New Brentford & Chiswick Local History Journal on Sale
Includes items on a Chiswick Mall poet and the Brentford Rolls baker
The cover of the latest local history journal. Picture: BCLHS
October 24, 2026
The latest edition of the Brentford & Chiswick Local History Journal offers another richly varied collection of research, bringing fresh insight into the people, places and traditions that have shaped our corner of West London. This year’s contributors delve into lives both celebrated and overlooked.
Among the highlights is a study of the poet who once lived on Chiswick Mall, tracing the influence of the riverside landscape on his work and exploring the community that surrounded him. The handsome cover design features a Bedford Park artist, whose life and artistic legacy are examined in a detailed biographical piece that situates him within the area’s long creative tradition.
A particularly poignant article recounts the stories of Chiswick residents who died in the two World Wars, the result of a research project begun at St Nicholas Church during the Covid period. Drawing on parish records, family testimonies and wartime archives, it restores individual names and narratives to a roll of honour that had faded from public memory.
The Journal also celebrates a major acquisition for local heritage: the personal collection of historical items from Brentford assembled over many years by Neil Chippendale. Now part of the Local Studies collection, his archive preserves everyday objects, documents and ephemera that illuminate Brentford’s industrial, commercial and social past.
Food history makes an unexpected appearance with a short piece revealing the identity of the baker behind the famous Brentford Rolls of the 1790s — along with the original recipe. It offers a glimpse into the town’s culinary heritage and the small businesses that once defined its character.
Rounding out the edition is James Marshall’s follow‑up to his best‑selling Centenary History, presenting the architects, contractors and businessmen responsible for the striking art deco architecture of the Great West Road. His research maps the network of designers and firms whose work created one of London’s most distinctive industrial corridors.
The Journal is available to order via the society’s web site for £10 , with UK postage added automatically through PayPal. Overseas readers are asked to email info@brentfordandchiswicklhs.org.uk before purchasing so that the correct postage can be calculated.
The Brentford and Chiswick Local History Society’s autumn programme continues on 16 November, when attention turns to Chiswick's historic landscape. Rosie Fyles, Head of Gardens at Chiswick House and Gardens, discusses more than 300 years of gardening history in the area. Her talk, titled "Garden as though you will live forever", will consider both the preservation of historic gardens and their relevance to contemporary challenges including climate change, biodiversity loss and the relationship between people and nature.
The final talk of the year, on 21 December, will examine the extraordinary history of Goddards' Brentford furniture store. Local historian and Society vice-chairman David Shailes will chart the story of a business that has been serving Brentford since 1815 and remains under the ownership of the Goddard family six generations later. The presentation will highlight how the company has adapted and endured while continuing to trade from premises in Brentford.
All talks will be held at the Chiswick Memorial Club. The Society is not currently able to run hybrid meetings, although records of presentations may be made available on its website where copyright permits. Members will also receive email reminders ahead of each event. In addition to the talks programme, the Society's autumn newsletter highlights a number of local events connected with London Open House, including walks, tours and building visits in Brentford and Chiswick, as well as information about other local history activities taking place later in the year.
For further information about the autumn programme and upcoming events, visit the Brentford & Chiswick Local History Society website.
Meetings, usually on the third Monday of the month, take place at Chiswick Memorial Club, Bourne Place, off Dukes Avenue opposite Chiswick Library. The membership year runs from January to December and the annual subscription costs £15 or £20 for two people at the same address .
If you wish to join, either come along to one of the meetings, or print off, complete and send the membership form with your details and cheque for payment, or if you wish to use your credit or debit card through PayPal, click here but also send an email to membership@brentfordandchiswicklhs.org.uk giving your name, address, phone number, and confirmation that the society may contact you by email in the future.
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