Note: All “Dorking” events are held at Crossways Community Baptist Church, Junction Rd, RH4 3HB, Doors 7pm, talk 7:30pm
5th January 2026 (Dorking)
“The Surrey farmland girls 1939-1950″ by Neil Mach
After his hugely popular “Rocking Surrey!” talk in January 2025, Neil returns! The talk is subtitled “Triumph on the Land: the story of the Women’s Land Army” and is based on the testimonies and recollections from former Surrey W.L.A. members.
19th January 2026 (Zoom)
“Ralph Vaughan Williams & Lucy Broadwood – Musical Friends and Neighbours” “by Graham Muncy
Lucy Broadwood and Ralph Vaughan Williams, both descendants of important families who settled in the Surrey / Sussex border country in the mid 19th century; both had significant impacts on local cultural life as well as on the national musical scene, including their involvement in the revival of folksong in the early years of the 20th. century.
2ndFebruary2026 (Dorking)
“Munich and the Czech refugees in Surrey” by Trevor Brook
As Hitler took over the Sudetenland in 1938, Social Democrats, trade unionists and Jews fled for their lives. 150 of them came to live in Albury. Come along and hear about a piece of “lost” WW2 history.
THURSDAY 19th February 2026 (Zoom)
“The History of Shepperton Studios” “by Nick Pollard
An incredible array of films have been produced at Shepperton Studios – Goldfinger, The Day of the Jackal, Bridget Jones’s Baby, Carry on Camping, Black Narcissus, Oliver Twist, Full Metal Jacket, A Night to Remember, Stan & Ollie, Les Misérables, The Heroes of Telemark … the list goes on. Come along and hear more about its history.
March 2nd 2026 (Dorking)
“Trig Point Charlie!” by Alastair Clark
Why do we have concrete blocks on hill tops? Have you come across trig points while walking the Surrey Hills, and are curious to find out more about how they came to be there? Then this talk is for you. Alastair, a former Surrey resident, knows our landscape well.
TUESDAY 17th March 2026 (Zoom)
“The Dorking & Petworth Emigration Schemes in the early 19th century” by Dr Judy Hill
After the Swing riots of 1832 and further unrest in the town, Dorking assisted the emigration of almost 100 local poor people to Upper Canada by providing funds, food and clothing for the journey. The funds came from the parish rates.
This scheme is well documented and tells a fascinating story. Come and hear more from Dr Judy, a longtime DLHG favourite.
March 30th 2026 (Dorking)
“A Romany Lifestyle in Surrey” by David Rose & Geoff Burch
Many Gypsies, travelers and itinerant workers called Surrey their home in days gone by. We’ll hear about where they made their camps, the work they did on farms and market gardens, hop picking and their ways and traditions. The talk will include vintage pictures from David’s vast collection and personal family details from Geoff, whose mother was born into a Gypsy family in Old Woking
Monday 20th April 2026 (Zoom)
““Surrey Memories, 1900s to 1950s” by Michelle Howes
A selection of anecdotal accounts of Surrey life in the first half of the 20th Century. ‘Why that was only yesterday!’ Well, it’s hard to believe but it’s actually 75-125 years ago! Sure to trigger nostalgia, but also to make you appreciate the progress we’ve made in some aspects of life.
Monday 11th May (Dorking)
“Scandalous Surrey! Dirty Dorking!” “by Lorraine Spindler
Think Surrey is genteel, restrained and maybe a little boring? Think again! We may not live in Soho, Pigalle or the Reeperbahn, but a surprising amount of raunchy stuff has gone on in our fine county. Come along and hear more!
WEDNESDAY 20th May(Zoom)
“Elizabeth Barton – The Maid of Kent” by Melanie Gibson-Barton
Tonight, we hop over the county border and back into Tudor times with Melanie, who’ll tell us of a young visionary of Aldington in Kent was so dangerous to Henry VIII, Ann Boleyn and Catherine of Aragon that she had to be executed in 1534. The talk includes the work of artist Lauren McMahan
Special event:
Saturday 30th May
Guided Walk: “How Railways Killed a Canal”
Starts at Shalford 10:30AM.
A joint SIHG/DLHG event. £5 cash on the day, Details at: https://www.surreyarchaeology.org.uk/content/sihg-guided-walk-how-railways-killed-a-canal-starts-at-shalford
BOOKING ESSENTIAL! Please email meetings@sihg.org.uk to secure your place
Monday 1st June (Dorking)
“Chilworth’s Mills” by Colin Rumary
Chilworth Gunpowder Mills were built over 300 years ago and were operational from the 1620s until 1920, being most extensive and productive in the 17th century and from the 1880s to the end of World War I. Local Colin will tell us much more.
Day/date TBC in June (Zoom)
“Brookwood Cemetery and The London Necropolis Railway” by Nick Robinson
The largest cemetery in the UK, Brookwood Cemetery, near Woking is literally monumental. It was built at the height of Victorian cemetery design in 1854. With tombs dating back to the 11th Century (a king of England was reburied here,) it was so large that it had its own railway line and station, “The London Necropolis Line”, to carry thousands of coffins on a journey that never needed a return fare. Come along and learn more.
Monday 6th July (Dorking)
“Restoring the Art Deco Richmond Station” by Benny O’Looney
Benny, a practicing architect based in Peckham and a teacher at the prestigious Architectural Association, led the restoration of this fabulous art deco building. You can read about it at https://www.southwesternrailway.com/richmond-station-restoration – but please come along and hear more.
Monday 7th September (Dorking)
“Guildford’s Medieval Wool Trade” by Mary Alexander
Mary, who gave us a very well-received talk on “George Abbott – the Archbishop of Canterbury from Guildford” in 2024, returns with more medieval history
THURSDAY 17th October (Zoom)
“Vickers at Brooklands” by Richard Marks
More details to follow.
Monday 5th October (Dorking)
“TBC ” by TBC
Watch this space!
Monday 19th October (Zoom)
“TBC” by TBC
Watch this space!
Monday 2nd November (Dorking)
“Canal Mania! The Story of an Interactive Map ” by Paul Sebbage
More details to follow
Monday 16th November (Zoom)
“TBC” by TBC
Watch this space!
Monday 5th December (Dorking)
“TBC ” by TBC
Watch this space!
2027 Events!!
DATE TBC (Dorking)
“Origins and history of Juniper Hall” by Peter Almond
Juniper Hall, at the foot of Boxhill, started in the 18th Century as a pub, and then want through various adaptations as a family home until its current use as a Field Study Council Residential Field Centre. Its residents includes a group of French aristocratic emigres escaping the French Revolution!
DLHG 