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In yesterday’s EastSheenMatters Graham Kench examined the relationship of Sheen House to the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.
Local historian Raymond Gill talked in 1976 about Sheen House at a meeting of the Barnes and Mortlake History Society. That produced a response from a local resident, shown below, drawing attention to the cycle track and the Run.
For the first annual Commemoration Run in 1897 the Motor Car Club drove from Whitehall Place to the Sheen House Club, described as a distance of about eight miles. For the second Commemoration Run in 1898 the Club again drove to Sheen House. It was described as ‘a much larger and better organised affair than in 1897, [at which] some 280 members of the Club enjoyed a concert and a five course luncheon with fine wines’.
The fin de siecle history of the Sheen House Club may provide one explanation of why it became the destination of choice for the Motor Car Club. The Sheen House Cycling Club Ltd had been formed on 26 November 1896 and became the Sheen House Club the following year.
The Committee comprised the Great (and the Good?).
The prospectus for the Club reads :
“Ex-Queen Isabella of Spain was amongst those who honoured the House by her presence, and in this train came most of the principlal personages of the day……. The class of Members whose names appear on the list of the Sheen House Club, speaks eloquently for the care which has been taken in the Election of Members…….. thus creating a Social Club of high standing, united to one which gives encouragement to all branches of Amateur Athletics. “
It may be safe to assume that most of them had the new-fangled motor cars!
Continue readingThe Emancipation Run from London to Brighton in 1896 celebrated the recently passed Locomotives on Highways Act 1896 which liberalised motor vehicle laws in the United Kingdom exempting vehicles weighing less than 3 tons unladen from the restrictive Locomotive Acts of 1861, 1865, and 1878 and increased the speed limit to 20mph. Since 1865 the speed limit had been 4 mph in the country and 2 mph in the town, with a man required to walk 20 yards ahead of the vehicle.
The first race took place on 14th November 1896. The event started with breakfast at the Charing Cross Hotel, which included the symbolic tearing in two of a red flag. The organisers of the Emancipation Run had made much of their claim that the man who walked ahead had to carry a red flag. The 1865 Act required this, but the provision had been repealed by the 1878 Act.
The competitors gathered outside the Metropole Hotel (now the Corinthea Hotel London) with the cars accompanied by a “flying escort ” – estimated by one witness as ” probably 10, 000 “- of pedal cyclists, recreational cycling having become popular with the English in the final decades of the 19th century.
After the initial Emancipation Run, in during the next few years Commemoration Runs took place between Whitehall Place and Sheen House, covering a distance of about 8 miles.
The London to Brighton Run was not staged again until 1927. Since then it has run annually, except from the onset of the Second World War up to 1947 owing to petrol rationing and in 2020 due to the Covid- 19 pandemic. With all this considered, it is the World’s longest running motor event. Since 1930 the event has been controlled by the Royal Automobile Club.
How important was Sheen House in the early days of motoring in this country? Probably in two ways:
First by providing a venue for the finish which could accommodate the motor vehicles taking part and the ” flying escort” of pedal cyclists accompanying them,
Secondly, by hosting the subsequent Commemorative Runs in the years following the Emancipation Run the concept was kept alive which led to the revival of the London to Brighton Run in 1927 which continues to this day!
Thanks to Graham Kench, Mortlake Resident, for his research and contribution.
What follows was first published in EastSheenMatters in April 2025.
It was built to commemorate Guilaume Henri, Comte de Vezlo (1894-1901), who died aged seven. Beside his plaque is another referring to his mother the Comtesse de Vezlo (d.1938).
Very little is known about the family but Sheen and Mortlake did have French families living locally. Guilaume is said in one source to be the Pretender to the French Throne.
The splendid building does suggest that there was wealth available.
No birth certificate has been traced in England, so it can reasonably be assumed that Guilaume was born in France. During the 1890s there was an influx to London of French subjects.
After Guilaume’s death his mother spent long days in the Mausoleum. The Custodian Fr Adrian speaks of letters among the historical church documents, written by the Comtesse to the then parish priest, requesting that he celebrate Mass in the Mausoleum. She was not best pleased that he declined!
