Ace of Spades, Chessington 1950s

Local and Community History Month

Last updated on 5 May 2026

Ace of Spades, Chessington 1950s

We’re delighted our Chessington Memories project – part of our 50th anniversary celebrations in 2025 – will be on show again for Local and Community History Month in May. The aim of the month is to increase awareness of local history, promote history in general to the local community and encourage all members of the community to participate. Activities happen not just across Kingston but across the UK.

Chessington Memories takes viewers a step back in time and will be on show at the Hook Centre from 11th May till 6th June. See historic photos and read firsthand accounts of the moments, people and places our community holds dear. There’s also a fun competition to enter to win one of local historian and author Mark Davison’s ‘Remembered’ books about Chessington and Hook.

Another exhibit will be The Hook Book: Hook Line and Thinkers. Curated by The Community Brain in collaboration with Kingston University, this exhibition brings together a diverse collection of student-led research, creative artwork, and local exploration. At its heart is The Hook Book, a unique publication developed by publishing students that captures local insights through architecture, illustration, creative writing, and more. Blending lived experience with history and storytelling, this exhibition offers a fresh, collective reimagining of Hook’s past, present, and future possibilities.

Hook and Chessington Library opening times and other activities