Welcome to the Chingford Historical Society

Discover more about the history of Chingford and surrounding areas…

• Carry out research with help from members

• Each month from January to July and September to December we have a different guest speaker (free admission to members).

• Summer Visits

• Newsletter

• See Events Page for more details

If you have any photographs or documents, or memories of old Chingford that you think might be of interest to us, please contact Gary Stone on 07970 524553 or [email protected]

We are also on Facebook, Twitter and  instagram. Click on icons below.

COMMITTEE - Our current committee members are: -  Honorary President - Peter Uglow, Chairman - Gary Stone,                    Vice-Chairman - Joanna Moncrieff, Treasurer - Simon Goulter, Secretary - Lawrie Curtis, Membership Secretary - Frances Pick,

Alison Goulter,  David Boote, Stephen Pick,  Alan White & Patrick Smith.

Our AGM minutes for 2024 are available to view on PDF HERE.

TALKS & EVENTS

CHS are pleased to announce that we have a full programme of talks and events for 2025.  Visit our Calendar of Events page HERE.

Download our talks and events list for 2025 HERE.

NEXT TALK - Thursday 16th October 2025 - 7.30 pm – A Trip along the River Thames in 1749. Using the extraordinary fourteen-foot-long printed panorama of the north bank of the Thames created by the Buck brothers in 1749, this lecture will take us on a journey along the early Georgian river from Westminster to the Tower of London. The luminous paintings of Canaletto will bring the journey to life in sunlit colour, and the highly detailed map created by John Roque in 1747 will be our constant guide. Along the way, we will encounter wharves, warehouses, watermen and water closets, dukes, criminals, cranes and churches, and even a lost palace or two. Talk by Dr Peter Ross

This talk will be held via zoom and in person at our usual location at C of E Primary School, Cambridge Road, Chingford E4 7BP.

Online tickets available HERE.

FREE to members & non-members £3 via eventbrite.  

Our 2025 talks leaflet can be downloaded HERE.

The North Chingford Heritage Trail is a great way of seeing North Chingfords history and heritage on foot. On the trail, imagine you are stepping out into a bustling town centre of the 1800s. This historic town has been around for almost 1,000 years and covers the whole area you can see on this map, and beyond!
Times may have changed since the 1800s, but many of the Victorian and Edwardian buildings still stand.
Explore North Chingford to see the remains of historic town buildings, and discover what life was
like for locals all those years ago.

Trail Booklet & map available at Chingford Station Hub (by the front door). Download the map HERE.

OUR SPRING 2025 NEWSLETTER IS AVAILABLE HERE.

Calling All Chingford Locals – Past & Present!

Did you—or someone you know—ever appear in an Acorn Films production or catch a glimpse of yourself in The Chingford Newsreel? Maybe you remember the buzz when the cameras came to town, or you’ve got a dusty reel tucked away in the loft?

As we celebrate 75 years of Acorn Films, we’re gathering stories, memories, and memorabilia for a special anniversary publication that honours this iconic slice of Chingford history. Whether you were behind the scenes, in front of the lens, or part of the audience—your memories matter!

You may think your anecdote is “not that interesting” - but we promise—it is. Every detail helps paint the picture of how filmmaking evolved in our corner of the world, from hand-cranked cameras to digital storytelling.

Did you first see the Newsreel at school, the local cinema, or a community hall?

Do you have old programmes, photos, or film reels?

Did your parents, grandparents, or neighbours ever feature in a production?

We’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch below and spread the word.

Let’s bring Chingford’s cinematic legacy to life together!

Contact - [email protected]

Or gary on 07970 524553