Local History at Bell House

Bell House’s vision is to offer an opportunity to gather for learning, enjoyment and friendship, so wider learning is at the core of our mission. These popular local history talks are a collaboration with the Dulwich Society, a local amenity group dedicated to safeguarding the amenities of Dulwich. Members of the Society’s local history group generously give their time and expertise for free so all proceeds from our local history talks go to local charities - bursary places are always available too. So far, the talks have supported St Christopher’s Hospice, our wildlife pond, King’s College Hospital, London Wildlife Trust and Southwark Day Care for Asylum Seekers, among many others.

If you are curious about the history of Dulwich, whether that’s social, architectural or political history, these are the talks for you. We have hosted talks on Dulwich Communists (who knew there were so many?), the history of individual streets and who lived in them, wartime Dulwich, and Dulwich’s mid-century modern architecture. An important feature of our events is to involve the audience; every talk provides an opportunity for questions and what questions they are! Both our speakers and our enthusiastic and lively audiences are highly knowledgeable and keen to discuss local history matters. Attendees often give us ideas for future talks too.

Local history talks are at 8pm on the first Tuesday of each month, with a short summer break. At present they are online.

Dulwich Village looking north, with Dr Webster’s Fountain

Dulwich Communist Frida Knight

Upcoming talks
Online talk - From Dulwich Streets to Eternal Rest: Stories of West Norwood's Buried Residents
Jan 7
History
Online talk - From Dulwich Streets to Eternal Rest: Stories of West Norwood's Buried Residents
History

To celebrate the cemetery’s new entrance on the West Dulwich side, join Dr Jane Jordan for a captivating journey through time.

£5.60 | Online | Book here

History
Past Recordings
Local History, History, Webinar
On the Street Where You Live: Alleyn Road
Local History, History, Webinar

Alleyn Road has a pleasant wide aspect with large houses on both sides, it was not like that originally. Although building started in the 1860s, the final houses on the west side were not completed until the early 1890s. Prior to 1900, the east side consisted of the fences of the back gardens of the larger houses in Alleyn Park and it took almost a further 100 years for this side of the road to be fully developed, the last houses being completed in the 1990s. Ian McInnes' talk will cover not only the houses and their builders, but also a range of their occupiers, many of them notable, and interesting, characters.

Local History, History, Webinar
Local History, Webinar, History
Bovril Castle: The Story of Kingswood House with Ian McInnes
Local History, Webinar, History

Historic Kingswood House in South Dulwich, is now under the management of Kingswood Arts, and has become a not-for-profit cultural and community centre. The building we see today dates from the 1890s but there has been a house there since 1814. Ian McInnes will take the story up to WW2 covering the more notable and influential owners and its years as a Canadian Army hospital in WW1.

Local History, Webinar, History
Local History, History, Webinar
The Lost Mansions of Dulwich Village
Local History, History, Webinar

Just over 100 years ago, the last of the huge old mansions on the northern side of Dulwich Village were demolished. This illustrated talk by Ian McInnes will cover all five, The Hall, Menival/Fairfield, Lake House/Chinese Cottage, the White House/St Austins and Beech House/Warigul along with their wealthy occupants, many of them influential Victorian entrepreneurs.

Local History, History, Webinar
History, Webinar
A History of Taste Through the Dulwich Picture Gallery Collection
History, Webinar

Jennifer Scott, Director of Dulwich Picture Gallery will present a history of taste through masterpieces from the Gallery's Collection. From its outset, the Gallery has been at the forefront of innovation and creativity.

History, Webinar
History, Webinar
Changing Face of Dulwich Over Time with Brian Green
History, Webinar

Spot the difference and see how much (or how little) has changed in Dulwich then and now. Brian Green has a lifetime’s collection of images of past Dulwich together with first-hand memories, interviews with past residents and hours spent in the archives.

History, Webinar
History, Webinar
East Dulwich Pubs 1860 to 1960 with Ian McInnes
History, Webinar

Before 1860 East Dulwich had two pubs. By the end of the East Dulwich housing boom in the 1880s, there were nearly 20 together with two beer houses and a similar number of beer shops and off-licenses. Pubs were not only for drinking and socialising they were also entertainment, community and sporting centres. Many licensees were interesting characters as were some of their customers. And, unlike many other parts of London, almost all the buildings are still standing, most still used as pubs - though now run by boutique pub companies rather than large breweries or pub proprietors.

History, Webinar
History, Webinar
Labour Politicians in Dulwich since WW1
History, Webinar

This talk covers Labour politicians with connections to Dulwich including socialist propagandist Russell Smart, the founder of the Camberwell Labour Party (and cabinet minister), Arthur Creech Jones, Dulwich Labour MPs Wilfred Vernon, Sam Silkin and Tessa Jowell and interwar Labour parliamentary candidates, CA Smith, Fred Hughes, Helen Bentwich and Jim Delahaye, together with a few other Labour politicians who lived in the area.

History, Webinar
History, Webinar
Joan Woodward: The Good Sweetheart and Loving Mouse
History, Webinar

Join Calista Lucy, Keeper of the Archives of Dulwich College, to find out why Joan Woodward (1573-1623) was more than the stepdaughter of theatrical manager Philip Henslowe and a trophy wife for actor Edward Alleyn.

History, Webinar
History, Webinar
History, Webinar

Why were MI5, MI6, Special Branch, the CIA and the FBI so interested in a resident of a hotel which once stood on Dulwich Common in the aftermath of WW2?

Along Dulwich Common and within a distance of no more than 100 metres, three different nests of spies existed in World War Two. Follow the incredible story of MI5’s tracking of spies, traitors, Nazis and secret agents in Dulwich during WW2 with local historian Brian Green in this illustrated online talk.

History, Webinar
History, Webinar
Gentle 'Gentrification' in an Area of East Dulwich with Julia Atkins
History, Webinar

In 1898 Charles Booth surveyed the area of East Dulwich as part of his studies of poverty in London, and defined many streets in East Dulwich as a mix of poverty and comfort.

Into the 1970s housing in East Dulwich, east of Lordship Lane, was approaching 100 years old. One small part of the area was declared a statutory housing action area (HAA) to concentrate resources on improving properties and helping households.

History, Webinar
History, Webinar
Social Reformers in Dulwich in the late 19th and early 20th Century with Duncan Bowie
History, Webinar

A talk by Duncan Bowie covering birth control and moral hygiene and sex reformers, housing and planning reformers and anti-slavery campaigners, all of whom at one time lived in Dulwich. Includes Annie Besant, Alice Vickery, Havelock Ellis, Ebenezer Howard, Rev John Harris and Alice Harris and more.

History, Webinar
History, Webinar
The Grove Tavern in Dulwich with Ian McInnes
History, Webinar

There has been a pub on the corner of Dulwich Common and Lordship Lane since the early 18th century and possibly earlier. Originally called the Green Man, it was known as Bew's Corner in the early 19th century and, from the 1860s, the Grove Tavern.

The existing building dates from the 1920s and this illustrated online talk covers not only the buildings themselves but also the men who ran the pubs as well as some of the characters who used them.

History, Webinar