Dates and data

Richmond Local History Society lectures are held in the Duke Street Baptist Church, Richmond, beginning at 8pm, with coffee available from 7.30. Visitors welcome: £1. Monday February 9: joint meeting with the Friends of Richmond Museum. The subject is Henry VII at Richmond Palace by Sean Cunningham of The National Archives. For most English monarchs, building projects were a visible way of proclaiming power and authority. Henry VII was no different. Yet as a king who seized the crown by force, and who was determined to establish a ruling dynasty, his buildings also served to emphasise the royal rights of the Tudor family. When the mediaeval palace of Shene burned down in 1497, Henry VII rebuilt it to reflect the legitimacy of the Tudor dynasty. He also created a new and luxurious private residence that became one of the favourites of later Tudor monarchs. In this talk, near the 500th anniversary of Henry VII's death, Dr Sean Cunningham investigates the records that highlight the building of Richmond Palace and its role at the centre of early Tudor politics and the private life of the royal family. Secretary Elizabeth Velluet 020 8891 3825. hhtp://richmondhistory.org.uk The Richmond Association for the National Trust lecture 2.30pm on Tuesday February 10 in the Vestry Hall, 21 Paradise Road, Richmond. Elizabethan England: a view of the people and the living conditions is by Phillipa Bernard. Refreshments. Doors open 2.15pm. Members £2.50, visitors £3.50. Enquiries 020 8979 3089, 020 8894 9262.

First Richmond Scout Group would like to invite past members to their centenary reunion in June. Please contact Natalie Nesbitt on 07946 351 189 or email to firstrichmondscouts@yahoo.co.uk.

Thursday February 12 at the Pier House, Corney Reach Way: Hogarth’s Chiswick, an illustrated talk by Val Bott about the artist's weekend cottage, the riverside village he came to in 1749, and his friends and neighbours. Doors open at 7pm, talk at 7.30pm. Entry free to Pier House Trust members and £3 for non-members.

Brentford and Chiswick History Society, 020 8994 4231, talks take place on the third Monday of the month at the Chiswick Memorial Club, Afton House, Bourne Place, Chiswick starting at 7.30pm. Afton House does not open until 7pm. If you wish to become a member, come along to one of the meetings or send a cheque for £9 , 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. Monday February 16: The Zulu War of 1879 and the Battle of Rorke’s Drift, with special reference to Private Frederick Hitch VC of Chiswick, and Private James Marshall, the speaker’s great grandfather, by James Marshall, Hounslow’s Local Studies Librarian.

The West Middlesex Family History Society meets in the Montague Hall, Montague Road, Hounslow, 7.15pm open, talk at 8pm on the third Thursday of each month. Free. Membership and further information Yvonne Masson, 65 St Margarets Grove, Twickenham. TW1 1JF or visit www.west-middlesex-fhs.org.uk Meetings include talks on aspects of family or local history. In addition, many of the society's resources and indexes are normally available for consultation from about 7.15 pm. February 19: A History of Fishing in Chiswick by James Wisdom.

The Hounslow and District History Society: 8pm in the Montague Hall, Montague Road, Hounslow. Secretary 020 8890 5078. Tuesday February 24: The bombing of Feltham in World War Two by James Marshall, librarian, Local Studies of L B Hounslow.

The 29th West London Local History Conference looks at People in West London History. Venue is the Montague Hall, Montague Road, Hounslow, 10am on Saturday March 21. Tickets £7.50, available only in advance by post from J McNamara, 31B Brook Road South, Brentford TW8 ONN or from the sponsoring societies. Please send SAE and cheque payable to West London Local History Conference.