diff --git a/web/src/message_fetch.js b/web/src/message_fetch.js
index 8fe2f9bab2..d8e0a513fb 100644
--- a/web/src/message_fetch.js
+++ b/web/src/message_fetch.js
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ const consts = {
     recent_view_initial_fetch_size: 400,
     narrowed_view_backward_batch_size: 100,
     narrowed_view_forward_batch_size: 100,
+    recent_view_fetch_more_batch_size: 1000,
     catch_up_batch_size: 1000,
 };
 
@@ -36,6 +37,8 @@ function process_result(data, opts) {
     let messages = data.messages;
 
     messages = messages.map((message) => message_helper.process_new_message(message));
+    const has_found_oldest = opts.msg_list?.data.fetch_status.has_found_oldest() ?? false;
+    const has_found_newest = opts.msg_list?.data.fetch_status.has_found_newest() ?? false;
 
     // In some rare situations, we expect to discover new unread
     // messages not tracked in unread.js during this fetching process.
@@ -58,6 +61,17 @@ function process_result(data, opts) {
         }
     }
 
+    if (messages.length > 0 && opts.msg_list === message_lists.home) {
+        // We keep track of how far back we've fetched messages for, for messaging in
+        // the recent view. This assumes `data.messages` is already sorted.
+        const oldest_timestamp = all_messages_data.first().timestamp;
+        recent_view_ui.set_oldest_message_date(
+            oldest_timestamp,
+            has_found_oldest,
+            has_found_newest,
+        );
+    }
+
     huddle_data.process_loaded_messages(messages);
     recent_view_ui.process_messages(messages);
     stream_list.update_streams_sidebar();
@@ -74,8 +88,6 @@ function process_result(data, opts) {
         // the messages we requested, and all of them are in muted
         // topics, but there are older messages for this stream that
         // we need to ask the server for.
-        const has_found_oldest = opts.msg_list.data.fetch_status.has_found_oldest();
-        const has_found_newest = opts.msg_list.data.fetch_status.has_found_newest();
         if (has_found_oldest && has_found_newest) {
             // Even after loading more messages, we have
             // no messages to display in this narrow.
@@ -407,7 +419,9 @@ export function maybe_load_older_messages(opts) {
 
     do_backfill({
         msg_list,
-        num_before: consts.narrowed_view_backward_batch_size,
+        num_before: opts.recent_view
+            ? consts.recent_view_fetch_more_batch_size
+            : consts.narrowed_view_backward_batch_size,
     });
 }
 
diff --git a/web/src/recent_view_ui.js b/web/src/recent_view_ui.js
index ab3945d85f..fb0d5e2ddc 100644
--- a/web/src/recent_view_ui.js
+++ b/web/src/recent_view_ui.js
@@ -118,6 +118,80 @@ export function set_default_focus() {
     compose_closed_ui.set_standard_text_for_reply_button();
 }
 
+// When there are no messages loaded, we don't show a banner yet.
+const NO_MESSAGES_LOADED = 0;
+// When some messages are loaded, but we're still loading newer messages,
+// we show a simple loading banner.
+const SOME_MESSAGES_LOADED = 1;
+// Once we've found the newest message, we allow the user to load
+// more messages further back in time.
+const SOME_MESSAGES_LOADED_INCLUDING_NEWEST = 2;
+// Once all messages are loaded, we hide the banner.
+const ALL_MESSAGES_LOADED = 3;
+
+let loading_state = NO_MESSAGES_LOADED;
+let oldest_message_timestamp;
+
+export function set_oldest_message_date(timestamp, has_found_oldest, has_found_newest) {
+    if (has_found_oldest) {
+        loading_state = ALL_MESSAGES_LOADED;
+    } else if (has_found_newest) {
+        loading_state = SOME_MESSAGES_LOADED_INCLUDING_NEWEST;
+    } else {
+        loading_state = SOME_MESSAGES_LOADED;
+    }
+    oldest_message_timestamp = timestamp;
+
+    // We might be loading messages in another narrow before the recent view
+    // is shown, so we keep the state updated and update the banner only
+    // once it's actually rendered.
+    if ($("#recent_view_table table tbody").length) {
+        update_load_more_banner();
+    }
+}
+
+function update_load_more_banner() {
+    if (loading_state === NO_MESSAGES_LOADED) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if (loading_state === ALL_MESSAGES_LOADED) {
+        $(".recent-view-load-more-container").toggleClass("notvisible", true);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    // There are some messages loaded, but not all messages yet. The banner was
+    // hidden on page load, and we make sure to show it now that there are messages
+    // we can display.
+    $(".recent-view-load-more-container").toggleClass("notvisible", false);
+
+    // Until we've found the newest message, we only show the banner with a messages
+    // explaining we're still fetching messages. We don't allow the user to fetch
+    // more messages.
+    if (loading_state === SOME_MESSAGES_LOADED) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    const $button = $(".recent-view-load-more-container .fetch-messages-button");
+    const $button_label = $(".recent-view-load-more-container .button-label");
+    const $banner_text = $(".recent-view-load-more-container .last-fetched-message");
+
+    $button.toggleClass("notvisible", false);
+
+    const time_obj = new Date(oldest_message_timestamp * 1000);
+    const time_string = timerender.get_localized_date_or_time_for_format(
+        time_obj,
+        "full_weekday_dayofyear_year_time",
+    );
+    $banner_text.text($t({defaultMessage: "Showing messages since {time_string}."}, {time_string}));
+
+    $button_label.toggleClass("invisible", false);
+    $button.prop("disabled", false);
+    loading.destroy_indicator(
+        $(".recent-view-load-more-container .fetch-messages-button .loading-indicator"),
+    );
+}
+
 function get_min_load_count(already_rendered_count, load_count) {
     const extra_rows_for_viewing_pleasure = 15;
     if (row_focus > already_rendered_count + load_count) {
@@ -874,6 +948,9 @@ export function complete_rerender() {
     // was not the first view loaded in the app.
     show_selected_filters();
 
