Middlesex and London

The Victoria County History of Middlesex and London

The VCH provides detailed coverage of Greater London, although the published volumes belong to the sets devoted to the ancient counties of Middlesex, Essex and Surrey. The reason for this division dates back to the origins of the VCH in 1899. 

Although the London County Council was founded 10 years before the VCH, the founders of our series chose to publish their work in sets of volumes devoted to each of England’s ancient counties. Consequently the VCH tackled Middlesex and Surrey parish by parish, including the parishes already within London’s boundaries. It was soon decided to compile three volumes on London, defined as London within the Bars, Southwark borough, and the ancient parish of Westminster, and a single volume was published in 1909.

Work on Middlesex went ahead separately, one volume being published in 1911. By the end of 1915, all work on the VCH had stopped and the idea of separate London volumes was abandoned. When Middlesex was revived in 1955 with the financial support of London’s local authorities, it began to publish not only on the areas of Middlesex outside the LCC boundary but also on parishes within it. It continued with that plan even after 1965, when Middlesex’s administrative independence was abolished and the Greater London Council was formed. 

The two most recent volumes have covered the heart of London: Chelsea (volume XII, 2004) and The City of Westminster: Landownership and Religious Life (volume XIII, 2009).

Volume I of VCH London is available on British History Online. Twelve volumes of VCH Middlesex are on British History Online. For full access to all volumes, check your local library catalogue or your local archive. 

Current work

The project is to research the history of the parish and community of St Anne Soho and then share a new perspective on the area with residents and historians of London. The major output will be a VCH Partnership Publication, a book covering the parish of St Anne Soho. The parish was established in 1686, when St Anne’s church was consecrated. The civil vestry was abolished when the London County Council was set up in 1900.

There will also be a series of events to engage with the community, disseminate research and highlight historic experiences of living and working in the area. This is an exciting opportunity to produce a landmark work of London history, in collaboration with local institutions that have an interest in history and heritage. The project will also work as a springboard for expanding the work of the VCH in London, bringing one of the world’s great local history projects back to our city and adding a significant additional legacy benefit. Research has already begun using our current funds, but we need help if this project is to be completed and its many benefits realised.

The area is of course fascinating in its own right, enjoying widespread recognition and indeed notoriety. Its coverage is an opportunity to fill the geographical gap between previous VCH publications and especially to gain a deeper understanding of the local religious life, government, economy and social life of the parish, complementing the existing Survey of London volumes about the area, which are now nearly 60 years old.