Note: All “Dorking” events are held at Crossways Community Baptist Church, Junction Rd, RH4 3HB, Doors 7pm, talk 7:30pm
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
Special event:
Sunday 19th April 10AM
Private Tours of Eel Pie Island Museum, Twickenham
Eel Pie Island Museum covers great rock music history – the Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton and many more started out on their path to fame right here in Twickenham! – a boatyard and more. It’s rated at 5 stars on TripAdvisor.
Cost is £12 pp for just the museum tour, or £19 if you want to do the “Slice of Eel Pie” walking tour of Twickenham as well. This tour covers Twickers’ bohemian past via a stroll through historic Church Street and the Embankment, overlooking Eel Pie Island.
BOOKING ESSENTIAL! Please email programme@sihg.org.uk to secure your place
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.
Tue 16th 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.
Having a break in August!
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 September (Zoom)
“Vickers at Brooklands” by Richard Marks
A joint DLHG/SIHG talk. More details to follow.
Monday 5th October (Dorking)
“History of Leatherhead stations, the RCTS Library ” by Andy Davies
RCST = Railway Correspondence & Travel Society. Andy is the RCTS’s Archivist.
More details to follow
No mid-October Zoom – having a rest!
Monday 2nd November (Dorking)
“Canal Mania! The Story of an Interactive Map ” by Paul Sebbage
More details to follow
Mon 16th November (Zoom)
“Merton Abbey Mills” by John Hawks of Wandle Industrial Museum
Once Liberty’s picturesque silk printing works, abandoned in the 70s, saved from demolition and reborn in 1989 as a popular arts, crafts and heritage centre, complete with the archaeological remains of Merton Priory and the only one of over 50 Wandle waterwheels still turning – founding manager John Hawks tells the tale.
Monday 7th December (Dorking)
“The History of Christmas: Midwinter Feasts Across the Ages” by Neil Mach
Time to get festive – Neil returns! More to follow
THURSDAY 10th December (Zoom)
We don’t have a Zoom on in December, but our friends at SIHG are running “The History of British Radar (Eat Your Carrots!)” by Guy Bartlett, you are welcome to attend.
Full details at SIHG Talk: “The History of British Radar (Eat Your Carrots!)” by Guy Bartlett (Zoom) | Surrey Archaeological Society or email chairman@sihg.org.uk
2027 Events!!
Date TBC early 2027 (Zoom)
“Brooklands – the birthplace of British motor racing” by David Nicholson
Watch this space!
Some Possibilities for 2027 – live
“John Logie Baird and 100 years of Television Magic Lantern” – Jon Weller
“Albury Park and Mansion” – Trevor Brook
“Messing about in boats on the River Wey” – Malcom Watson
“Spies and Trained Assassins – How events in Mole Valley changed WW2” – Lorraine Spindler
‘Holmwood Station – Some Peculiar Happenings from Its History’ –Julian Womersley
“Merton Priory” – John Hawks
“Underground Tunnels and Holes in the Godstone Area” – Peter Burgess
“Holmwood Common, A 1000 Years of Use and Abuse” –Kathy Atherton
“Origins and history of Juniper Hall” – Peter Almond
Some Possibilities for 2027 -Zoom
“”The Walls Have Tongues – Medieval Graffiti in Kent & Surrey Churches” – Sue Flipping
“Recent Archaeology in Albury” – Anne Sassin
“Religion and Disposal of the Dead in Roman SE England” – David Rudling
“Gertrude Jekyll” – Julian Pooley
DLHG 