We were extremely fortunate to be granted access by the Custodian Fr Adrian. Nowhere on internet search engines will you find – until now – the photo of Guilaume below or his belongings lovingly maintained in the Mausoleum. The coffins remain in place.
The beautiful altar depicts the flight of Mary and Joseph with the baby Jesus to Egypt. The then King Herod thought that the child would threaten his throne and sought to kill him. He initiated the Massacre of the Innocents in hopes of killing the child. Tradition has it that an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and warned him to take Jesus and his mother into Egypt.
The structure needs full restoration. Another one for Habitats and Heritage?
Note the residence of Annette De Vezlo, a French Subject aged 24, living on her own means at the Grand Hotel in Brighton at the time of the Census on 31 March 1901.
For over thirty years in the latter half of the nineteenth century, London was home to hundreds, and at times thousands, of French revolutionary, republican and socialist exiles. These refugees were drawn from across two generations and were associated with periods of intense political instability in France. During their time in London, they had a significant impact on the life of the city, transforming several of its neighbourhoods into essentially French enclaves, infused themselves into certain sectors of London’s economy, blended into particular social milieux, and greatly affected the shape and trajectory of political radicalism in the capital.
During the 1880s, little groups of exiled French ‘companions’ (the nickname adopted by the French anarchists) were formed in London. They became larger and far more active and influential in the first half of the 1890s, when the theory of ‘propaganda by the deed’ gained ground among anarchists. The concept of propaganda by the deed, developed from 1876–7 among the anarchists of the First International, justified acts of violence as a way of publicising anarchism and initiating the revolution. The main consequence of its propagation was a series of anarchist-inspired terrorist attacks which swept over the Western world throughout the 1890s and early 1900s, peaking in France between 1892 and 1894. The authorities of the Third Republic retaliated with a fierce repression, resulting in the arrest or silencing of most comrades. Hundreds of them were forced into exile,
And yet Annette De Vezlo was a Catholic…….
Lower Richmond Road, Mortlake
Contra-flow opposite 119 for urgent Cadent Gas repair works on 18” main.
Estimated completion date 11/05/2026. Ten days to avoid Chalker’s Corner.
Contact: Cadent Gas 08000 159 057.
And meanwhile in East Sheen
Hertford Avenue will be closed from outside 24 to junction with Upper Richmond Road West for Highway improvement works
Two days work starting 05/05/2026 A further day on 08/05/2026.
Contact: FM Conways 01732 600 771.
And this description is a bit odd
Upper Richmond Road West lane closures outside 363 Sheen Lane and east bound on Upper Richmond Road West for Openreach utility works.
The works outside 363 (by James Anderson) have now been there for a least a fortnight. It is said to be for utility works, but the workers have said the kerb is being made more narrow there. And the eastbound closure is on the other side of the Upper Richmond Road, reducing it to one lane by the traffic lights.
At least we now have an estimated completion date of 08/05/2026.
Contact: Ferns Group 01622 790 088 / TFL 0343 222 1234
And just for one day in East Sheen
Milton Road the whole road was to be closed for highway improvement works on 07/05/2026. Delayed unitl July.
Contact: FM Conways 01732 600 771.
BUT we still have no date for when TfL is planning to undertake extensive works on the Upper Richmond Road from East Sheen Primary School going west.
Venue All Saints Church, East Sheen
Date Sunday 14th June 2026 at 6pm
Programme To Be Announced
Lorna Hawthorne, parishioner at All Saints Church, is driving an ambulance to Ukraine in July 2026 in a convoy organised by Medical Life Lines Ukraine. Volunteers have supported them, at the time of writing, in driving 125 ambulances to the area.
In support of Lorna, Basil Alter and Charlie Standing are performing this concert at All Saints.
Charlie Standing is a well known and much respected pianist. He has performed regularly at All Saints. He was formerly the church organist from 2002 to 2010, and then at Holy Trinity, South Wimbledon and Holy Trinity, Roehampton.
