The world’s first underground public railway opened in 1863, running  between Paddington and Farringdon Street in London.

Chris will explain why it was necessary, how it was built, and how it expanded right across our capital city.

The First World War inspired Heath Robinson to dream up a series of increasingly outlandish and bizarre military inventions with which the opposing armies would try to outwit each other. From the kaiser’s campaigning car or a suggestion for an armoured bayonet curler, to post-war ‘unbullying’ of beef, his cartoons are a fantastically absurd take on wartime technology and home-front life.

Organised by Simon Ritchie.

Leatherhead Institute, Saturday 26th October 2024

Play about the man behind the iconic London Tube map. Could meet in the cafe there an hour or so before. And there's the excellent LT museum as well, of course. 

Ashtead Pottery was an enterprise giving work to disabled war veterans from the Great War, and to "assist in the reconstruction of rural life".  It only lasted 12 years but produced some very individualistic pottery, often in art Deco styles, which now commands impressive prices; their most famous produce was the 1924 Empire Exhibition's "Empire Lions" souvenir.  Come along and hear much, much more from Professor Anne Andersen.

Talk by Benedict O'Looney, an architect and active member of the Victorian Society. More details to follow.

Sir Henry Cole (1808-1882, London) was a major figure in the history of industrial design, noted for his recognition of the importance of combining art and industry. He was instrumental in establishing both the Great Exhibition 1851 and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Retired engineer and volunteer for the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) and the Basingstoke Canal Society will give us an illustrated talk on the history of the Basingstoke Canal. 

Robert Hooke and Thomas Tompion were both involved in the development of clocks and watches, and their work helped make English clockmakers leaders in the world.

Full title "The Last Line: The 1940 anti-invasion defences between Guildford & Dorking'”. A Dorking Local History Group event which SIHG are promoting. See www.dlhg.org.uk for more on Dorking Local History Group

Archaeologist Paul  (from SYAS) will give us an archaeological evaluation of the 1940 anti-invasion defences between Guildford and Dorking.