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 (£10.00) 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.

New Publication Project!

Willesden: 40 Years of History
in Pictures and Words

In May 2014 Willesden Local HistorySociety is going to be 40 years old!

We are going to produce a publication of photographs and stories of people who lived in Willesden in the last 40 years. We are looking for contributions from every decade since 1970 - a picture or a photograph and a short story or description to go with it. This will be alongside the history of the Society and people involved with it.

The publication will be in colour and will be available through Willesden Local History Society, Brent Archives and on Internet. It will also be presented as a WLHS talk.

Please send your contributions to
Irina Porter
75 Birchen Grove, London NW9 8RY
dyomkina@worldonline.co.uk

Or through contact details on our website

Original photographs will be returned, but it will be better if you can send them to us in a digital format (300 dpi resolution).
Deadline for submitting entries is October 2013 (for the publication to come out in January 2014).

We are now on Facebook:

Save the Victorian building of the Willesden Green Library, opened in 1894, scheduled for demolition by Brent Council!

For more details and the history of the building click here

PROGRAMME 2013

May 15th ‘Lost Railway Stations of Willesden and Environs’ - Cliff Wadsworth.
Today Willesden is quite well endowed with railway stations. However, Cliff will talk about several which we have lost over the years.

Jun. 19th Annual General Meeting (and, if time permits, a short event about Willesden.)
Please come along to support your management team - it really is quite enjoyable!

June 22nd Saturday, 11.00 - 17.00
Open Day at Kensal Green Cemetery.
This year marks the 180th Anniversary of the first interments. Come along to a most interesting fun day. The WLHS bookstall will be there!

Jul. 6th St.Mary Willesden 1075th Anniversary Celebrations. Saturday.
There will be several events associated with this main date. More information to follow.

Jul. 20th 'Roundwood Park - Trees and Things. Margaret Pratt and Cliff Wadsworth. Saturday. 11am.
We have transferred our summer event from a Wednesday evening to a Saturday morning so that we have access to the Café. The short walk will point out some of the wide variety of trees and items of historical interest. Please meet at Roundwood Lodge Café at 11am.

Sept 15th Queens Park Open Day.
Sunday 11am - 4pm. The WLHS bookstall will be there! Come and enjoy the day.

Sep. 18th 'Willesden Building Department Memories' - Dave Unwin.
Dave was Builders Surveyor with the Borough of Willesden Building Department and a local councillor. He will relate tales of his time in office with the Borough before and after it became Brent.

Oct. 16th 'Artists in Willesden' - Margaret Pratt.
Many years ago our patron Gwen Molloy wrote a paper on 'Artists of Willesden'. Margaret is to base her talk on Gwen's work plus some additional information on artists who worked and/or lived in Willesden.

Nov. 20th 'Forty Years On' - Len Snow.
Our President will give an overview of the first 40 years of WLHS and his experience of writing local history books.

Dec. 11th - The WLHS Christmas Event. - Details later.