About The Elmbridge Hundred

Many famous (and a few infamous!) figures are associated with the historic borough of Elmbridge in Surrey. Many of their life stories are now forgotten and in danger of disappearing. The Elmbridge Hundred aims to research, document, and celebrate this rich human heritage.

Biographical Research

The Elmbridge Hundred is a community partnership, which brings together Elmbridge Museum, Brooklands Museum, Claremont Landscape Gardens, Landskip Organization, Painshill Park and the Surrey History Centre with all of the borough's senior schools. The project is also supported by Cobham Conservation and Heritage Trust, Esher District Local History Society, Molesey and District Antiques Society, Molesey Local History Society, Walton and Weybridge Local History Society, and The Weybridge Society.

The project works with local students to develop their research and writing skills, create historical and cultural resources, and learning opportunities. The use of primary research material has played an important role in the students' experiences, involving collaboration with The V&A Archives and National Art Library, The National Archives at Kew, The British Library and the Surrey History Centre.

Artist, writer, and historian, Alistair Grant, and historian Joanna Tapp from Elmbridge Museum (who are both longstanding residents of Elmbridge) are working together with AS, A-level and International Baccalaureate (IB) students from the American Community School, Brooklands College, Claremont Fan Court, Esher College, Esher Church of England High School, Heathside, Hinchley Wood, Notre Dame, Rydens School and Yehudi Menuhin School. Each student is allocated an historic figure to research.

The criteria for each of the 600 historic individuals inclusion on The Elmbridge Hundred website is that they have a strong association with somewhere within the historic boundaries of Elmbridge. The outcome for each student is the research, writing and online publication of a biography, focused around the figure's relationship with Elmbridge. These biographies will be recorded on this website to develop a lasting community resource.

Public Art

Alistair Grant, who conceived and researched the project to celebrate the centenary of Elmbridge Museum, will also create a large public artwork called The Elmbridge Hundred. To be installed in summer 2012, this will comprise 100 poetic plaques at historic sites, linked by a heritage trail and audioguide around the borough. He will also continue to work with local schools and colleges, guiding and encouraging students to create their own artistic, musical, dramatic or literary pieces for public exhibition.

Support

The Elmbridge Hundred is funded by grants form the R.C. Sherriff Trust, the Renaissance South East Museums Development Service (Surrey, East and West Sussex) and the Friends of Elmbridge Museum.

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