Wandsworth Heritage Festival celebrates local history. Many events of this year’s festival focus on sport in Wandsworth’s past and present. The festival runs from Saturday 28 May to Sunday 12 June 2022.
Pricing
FREE
Sport and physical activity (particularly outdoor physical activity) have benefited many of us throughout the last two years. As part of the festival also falls during the Platinum Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II, displays in local libraries will showcase the many visits that members of The Royal Family have made to Wandsworth.
We’ve selected events during the festival that may feature the history of Battersea and Nine Elms or take place in the Nine Elms area.
Tuesday 31 May, 6.30pm
Talk: For Battersea Dogs & Cats
Organised by Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and Wandsworth Libraries & Heritage Service.
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has provided temporary shelter and found permanent homes for cats and dogs since 1860. Find out about the charity’s history and archive collections from archivist Kat Hubschmann.
Address: Battersea Park Library, 309 Battersea Park Road SW11 4NF
Spaces are free, donations welcome via donate.battersea.org.uk. Booking advised – contact Battersea Park Library on 020 7720 4122
Wednesday 1 June, 5.45pm for 6pm
Talk: Swimming with the tide – the story of Battersea’s lost baths and beaches
Organised by the Battersea Society
By the 1900s Battersea boasted some of the finest municipal swimming baths in England, including the country’s largest indoor pool at Nine Elms. Find out more about these and other more dubious aquatic options in this illustrated talk by Sue Demont.
Free with refreshments available. Booking is required – contact events@batterseasociety.org.uk
Address: St Mary’s Church, Battersea Church Road SW11 3NA
Tuesday 7 June, 6pm
Book launch: Inspiring Women of Battersea by Jeanne Rathbone
Organised by the Battersea Society
Hot off the press, local historian Jeanne Rathbone presents her book on Battersea’s extraordinary range of notable women, from Elsa ‘Bride of Frankenstein’ Lanchester to Britain’s first female pilot, Hilda Hewlett. Come along and be among the first to get your signed copy!
Entry is free though booking is required – contact heritage@batterseasociety.org.uk
Address: Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill SW11 5TN
Sunday 12 June, 2pm
Walk: A stroll around Battersea Park
Organised by the Friends of Battersea Park
Finish off the festival with a gentle stroll round beautiful Battersea Park, taking in the park’s sporting past and present as well as its many historic features.
A £5 donation is welcome, booking is required – contact fhradcliffe@gmail.com
Address: Meet at Albert Gate, Albert Bridge Road SW11 4JN
Caribbean through a Lens
Produced by The National Archives
A snapshot of over 100 years of Caribbean colonial history in The National Archives’ collection of images from Ministry of Information and Foreign and Commonwealth Office collections. Also features some recently collected Wandsworth stories from Hestia’s Age Activity Centre.
Address: Battersea Library, 265 Lavender Hill, SW11 1JB
788 Battersea
Produced by David Appleyard
Following a period of in-depth research, artist David Appleyard presents his concepts for a series of public artworks that celebrate the work of Charles Rolls, the Short Brothers and their connection to the railway arches at Prince of Wales Drive, Battersea.
Available throughout Wandsworth Heritage Festival on Wandsworth Libraries’ YouTube page
Visit the Better website for the full Wandsworth Heritage Festival programme
Start date: 28/05/2022
End date: 12/06/2022
Open from 09:00 to 17:00
