Surrey Heritage

15/09/2026

Redhill History Centre has recently redeveloped its website in collaboration with East Surrey College - we've had a peek and it looks fabulous! With a clickable timeline from Surrey's prehistoric past to its present day, picture archives, facilities to search for notable historical Surrey residents as well as to dive more deeply into different areas of Surrey, there's plenty to explore for anyone interested in the history of our lovely local area.

https://www.redhillhistorycentre.org.uk/

The Redhill History Centre is a voluntary organisation dedicated to sharing the rich heritage of Redhill, Reigate, and the surrounding villages. It is supported by Surrey County Council Library Services and Surrey History Centre, and has its base here at Redhill Library.

The Centre volunteers are here at Redhill Library every first and third Saturday of the month at 2pm to 4pm, ready to help with any queries about local and family history. You can also view old photographs and maps from Redhill and surrounding areas. There is no need to book an appointment.

Surrey Libraries UK East Surrey College Love Reigate and Banstead Surrey Heritage

15/09/2026

Join us for this day of creativity and discovery of Surrey’s long history of refugee solidarity. This all day pop-up exhibition  (10am-4pm) shares the stories of people forced to flee their homes and those who helped them to find refuge in Surrey. Participants will have the opportunity to discus...

15/09/2026

Uncover the rich history of movement into and out of Surrey throughout the centuries. Hosted by Surrey Local History Committee and featuring expert talks throughout the day. Tickets: £18 booked in advance at https://orlo.uk/fPRUS

10/09/2026

Heritage Open Days return from 11 to 20 September, offering over 200 free events across Surrey! England’s largest festival of history and culture brings together local heritage venues, community groups, and volunteers to celebrate the unique stories, architecture, and places that make our county special.
From guided walks and expert-led talks to local exhibitions, open buildings, and film screenings, there are endless opportunities to explore Surrey's rich past: https://orlo.uk/0btOA

09/09/2026

You might recognise this bronze statue of H.G. Wells sitting in Woking town centre, but do you know the full story behind his connection to the area? Visit Surrey History Centre this month to explore our free display, H. G. Wells, A Surrey Connection.

Marking both the 160th anniversary of Wells' birth and the 80th anniversary of his death, this exhibition delves into the author's local ties and what Woking was like during the 18 transformative months he lived here, the very period he penned The War of the Worlds!

Unable to visit in person? Read about Wells' Surrey links on Exploring Surrey's Past: https://orlo.uk/kq8l9 and discover the first serialisation of The War of the Worlds in ‘Pearson’s Magazine’: https://orlo.uk/mBiSo

02/09/2026

Even history needs a software update.

We're upgrading our Collections and Catalogue System to make it easier for visitors and researchers to search our archives, identify documents they wish to view and order records in advance of their visit.

During the first fortnight of September, our team will be using the new system ahead of public launch and will be happy to place document orders on behalf of customers in the foyer and reading room.

We appreciate your patience and understanding while we make these improvements. We're aiming to have the new system up and running by Monday 14 September, and we can't wait to share the benefits with you.

Thank you for bearing with us as we bring our history up to speed!

01/09/2026

For our September Marvel of the Month, learn how Surrey County Archaeological Unit excavations revealed one of Surrey's most surprising medieval discoveries https://orlo.uk/VZXND

Digging Surrey's Past

29/08/2026

In the latest blog post for History @ Kingston, Dr. Steven Woodbridge explores the fascinating history of early film production around Kingston, Surbiton, and Twickenham: https://orlo.uk/Z9VsM

Screen Archive South East Image courtesy of Wikipedia Commons via History @ Kingston

28/08/2026

We have a couple of spaces left on our behind the scenes tour next week! Book online at https://orlo.uk/SxEvI

27/08/2026

Last night’s BBC1 ‘Fake or Fortune’ featured an update on popstar Chesney Hawkes’ Broadwood & Sons piano and its possible connection with John Lennon. Our very own Robert Simonson, Broadwood & Sons expert, gives a masterclass in how to trace the piano’s history in the company’s archive held at Surrey History Centre. Available now on iPlayer

The team revisit the fast-growing market for rock music memorabilia. Armed with fresh research, can they finally solve the mystery of John Lennon’s piano and Ronnie Wood’s guitar?