#FridayFrocks – This Sunday is the 240th wedding anniversary of Miss Jane Bailey and James Wickham Esq. They married in 1780. Our current fashion exhibition #MarriageALaMode includes Jane’s wedding outfit! Free and open until 5.09.2026.

#ThrowbackThursday - Animal Health & Vet Labs New Haw 1957. AHVLA est. 1894 in Whitehall to deal with an swine flu epidemic. Moved to Woodham Lane, 1917. 10/2014 merged with FERA & renamed Animal & Plant Health Agency, part of DEFRA. Staff carry out animal disease surveillance & diagnosis #TBT

#FridayFrocks – Since this year Friday Frocks falls on #Halloween, we thought we’d post one of our spookier garments. This black silk crêpe teagown dates to c.1895 – 1905 and would certainly have suited #MorticiaAddams!

#ThrowbackThursday - CJ Smith's 106-108 Guildford St #Chertsey 1970s In 1970s during building work C17 witch bottle unearthed at back of 108 which was White Hart Inn 1660s-1788. Inside found hair & heart-shaped piece of fabric with pins through it. Now on display #HappyHalloween #TBT #LocalHistory

#FridayFrocks - Evening gown by Jean Varon, c.1971 – 74, of #Green nylon chiffon, with rose-pink lining. Influential British designer John Bates (1935 - 2022), launched the Jean Varon label in 1960.

#ThrowbackThursday - Cold War bunker old Civic Offices #Addlestone 2009 Runnymede Borough Council had an underground bunker below their car park it consisted 2 small rooms, decontamination room & shower & escape hatch. Filled in when the office buildings were demolished in 2009. #TBT #LocalHistory

#FridayFrocks - coat, c.1939–48, by Keldore of #Green herringbone-woven wool. It has Bakelite buttons. Bright colours were a cost-effective way of adding interest to garments and boosting morale during and soon after World War 2.

Throwback Thursday – Woodlee Rehabilitation Centre, Egham, 1946 WW2 C19 mansion/estate was commandeered by Mechanisation Board of War Office before being used by Ministry of Labour & National Service. Became Egham Rehabilitation Centre, & for disabled men and women through to the 1990s #LocalHistory

#FridayFrocks – #Green printed cotton dress, c.1860. The colour comes from a man-made dye. The skirt would have been supported by a crinoline cage.

#ThrowbackThursday - the White Hart public house, #NewHaw, c1890 The White Hart pub has been in existence since the late 18th century when it was built to serve the bargemen working on the Wey Navigation. It was rebuilt in the 1860s so that it faced the road rather than the canal. #TBT #LocalHistory

#FridayFrocks – Continuing our #Green theme with a Theatre Coat, c.1912, attributed to Paul #Poiret. Seen in our exhibition ‘Celebrating Stitchcraft’, which closes Saturday 1st November. This showcases the work of talented embroidery artist Darren Ball.

#ThrowbackThursday - Bridge Rd #Chertsey c.1907 Jolly Waggoner operated between 1837 and 1907. Next door was Vine Inn. Built in the early C18th previously called Lion & Lamb, then the Lamb from 1769. 1839-1850 it was boarding school, becoming Vine Inn c.1851. The pub closed its doors in 2009. #TBT

#FridayFrocks - Here we have a striking pink and #green shot silk taffeta evening gown by Jean-Louis Scherrer, c.1985. The enormous sleeves are constructed from stiff net and decorated with petals of pink and green silk organza.

#ThrowbackThursday - Penton Hook, #Chertsey, 1909 When Penton Hook Lock completed in 1815 was furthest lock, upstream, controlled by the City of London Corporation. The weir was built later, in 1846, below the point where the Thames loops and flows into the Abbey River. #LocalHistory #TBT

#FridayFrocks – For the next few posts, we are going to concentrate on #Green items: green silk brocade shoes, c.1730. Pattens were often paired with shoes. They protected from dust and dirt.

