Richmond upon Thames Muslim Heritage Map
A map inspired by connections to Islam in the London borough of Richmond Upon Thames discovered during research for the 2024-2026 project, Burton: Exploring Without Boundaries
The Richmond Upon Thames Muslim heritage map came about following some astonishing discoveries during our research for the project Burton: Exploring Without Boundaries. This included the fascinating revelation that one of history’s most important British Hajjis used to live in the borough; the early 20th century aristocratic convert, Lord Rowland George Allanson-Winn Headley, who along with his friend and mentor the Indian lawyer, Khwaja Kamal Ud-din, reopened Britain’s first purpose-built mosque, the Shah Jahan Mosque in the early 20th century.
We also learned about a hidden ‘mosque’ room built by a convert-soldier in his home in Hampton, and the eery link between a local pub name and Crusade-era ‘trophies’.
The map offers a light-hearted way to explore a side of Richmond’s heritage that has been rarely explored or documented and is meant as a starting point to better understand these connections.
Burton: Exploring Without Boundaries was a 2024-2026 Habitats & Heritage project supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. It was delivered in partnership with St Mary Magdalen Roman Catholic Church in Mortlake and the Museum of Richmond.