Founded in 1965
The Eltham Society
Preserving the Past | Conserving the Present | Protecting the Future
Founded in 1965
The Eltham Society
Preserving the Past | Conserving the Present | Protecting the Future
About The Eltham Society
The Society was founded in 1965 and is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2025.
The Society is made up of a group of sociable, historical- and amenity-focused people with a current membership of over 300. In addition to local members living in and around SE9, there are also members who have moved to other parts of the UK and abroad. The Society also has contact with its town namesakes in Australia and New Zealand.
The Society is led by a Council of 16 members, each contributing their own specialities, elected at the Annual General Meeting held each March. There is also an Amenity Committee which focuses on local issues working in conjunction with the Royal Borough of Greenwich and relevant local-interest groups. In addition, there is a Social Committee that helps organise social events for members throughout the year, including monthly talks, excursions and walks.
The Society also publishes a quarterly newsletter which reports on events held, lists future events and provides a forum for a wide variety of articles about Eltham, the surrounding areas and members’ special interests
Where is Eltham?
Eltham is approximately 10 miles south-east of London and the southernmost town in the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
Mention of Eltham is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 and it is strategically placed between London and Kent. Its proximity to the River Thames led to the establishment of a moated manor house, Eltham Palace, which soon became the home of royalty.
Since those early times Eltham has grown into an urban town and carries evidence of building throughout each architectural period. It still retains many open green spaces and therefore sits happily between town and country.
Eltham is centred on its High Street and extends via Well Hall to Shooters Hill in the north, Avery Hill to the east, Mottingham and New Eltham to the south, and Kidbrooke and Lee to the west.
The Eltham Town Sign, designed by local architect Paul Cookson, is located in the pedestrian area of Passey Place at its junction with the High Street. It was financed and erected by the Society in 1995. The sign shows famous landmarks around Eltham and was formally unveiled and handed to the borough for safe keeping on 3rd September 1995 by the then Chairman, Marion Kennett. In 2001 an Eltham Society Award was given to Groundwork for their work on the pedestrian area in Passey Place, which was improved as a Millennium Project. With public realm improvements of Eltham High Street, the Eltham Town Sign was moved to a new position in Passey Place and is still a landmark and symbol of the Society’s commitment to Eltham.
Other evidence of the Society’s commitment to Eltham can be found at Well Hall Pleasaunce where a plaque stands on the site of an 18th century house (demolished in the 1930s), which, at one time, was occupied by the children’s author, Edith Nesbit. Many of her most famous books were written at Well Hall House, such as The Railway Children, The Treasure Seekers and the Wouldbegoods.
Eltham Society Events
Talk: Stevie Smith; Life, work and poetry by Dr. Jocelyn Page
Wednesday 14 October 2026 19:00 - 21:00
Talk: The Love Letters of Frank and May by Lynne Dixon
Thursday 5 November 2026 19:30 - 21:00
Talk: Annual talk by Founder Member John Kennett (title to be advised)
Thursday 3 December 2026 19:30 - 21:00
Eltham Society News
Youngest-ever Newsletter contributor!
The Society’s latest quarterly Newsletter...
The Eltham Society is featured in The Eltham Centre’s display cabinet January 2026
The Eltham Society is being featured in the...
Colouring Eltham on sale locally, Saturday 22.11.25
Colouring Eltham on sale locally, Saturday...
The Eltham Society
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© The Eltham Society
Charity Commission
Registered No. 257691
Gift Aid Registered