#ThrowbackThursday – the junction of Brighton Road and Station Road, #Addlestone, c.1970 #TBT #LocalHistory

Today is the funeral of HRH Katharine, Duchess of Kent. Born 1933 she was Gt Granddaughter of Sir John Tomlinson Brunner of Silverlands #Chertsey. Brunner lived there 1910-19 & had these photos taken after refurb of mansion #LocalHistory

#FridayFrocks - Our brand-new fashion exhibition, entitled ‘Marriage à la Mode’, is now open! See wedding dresses from the 1780s to 1980s, including this lovely gown, c.1843 – 48. Ends 5.09.26 #MarriageALaMode #WeddingDresses #Bridalwear

Our 350th #ThrowbackThursday - Chertsey Bridge in 1918. Built by James Paine at a cost of £7,325. it was opened in 1785 and replaced a wooden bridge which had (with much repair) stood since 1300 #LocalHistory #TBT

#FridayFrocks - Known as a ‘Ziggy Stardust’ dress, and designed by Ossie Clark, c.1973, it is made from bias cut silk #Chiffon. The print is by textile designer and wife of Ossie Clark, Celia Birtwell.

#ThrowbackThursday -High St Egham c. 1910 In 1910 Mr Powell opened his “Electric Theatre” 166 High St & called it The Gem. In 1921 the Bohemia opened at 153 1921 & screened new “talkies” by 1928. Gem closed soon after but Bohemia changed name to Savoy & continued until 1950s. #LocalHistory #TBT

#FridayFrocks - Summer afternoon ensemble, c.1928: a dress and matching yoked cape with long streamers of silk #Chiffon. Note how the dressmaker has skilfully trimmed the chiffon around the pattern at the skirt hem.

#ThrowbackThursday - The Cricketers pub, Chertsey Bridge. Early C18 traded as Walnut Tree with sign depicting cricketers beneath a walnut tree., painted in lieu of a bar bill! Rebuilt 1880, closed 1990 & demolished, to be replaced by Melita House, an office building. #LocalHistory #TBT

#FridayFrocks - #Chiffon and lace wedding dress, c.1916, trimmed with imitation orange blossom. A popular flower for brides, it symbolises eternal love, purity and fertility.

Throwback Thursday - St. Jude's Rd, Englefield Green, c.1906. Herbert Weller's General House & Furnishings' Shop & Showroom occupied Nos. 31 & 32 St Jude's Road between 1904 & 1908. He also owned a shop in Egham High Street, & was Chairman of Egham Urban District Council in 1906. #TBT #LocalHistory

#FridayFrocks – Today we’re celebrating the 80th anniversary of VJ Day and focusing on the 1940s. This evening gown was produced in 1946. It is made from ‘parachute silk’ - actually a nylon fabric, which was readily available off-ration soon after the war ended. #VJ80

Throwback Thursday - Dunford (or Durnford) Bridge, Ottershaw, c.1905-1915. A wood bridge over Bourne here from mid C16. 1897 Local Highways Committee recommended a new brick bridge which rebuilt again in 1957 when the road was widened. #LocalHistory #TBT

#FridayFrocks – Spotted nylon #Chiffon has been used in this summer day dress, c.1960. The acetate lining has also been printed with black spots which overlap with those on the chiffon creating an interesting, blurred effect.

Throwback Thursday – F. Udall Household Stores, Bridge Road, Chertsey c.1930 Frederick Udall ran shop behind The Vine PH 1911-1934. The Vine was called The Lamb C18 and 1839-1851 was a boarding school. The Vine closed in 2009 and has since been converted into private dwellings.

#FridayFrocks #Chiffon – c.1953 – 57, and made from the palest pink silk chiffon, this softly draped couture gown by Lanvin-Castillo is a beautifully elegant, feminine garment.

#ThrowbackThursday Longcross Post Office 1930s 1848 Laurel Cottage, Kitsmead Lane, became Longcross sub-post office let to John Batchelor who ran post office, telegraph office & village shop. By time of photo taken Miss Flora Batchelor been running the post office for a decade. It closed 8/12/1973.

#FridayFrocks: #Cotton organza day dress, c.1868. It is edged with white cotton frills, cleverly printed with a lace pattern. From a distance this resembles real lace and was an economical way of achieving a fashionable lacy effect.

#ThrowbackThursday - Darley Dene, #Addlestone, c.1930 Darley Dene was 1 of 3 elegant country houses which once stood in central Addlestone Built mid-19th century & stood until 1960s. Site is now occupied by Runnymede Borough Council’s Civic Centre, although Darley Dene Primary School named after it

#FridayFrocks - This pretty #Cotton muslin day gown, c.1809-11, could easily have been worn by one of Jane Austen’s characters. She died on this day, 1817. See it and others at our exhibition: ‘High Waists to Romantic Tastes’. On until 30.08.25.

