This year marks the 50th anniversary of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, which was formed on 1 April 1965. We will mark the occasion with a programme of activity called Joined by the River: 50 years of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames that celebrates our rich history and heritage. This programme has been made possible by a £9,400 grant from Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), awarded in March 2015 and match funding from Richmond Council.

Joined by the River focuses on the formation of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in 1965, joining together the municipal boroughs of Twickenham, Richmond and Barnes to create the only London borough occupying both sides of the River Thames.

There will be opportunities for the whole community including local school children, young people, older people, volunteers, local residents and visitors from other areas to come together to learn about the democratic heritage of the borough.  

A programme of research and oral history will enable the community and volunteers to conduct research into the borough’s collections and gather oral histories about the key people and places associated with this important change to local government.

An education and community programme will engage people of all ages and will see young people and older people from care homes each side of the river work together in an intergenerational project to creatively interpret the heritage of the borough culminating in a textile work. The education programme will also engage young people through talks in schools, a 50th anniversary teacher’s pack and visits to sites related to democratic history.

A 50th anniversary exhibition, displaying material examining the democratic history of the borough over the last 50 years will be on display at Orleans House Gallery from 16-25 October 2015. A touring exhibition will visit libraries throughout the borough and a video will be created of local people recalling their memories.

We hope that the varied programme of activities will be attended and celebrated by all residents within Richmond upon Thames, helping us to celebrate the 50th anniversary as one borough and one community.