The Wandsworth Historical Society aims to promote an interest in the history and archaeology of the Borough of Wandsworth.
This website has been funded through a generous bequest by former member Hilary Sims.
The present-day borough covers Balham, Battersea, Earlsfield, Putney, Southfields, Tooting and Wandsworth Town.
The Society, founded in 1953, organises a lively programme of talks throughout the year, as well as archaeological surveying and recording the Thames foreshore.
There are also occasional visits to places of interest.
The Society encourages new research, much of which appears in its journal, Wandsworth Historian.
More detailed research is published in a series of Wandsworth Papers, and some members have also written books on a variety of topics.
The Society is a registered charity (No. 270098) and is run by a Management Committee who are the Trustees. All are volunteers.
The Society’s AGM is held before or after the talk on the last Friday in June with voting by email, post and in person.
The Trustees for 2026/27
Chair
Dorian Gerhold
Treasurer
Kate Nichol
General Secretary
Post vacant
Membership Secretary
Post vacant
Mike Bull
Pamela Greenwood
Christopher St John-Smith
Neil Robson
The Society’s achievements
We were founded in 1953 to address the risks of ill-thought out destruction of historic buildings and records.
Our anniversaries
The Wandsworth Historical Society’s first talk was held on 8 December 1953 when the topic that night was ‘A stroll around old Wandsworth and Putney’.
Become a member
Enjoy a year-round talks programme, receive the Wandsworth Historian, join Thames foreshore surveys, and our occasional visits and walks.