#ThrowbackThursday – The Victoria Inn, The Glanty, #Egham, c.1900 Orig. inn, shown here, built mid C19 but reconstructed in 1936. Brewery records state it catered for “working class & beanfeasters”. Currently the Egham Burger King! The name Glanty means the landing place of hawks or kites. #TBT

#FridayFrocks - a #Cotton muslin dress, c.1846-49, printed with sprays of roses in plum and red. Layered skirt flounces were a common feature of women’s summer dresses during the 2nd half of the 1840s.

#ThrowbackThursday - Colonel's Lane, Chertsey, 1966 Colonel’s Lane, which runs along the side of Abbeyfields, almost certainly owes its name to Colonel Horace St. Paul, diplomat, who lived at Weston House 1777-1785. Photo showsstable and coach-house of the mansion, demolished 1825.

#FridayFrocks #Cotton. ‘Seaside Walking Dress’ from c.1916-20. A cotton ensemble consisting of a dress with separate weighted tunic. The simple decoration, sailor-collar and nautical-style stripes are typical of seaside wear.

#ThrowbackThursday - High Street, #Addlestone, 1905

#FridayFrocks #SensationalSilks: A #Regency silk satin Spencer c.1818. Women’s Spencers developed from menswear. Generally worn as part of ‘Walking Dress’, Spencers added style, variety and a little warmth to an outfit.

Throwback Thursday - "The Candy House" and garages, South Western Suburban Water Company, #Egham, 1931 Work began to create the filter beds at Egham's water treatment works on the Causeway in 1924 with the boiler house, or Candy House as it was known, added in 1935.

#FridayFrocks #SensationalSilks: Evening gown, c.1818–24, made from semi-transparent silk gauze. A replica silk under-dress shimmers through the fabric. See it in our current #Regency fashion exhibition: ‘High Waists to Romantic Tastes’. On until 30.08.25.

Throwback Thursday - Christ Church, #Longcross, c. 1910 Built 1847 by Mr Tringham of Longcross House, to serve the residents of Longcross. Still had many of its original features when it closed for worship in 2004. Subsequently been converted into accommodation, but the historic exterior remains.

15 June 1215 King John sealed #MagnaCarta at #Runnymede because it was a convenient open space half way between Windsor Castle and the Barons' camp at Staines Visit our YouTube channel to hear Professor Nigel Saul explain the reasons behind this internationally important event youtu.be/0FP1Oaq7jh8

#FridayFrocks – A brand-new textiles exhibition: #CelebratingStitchcraft. Darren Ball, textile artist, is exhibiting his work with us. Open from 14.06.25 to 18.10.25, it features a range of Darren’s beautiful embroideries plus original items the Matthews collection.

Throwback Thursday – The Station Hotel, 1 Guildford Street, Chertsey, 1989 Opened 1869 when line extended from Chertsey to V Water. Prior to that, when the railway first came to Chertsey, such station buildings as there were, were on the King’s Arms side of the road. The Station Hotel closed 1990

#FridayFrocks – #SensationalSilks - a day dress, c.1845 – 1850. This one-piece day dress is made from shot silk, woven using pink horizontal (weft) threads and blue vertical (warp) threads. The result is something which was known as ‘changeable silk’.

#ThrowbackThursday - Egham High Street, June 1901 Funeral procession of Percy Giles, member of "H" Company, 2nd Middlesex Volunteers. Part of SA Oliver Collection we look after. Sydney Oliver was born in Egham in 1906 & lived in the town for most of his life until his death 9/6/1986 #TBT

#FridayFrocks #SensationalSilks An early 18th century brocade open robe. The silk is c.1734, but the dress was remodelled in the 1750s. It’s a good example of clever recycling as it is made up of three separate silks, each with a slightly different pattern. They blend to create a coherent whole.

Happy #NationalBiscuitDay! The Wade family ran their bakery and biscuit shop at 21 London Street, #Chertsey, from the early 1880s well into the 1950s. That's a lot of biscuits!