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.

PROGRAMME 2019

29th June, 2.30 pm - 5 pm. We are invited to a Garden Party at St John’s Church, Kensal Green, to celebrate their 175th Anniversary.  PLEASE NOTE, THIS IS A SATURDAY. The Church is on Kilburn Lane, at the junction with the Harrow Road. (W10 4AA)

17th July. Visit to The Grange, Neasden. This will begin with a short guided walk from Neasden Station, Jubilee Line, exploring some of the history of Neasden. Meet outside the station at 7.30 p.m. (Non-walkers, meet at The Grange, on Neasden Roundabout, at 8p.m!).  Vijay Amin and Brian Dear will tell us about the latest news from the Grange and allow us to walk around the gardens of this remarkable survivor from the 18th Century.

15th September (Sunday). Queens Park Day. The Committee will attend with the bookstall, as usual. We hope you will join us and enjoy a fun afternoon out (12 noon - 5.30 pm).

18th September.  Brent 2020, Borough of Culture. Camilla Churchill and her team from the Brent Archive will update us on plans for the 2020 celebration of Brent’s Year as London Borough of Culture. Meeting in the Parish Centre.

26th October. An afternoon of Medieval History. We have been invited to join the Monumental Brass Society for a meeting at St.Mary’s Church, Neasden Lane, for talks about the history, monuments and brasses of Willesden’s only surviving Medieval building. PLEASE NOTE, THIS IS A SATURDAY.  2 pm - 5 pm. Refreshments provided.

23rd November 10.30 am (Saturday). A guided tour round St Johns Church, Kilburn Lane (the church hosting the garden party in June). Fr David Ackerman will show us round the Church, with a possible climb up into the roof space. Wear clothes you don't mind getting dusty!

11th December. Christmas Social Evening - supper and entertainment - to be announced!

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: