First in the new season of Brentford and Chiswick History Society meetings on Monday January 19 takes the theme: Riverside Chiswick - Then and Now.

The illustrated talk, using old and new images of Chiswick Mall, Grove Park and Strand on the Green to show how they have changed, is given by Carolyn and Peter Hammond, authors of several books of old photographs of the area.

Talks take place on the third Monday of the month at the Chiswick Memorial Club, Afton House, Bourne Place, Chiswick starting at 7.30pm. Enquiries 020 8994 4231.

If you wish to become a member, come along to one of the meetings or send a cheque for £9 made payable to Brentford & Chiswick Local History Society to membership secretary, 12 Brook Road South, Brentford TW8 0NN. Also enclose your name, address and phone number. Brentford and Chiswick Local History Society.

These views of Chiswick Mall come from Then & Now: Chiswick by Carolyn and Peter Hammond. The first is looking west before the First World War. The pub on the right is the Red Lion. Its outwardappearance has remained the same although it became a private house in 1916. Outside the door hung an old whetstone on which the osier-cutters sharpened their knives, giving rise to the invitation to “whet without then wet within”. Sandwiched between the Red Lion and Fuller’s is Prospect Cottage, the Mall’s narrowest building, only one room wide.The building on the extreme right is the bonded store belonging to Fuller, Smith and Turner’s brewery. In the distance on the left can be seen Thorneycroft’s shipbuilding works.