Basil Alter is a virtuoso violinist, who graduated from the Royal Academy of Music with an MMus in 2025. He performed at Christ Church, East Sheen in November 2025 to general acclaim. He has recently performed at the Crick in New York and at various venues across the south of England.
In support of Lorna’s trip they have both offered their services free. Tickets for the event are free.
Donations are welcome at the door or online at JustGiving.com
More information to follow but put the date in your diary. Definitely the musical event of the summer not to miss.
Lower Richmond Road, Mortlake
Contra-flow opposite 119 for urgent Cadent Gas repair works on 18” main.
Estimated completion date 11/05/2026. Ten days to avoid Chalker’s Corner.
Contact: Cadent Gas 08000 159 057.
And meanwhile in East Sheen
Hertford Avenue will be closed from outside 24 to junction with Upper Richmond Road West for Highway improvement works
Atarting 05/05/2026
Estimated completion 08/05/2026.
Contact: FM Conways 01732 600 771.
And this description is a bit odd
Upper Richmond Road West lane closures outside 363 Sheen Lane and east bound on Upper Richmond Road West for Openreach utility works.
The works outside 363 (by James Anderson) have now been there for a least a fortnight. It is said to be for utility works, but the workers have said the kerb is being made more narrow there. And the eastbound closure is on the other side of the Upper Richmond Road, reducing it to one lane by the traffic lights.
At least we now have an estimated completion date of 08/05/2025. [sic] It does feel like they have been there for a year!
Contact: Ferns Group 01622 790 088 / TFL 0343 222 1234
And just for one day in East Sheen
Milton Road the whole road will be closed for highway improvement works on 07/05/2026.
Contact: FM Conways 01732 600 771.
In a Blaze of Colours
Still a bit dusty in the wind. But that didn’t stop the visitors from China.
And how to get there
Or you could take the minibus on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and the Bank Holiday Weekend 2nd and 3rd May 2026.
You can help to shape the future of Palewell Common
Palewell Common and Fields are a cherished part of our local landscape—an open, welcoming space where people of all ages can relax, play, connect with nature, and enjoy a sense of community. From dog walkers and families to sports groups and visitors seeking a moment of calm, the Common plays a vital role in everyday life. But like all valued community assets, it relies on active stewardship to ensure it continues to thrive.
That stewardship comes, in part, from the Friends of Palewell Common.
The Friends are a volunteer-led group dedicated to protecting, maintaining, and enhancing the Common and Fields for the benefit of everyone. Over the years, the Friends have supported conservation initiatives, worked closely with the borough of Richmond, helped improve facilities, and ensured that the voice of the community is heard when decisions about the space are made.
To continue this work effectively, they urgently need new committee members to join.
This is not just about filling roles—it’s about bringing fresh energy, ideas, and perspectives into a group that genuinely makes a difference. Without new volunteers stepping forward, the ability of the Friends to operate, advocate, and organise will inevitably diminish. Quite simply, the future of the group depends on people in the community who care enough to get involved.
If you value Palewell Common and Fields as a place of freedom, recreation, and enjoyment, this is your opportunity to help shape its future.
Joining the committee does not require specialist expertise. What matters most is a willingness to contribute time, collaborate with others, and take an active interest in the wellbeing of the Common. Whether your strengths lie in organisation, communication, local knowledge, environmental interest, or simply a desire to give something back, there is a place for you.
If you have ever walked across the Common and thought about how it could be improved, or simply appreciated it as it is and wanted to ensure it stays that way, this is your moment to step forward.
The Friends would be delighted to hear from anyone interested in joining the committee or learning more about what is involved.
The Annual General Meeting will take place at All Saints Church at 7:00pm on 16 June 2026. Non-Members welcome. This is an ideal opportunity to come along, meet current members, understand the work they do, and explore how you might contribute. There is no obligation—just an open invitation to engage and find out more.
The strength of Palewell Common lies not just in its green spaces, but in the community that supports it. By becoming part of the Friends, you help ensure that this much-loved area continues to be protected and enhanced for current and future generations.
If you are keen to get involved actively, please get in touch by email (office@palewellcommon.org.uk) and / or attend the AGM.
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