Glebe Estate Article Wins Recognition for Chiswick Historians


Tracey Logan and Richard Szwagrzak runners-up in national award

Tracey Logan and Richard Szwagrzak outside the oldest houses on the Glebe Estate
Tracey Logan and Richard Szwagrzak outside the oldest houses on the Glebe Estate. Picture: David Wrightson

The British Association for Local History (BALH) has recognised the work of two of Chiswick’s local historians, Tracey Logan and Richard Szwagrzak.

Their article about the history of the Glebe Estate, which was published in the Brentford & Chiswick Local History Journal 29, is the Runner Up in the ‘short articles’ category in the 2021 Publications Award.

The Awards are selected from more than 300 articles from all over the UK, published in the local history society journals and transactions sent to the BALH’s magazine, The Local Historian, during 2020.

Their research into the Glebe Estate not only looks at its development and the people involved with that, but also considers the design and decoration of the buildings themselves. The article is accompanied by detailed maps which reveal the way the housing was developed. A very great deal of the Estate survives and the research underpins the newly-drafted appraisal document which supports Hounslow Council’s proposal to make the Estate a Conservation Area.

Tracey Logan and Richard Szwagrzak said, "In recognising our Glebe Estate discoveries through its award, the British Association for Local History (BALH) acknowledges the wider interest in Chiswick’s late-Victorian working class history and culture. In sharing our findings with the London Borough of Hounslow’s Conservation Team we hope that our Glebe Estate research is just the beginning. If Conservation Area status is granted it will safeguard this very special place for its residents, and enable further discoveries by local and academic historians alike. We wish to thank the Brentford and Chiswick Local History Journal for making space to publish our findings."

James Wisdom, the Brentford & Chiswick Local History Society Chairman, commented, "Tracey Logan and Richard Szwagrzak worked on the broad canvas of Chiswick's Glebe estate with precision and detail. They have brought out the whole rich story of how that development became the place we know today. The Society is very proud of our Journal which depends upon the local historians who contribute its rich content. We're delighted to have been able to publish this important award-winning article in the 2020 issue".

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June 12, 2021