Willesden
Local History Society

Covering Cricklewood, Harlesden, Kensal Rise, Kilburn, Neasden, Stonebridge, Park Royal and Willesden

The WLHS was formed in 1974 by local enthusiasts who were interested in the history of the old Borough. The founder members had two main objectives: to ensure that the two thousand years of Willesden's history was not lost when the then new administrative Borough of Brent was born, and to seek out and record historical facts, because a community's future health is enhanced by a good knowledge of its past.

Now, the Society has members of all types, active researchers, family historians, authors, photographers, and some who just enjoy the lectures and fellowship at the meetings. All are welcome.

We are looking for people to become more involved in the running of the Society. Please come along and have a chat with us if you have an interest in local history and would like to help with the Society.

WLHS meets monthly from September to June, when lectures, usually with a Willesden flavour, are presented. A Journal is produced regularly, and from time to time there are guided walks and outings to places of historic interest. The Annual Subscription (£15.00) includes entry to all meetings and free copies of the WLHS Journal.

We do hope you will join us to extend our knowledge of old Willesden.

Click here for the membership application form.

Due to the current situation with the Corona Virus, our monthly meetings are suspended until further notice (hopefully, we will be able to return in September). In the meantime, we are working on the current edition of the Journal and hope to have it out when this becomes possible.

Brent Council is proposing to demolish one of Brent's few remaining historic buildings, Altamira (1 Morland Gardens, Stonebridge) and replace it with a high-rise block of flats and education centre. Willesden Local Society lead a campaign to save it for future generations.

Register your objection on Brent's Council's Planning website (ref. 20/0345)

https://pa.brent.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=DCAPR_148761&activeTab=summary

e-petition here (now closed)
http://democracy.brent.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=155

Read more on the history and architecture of this lovely building, and its vlue for the local community -

THE CASE FOR ALTAMIRA

PROGRAMME 2020

15th January. The Willesden Trades and Labour Hall. Camilla Churchill and Lara Salha. Collections development at Brent Archives - Brent Museums and Archives will highlight the newly donated collection from Brent TUC, the collection's importance to the wider community of Brent and its history, their plans for the collection, and how they hope to go about it.

19th February. The Willesden Green Library Story. Philip Grant.Philip’s talk celebrates the library’s 125th anniversary. The library opened in 1894 and has been playing an important role in the heart of the local community ever since.

Cancelled due to the corona virus situation - to be re-scheduled at a later date. 18th March. Britain’s First “Supergrass”. Dick Weindling. Member and Local Historian Dick Weindling has discovered yet another tale about a shady local character. Prepare to be amazed!

15th April. St. Paul’s Square and Kilburn High Road. Alan Hovell. Alan will describe the past High Road scene, drawing on his background as a Willesden and Camden resident, and Local Historian.

20th May. In and Around Queen’s Park. Irina Porter. Our Chair Irina, will talk about the history of the area that we know as Queen’s Park – from the royal beginnings of the famous local park to the artizans and labourers who built the dwellings nearby, - with lots of historic photographs.

17th June. The AGM. This is the chance for us to reflect on our past activities and plan for the future. Come and have your say in shaping the future of WLHS.

Willesden Local History Society Project:

A Walking Tour Map of High Road, Willesden

To celebrate the opening of the new Willesden Green Library and Community Centre, we have produced a short walking tour guide of High Road, Willesden. It includes a potted history of the area, from the times when Willesden was a 'green and pleasant land', the development of the region boosted by the coming of railways, Willesden's war effort and taking Willesden to 21st century. The map includes 18 historic locations, demonstrating a rich variety of local life, from industry to music and art, from churches to pubs, from buses to trains.  And, of course, our celebrated Willesden Green Victorian Library, saved from demolition during the recent development thanks to the efforts of local community. This pocket size guide costs £1 and is available from our book stall during our events, or you can buy it here: A Walking Tour Map of High Road, Willesden You can also send a chequefor £1.00 (in UK pounds), payable to Willesden Local History Society, with your name and address, to: Irina Porter, 75 Birchen Grove, London NW9 8RY

We are now on Facebook:

Our long-awaited book, Willesden Local History Society, 40 Years of History, has arrived!

Willesden, in the London Borough of Brent, has changed a lot in the last 40 years. Some landmarks were lost, like the art deco building in Willesden Lane, the Rolls Royce factory, the Guinness Brewery and the Heinz factory, some were subject of heated disputes, like Dollis Hill House and Willesden Green Library, and many historic pubs are no more.

New projects and developments transformed the look of the borough, like the Stonebridge estate, which had a complete makeover twice within this period. We gained a building for the Capital City Academy by the acclaimed architect Norman Foster, and the Neasden Hindu Temple entered the Guinness Book of Records. Many parks and public places underwent changes – for better or worse.

This books records those and many other developments, alongside the history of the Society, from its founding days in 1974 to the present. Every article is illustrated with photographs from our members’ collections, the Brent Archives and many supporters of this project. Social history in the form of memories from our members bring the history to life, along with the detailed research and memories from the best local historians of our region.

If you are a member of the Willesden Local History Society, you get a £2 discount from the full price of the book. Membership information here.

Prices - for WLHS members (if you may membership fees and receive our Journal)

UK (£7 + £2.80 p&p)	£9.8
Europe (£7 + £6 p&p)	£13
Rest of the World (£7 + £8 p&p)	£15

Prices - for non-members

UK (£9+ £2.80 p&p)	£11.8
Europe (£9 + £6 p&p)	£15.00
Rest of the World (£9 + £8 p&p)	£17.00

You can also send a cheque (in UK pounds) for the appropriate amount, payable to Willesden Local History Society, with your name and address, to:
Irina Porter, 75 Birchen Grove, London NW9 8RY   

We are now on Facebook: