The vestry was established following the building of a chapel of ease for the inhabitants of Hammersmith in the parish of Fulham.

[1] From 1822 an annual election was held for a select vestry responsible only for poor law management.

[4] This coincided with the parish becoming part of the area of responsibility of the Metropolitan Board of Works.

[5] One of the responsibilities reserved for the non-administrative vestries was the power to set up burial boards to provide cemeteries.

In November 1864 the board advertised for 10–15 acres of land within four miles of Hammersmith Broadway that would be suitable for a burial ground.

On 25 March 1886, the board was dissolved and the administrative vestries of Hammersmith and Fulham were incorporated.

The first librarian was appointed on 15 January 1889 and the reading rooms at Ravenscourt Park were opened on 12 August 1889.

The first public library at Ravenscourt Park was opened by John Lubbock, 1st Baron Avebury on 19 March 1890.

A reading room and delivery station was opened by the vestry at College Park on 22 April 1899.

[14] The arms were officially granted in December, and inherited by the Hammersmith Borough Council in 1900.