Roger Wilding

Ten more new old photos on our website. Mainly central areas. We would love to have a photo section for Westbourne Events. We have some bits for the Bonfire. And a one-off Saxon Weekend. But there have been Church Fetes, Carnivals, Westbourne Week, Panto, Flower Show and more. Bring forth…

MORE OLD PHOTOS AND A PLEA The plea first – for copies of the Parish magazine 1920 on. One of our number, Jane Pett, is is working on a project to catalogue its contents right back to 1864. She has got to 1920 and would appreciate the loan of any…

The subject is "Westbourne's Watermills". Roger Wilding will lead an illustrated talk revealing four sites which are said to have been waterwheel powered by the River Ems. 7.30pm Friday 20 February 2026 at The Meeting Place, North Street. Westbourne. Doors open 7.00pm. Free admission.

Now - "Some Westbourne Bankrupts" Nigel Peake is unable to lead the meeting “Tales of Old Westbourne” on Jan 17. James Turner has kindly agreed to bring forward his presentation “Some Westbourne Bankrupts”. James has had particular interest in researching bankrupts for many years and will be revealing a mixture…

A reminder that our December meeting is imminent. This will be a light-hearted but informative history quiz. Illustrated questions, illustrated answers and, as it’s nearly Christmas, a free sherry & mince pie. Friday December 12, The Meeting Place, North Street at 7.30pm (doors open 7pm).

  The Group has finalised it’s programme of winter talks. November’s subject will be one of the village’s oldest houses. Susan Kelly, the owner, will introduce us to “A Tudor house in Westbourne: exploring the history of Box Cottage, East Street”. The illustrated talk will take place on Friday November…

“Then and Now” was one of our old favourite publications.However the photos were not great.  Don Manson has now created a new webpage for us,using a clever comparison tool and much, much, better photos.   See main menu above. Watch this space - the content may grow over time.  

We have a new associated Westbourne History Website created by Keith Hart initially to record his first and later memories of the village. Thereafter it grew into a remarkable solo effort of 150 pages on the history of people, organisations and events. Click the ‘Keith Hart’s Archive’ tab above to…

We are delighted to announce the publishing of a new and very much improved version of our booklet detailing a history walk around Westbourne. Professionally printed, with colour, photos and maps - 11 pages for a pound has to be a bargain ! Aimed at visitors and villagers alike, we…

A big and complex new page reproducing the talk and music of our meeting in the Church regarding James Covington. It includes a video of the whole presentation and a slideshow of the images Roger Norfolk used. Go to our “History Articles” tab and click on “James Covington” As it…