On Thursday 16 December at approximately 19:00, the MSF AGM will be preceded by an online Zoom lecture from James Wright FSA on ‘The Folklore and Archaeology of Historic Buildings’. James, a buildings archaeologist and historic stone specialist, will explore some of the most common misconceptions surrounding historic buildings, outlining the legends, explaining the origins of the myths and revealing the underlying truth behind each story to understand a little more about their former occupants.

The talk looks at the invention of linoleum by Frederick Walton in 1864 and his establishment of a factory to produce it in Staines. The different production processes and uses of this once universal floor covering are explained.

Looks at the disaster itself and its aftermath on the environment. 

One of England’s most important monastic houses, Merton Priory disappeared completely at the Dissolution in 1538, but its archaeological remains have now been reborn as a uniquely situated museum.

 House building virtually ceased during WW1, the major exception being houses for munition workers.  The first of these was at Well End for the Woolwich Arsenal, built in 1915.  Because of the lack of both bricks and bricklayers many of these houses were constructed using non-traditional

The talk is about the passenger and passenger cargo liners seen in UK ports during the author's boyhood in the 1950s, the ship owners, their origins and the trades which they served.

This talk explores gap between the early experiments of Faraday and the provision of electrical power that we enjoy in our homes.   Faraday discovered electromagnetic induction, the principle behind the electric transformer and generator

This illustrated talk traces the history of how local news, particularly in Surrey, has been brought to its readers, and focuses on the changes in technology from hot-metal printing to the modern computer era. 

A look at human factors in aircraft accidents, good and bad. Are we becoming too complacent with new technology?

Talk by David Hassard