:00 pm; admission is free for members, with a small charge for guests.
Beyond lectures, the society organises:
- An active research group meeting six times a year
- Local history walks in the summer months
- Stalls at local fairs in Barnes and Mortlake
- Visits to places of historical interest
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the society adopted Zoom and YouTube for lecture delivery. Several recorded presentations remain available online.
Publications
The BMHS has produced over thirty books and papers on local history, including:
- Barnes and Mortlake Past with East Sheen — Maisie Brown (1997)
- Barnes, a Meander in Time — Mary Grimwade (50th anniversary edition)
- John Dee of Mortlake — Nicholas Dakin (2011)
- Barnes, Mortlake and East Sheen in World War Two — compiled by Frank Porter (2016)
- A History of Hammersmith Bridge — Charles Hailstone (2020)
- The Market Gardens of Barnes and Mortlake — Maisie Brown (new edition 2023)
- Rampant Development — Barnes Lion Houses — Matt Cox (2024)
The society also publishes a quarterly newsletter with articles on local history, reviews of talks, and event details.
Archives
The society maintains an extensive picture archive that has been digitised and made available on its website, with a searchable index. Collections include documents, photographs, maps, and other materials relating to Barnes and Mortlake. Notable member Leslie Paton bequeathed, and Raymond Gill donated, substantial collections of watercolours, drawings, prints, and photographs to the Richmond Borough Art Collection at Orleans House Gallery.
Key Research Areas
Over seven decades, the society’s research has covered:
- The Domesday Book entries for Barnes and Mortlake
- Market gardening as a major local industry
- John Dee of Mortlake (1527–1608/9), mathematician and advisor to Elizabeth I
- The Mortlake tapestry works (1619–1703)
- The Kit-Cat Club’s relocation to Barn Elms (1703)
- Local life in the Second World War
- The history of Hammersmith Bridge
- Victorian and Edwardian local trades and housing
Leadership
The Earl Spencer has held the presidency since the society’s founding — beginning with the 7th Earl and continued by successive holders of the title — reflecting the Spencer family’s three-hundred-year connection as Lords of the Manor of Wimbledon, which encompassed Mortlake. Eleven chairmen — six men and five women — have led the society, beginning with Maurice Cockin and continuing with the current chairman, Paul Rawkins.
Practical Information
- Lectures: Monthly September–April, 8:00 pm, St Mary’s Church, Barnes
- Membership: £20 per year individual, £30 per household (from January 2026)
- Website: barnes-history.org.uk
- Email: bmhs.queries@btinternet.com
- Phone: 020 8878 0629
Image sources
- history-society.webp — Barnes and its surroundings, engraving from National History and Views of London and its Environs (1834). Public domain. Source
Sources
- History of the Society — Barnes & Mortlake History Society
- Barnes & Mortlake History Society — Charity Commission (no. 292918)
- Publications — Barnes & Mortlake History Society
- Timeline — Barnes & Mortlake History Society