Historical information

This work forms part of the collection assembled by the historian Dorothy Rogers, that was donated to the Kew Historical Society by her son John Rogers in 2015. The manuscripts, photographs, maps, and documents were sourced by her from both family and local collections or produced as references for her print publications. Many were directly used by Rogers in writing ‘Lovely Old Homes of Kew’ (1961) and 'A History of Kew' (1973), or the numerous articles on local history that she produced for suburban newspapers. Most of the photographs in the collection include detailed annotations in her hand.

Significance

The Rogers Collection provides a comprehensive insight into the working habits of a historian in the 1960s and 1970s. Together it forms the largest privately-donated collection within the archives of the Kew Historical Society.

Physical description

The National Trust citation in 1960 stated that Houghton (dem.) appeared to date from the 1850's and might possibly be of prefabricated construction. Although modified, it contained substantial external evidence of its early construction and is one of the few buildings remaining in Kew from this early period. It was used at one stage as a doctor's surgery and residence - the surgery being at the rear of the property. The image was used by Dorothy Rogers in 'A History of Kew' (1973), facing page 128.

Inscriptions & markings

Houghton. Built prior to 1860. Occupied once by Miss Bowden. Now cottage belongs to War Widows Homes, Princess Street. Miss Bowden's cottage. Now Mrs Gahan. Built prior to 1860.