The Richmond French Circle was founded in 1905 following the agreement of The Entente and growing interest in France. It was managed by some residents of Richmond, enthusiast travelers and businessmen, and quickly grew to a larger group who were meeting in private homes.

In 1913 there were 90 members and the idea of having an annual program was decided.

Bi-monthly meetings were held between October and Easter, half of which took the form of talks in private homes. The rest consisted of a series of lectures given by eminent French speakers from the French Institute of the United Kingdom in South Kensington and representatives of the French press. These meetings, which had an audience of around 200 people, were held in the Castle Assembly Rooms on the banks of the Thames.

When, in 1914, the disastrous invasion of Belgium drove thousands of refugees to the U.K., the French Circle asked the Richmond Town Council to be informed and involved with any action plan aimed at helping those refugees. A relief committee was established with the Richmond Council and Mr. H F Gardner, then secretary of the Circle, was also secretary of the relief committee. The Circle offered a loan to help buying basic necessities. The measures were successful, and many Belgian families, including some who settled permanently, became part of the life of Richmond and Twickenham.

From 1922, and until the Second World War, monthly meetings were held at the Richmond Library. The French speaking lecturers of this time were first class, cultured and recognized in their professional fields.

In 1938, the government of Léon Blum decided to stimulate interest in French literature in the United Kingdom by distributing various books for free to French groups.
The Richmond French Circle, as one of the beneficiaries of this action, donated about 200 of these books to the Richmond library.

At that time, the Circle was addressed by people, expert journalists for example, who were well versed in European politics before the Second World War. All warned of what was happening there and advocated close collaboration between the United Kingdom and France in the face of threatening dictatorships.

Encouraged by the then president, Le Cercle continued to meet at the Castle Assembly Rooms every month during the war.
The Cercle also made contact with the HQ of France Combattante in London and was able to give voice to people who had experienced the German occupation and managed to escape it. Many members of the Cercle attended the rallies led by General Charles de Gaulle in London.

The Cercle Français de Richmond became affiliated with the Alliance Française in 1908 and the Franco-British Society.