+    // Update the banner now that it's rendered.
+    update_load_more_banner();
+
     const $container = $("#recent_view_table table tbody");
     $container.empty();
     topics_widget = ListWidget.create($container, mapped_topic_values, {
@@ -1244,7 +1321,12 @@ export function change_focused_element($elt, input_key) {
     return false;
 }
 
-export function initialize({on_click_participant, on_mark_pm_as_read, on_mark_topic_as_read}) {
+export function initialize({
+    on_click_participant,
+    on_mark_pm_as_read,
+    on_mark_topic_as_read,
+    maybe_load_older_messages,
+}) {
     // load filters from local storage.
     if (!page_params.is_spectator) {
         // A user may have a stored filter and can log out
@@ -1388,4 +1470,14 @@ export function initialize({on_click_participant, on_mark_pm_as_read, on_mark_to
         $("#recent_view_search").val("");
         update_filters_view();
     });
+
+    $("body").on("click", ".recent-view-load-more-container .fetch-messages-button", () => {
+        maybe_load_older_messages();
+        $(".recent-view-load-more-container .button-label").toggleClass("invisible", true);
+        $(".recent-view-load-more-container .fetch-messages-button").prop("disabled", true);
+        loading.make_indicator(
+            $(".recent-view-load-more-container .fetch-messages-button .loading-indicator"),
+            {width: 20},
+        );
+    });
 }
diff --git a/web/src/timerender.ts b/web/src/timerender.ts
index c39e0a5528..acbce6937b 100644
--- a/web/src/timerender.ts
+++ b/web/src/timerender.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,11 @@ export function clear_for_testing(): void {
 }
 
 type DateFormat = "weekday" | "dayofyear" | "weekday_dayofyear_year" | "dayofyear_year";
-type DateWithTimeFormat = "dayofyear_time" | "dayofyear_year_time" | "weekday_dayofyear_year_time";
+type DateWithTimeFormat =
+    | "dayofyear_time"
+    | "dayofyear_year_time"
+    | "weekday_dayofyear_year_time"
+    | "full_weekday_dayofyear_year_time";
 type TimeFormat = "time" | "time_sec";
 
 type DateOrTimeFormat = DateFormat | TimeFormat | DateWithTimeFormat;
@@ -83,6 +87,8 @@ function get_format_options_for_type(type: DateOrTimeFormat): Intl.DateTimeForma
             return full_format_options;
         case "weekday_dayofyear_year_time": // Wed, Jul 27, 2016, 13:30
             return {...long_format_options, ...time_format_options};
+        case "full_weekday_dayofyear_year_time": // Wednesday, July 27, 2016, 13:30
+            return {...long_format_options, ...time_format_options, weekday: "long", month: "long"};
         default:
             throw new Error("Wrong format provided.");
     }
diff --git a/web/src/ui_init.js b/web/src/ui_init.js
index 27429c9f17..ae01031429 100644
--- a/web/src/ui_init.js
+++ b/web/src/ui_init.js
@@ -604,6 +604,12 @@ export function initialize_everything() {
         },
         on_mark_pm_as_read: unread_ops.mark_pm_as_read,
         on_mark_topic_as_read: unread_ops.mark_topic_as_read,
+        maybe_load_older_messages() {
+            message_fetch.maybe_load_older_messages({
+                msg_list: message_lists.home,
+                recent_view: true,
+            });
+        },
     });
     inbox_ui.initialize();
     alert_words.initialize(alert_words_params);
diff --git a/web/styles/recent_view.css b/web/styles/recent_view.css
index 139803e344..e6c8629c5f 100644
--- a/web/styles/recent_view.css
+++ b/web/styles/recent_view.css
@@ -80,9 +80,7 @@
             );
         }
 
-        .table_fix_head table {
-            /* To keep border properties to the thead th. */
-            border-collapse: separate;
+        .recent-view-container {
             /*
             Add margin bottom equal to `#bottom-whitespace`. This helps us keep
             #compose visible at its max-height without overlapping with any visible
@@ -93,6 +91,31 @@
             user is at the bottom of scroll container when the compose box is open.
             */
             margin-bottom: var(--max-unexpanded-compose-height);
+        }
+
+        .recent-view-load-more-container {
+            margin: 20px 10px;
+            align-items: center;
+        }
+
+        .fetch-messages-button {
+            display: grid;
+            justify-items: center;
+
+            .loading_indicator_spinner {
+                height: 20px;
+                width: 20px;
+            }
+
+            path {
+                fill: var(--color-recent-view-loading-spinner);
+            }
+        }
+
+        .table_fix_head table {
+            /* To keep border properties to the thead th. */
+            border-collapse: separate;
+
             border-spacing: 0;
             width: 100%;
 
diff --git a/web/styles/zulip.css b/web/styles/zulip.css
index 6c2cd7eff3..dfa00eff84 100644
--- a/web/styles/zulip.css
+++ b/web/styles/zulip.css
@@ -255,6 +255,7 @@ body {
     /* Message feed loading indicator colors */
     --color-zulip-logo: hsl(0deg 0% 0% / 34%);
     --color-zulip-logo-loading: hsl(0deg 0% 27%);
+    --color-recent-view-loading-spinner: hsl(0deg 0% 27%);
     --color-zulip-logo-z: hsl(0deg 0% 100%);
 
     /* Message collapsing/condensing button colors */
@@ -383,6 +384,7 @@ body {
     /* Message feed loading indicator colors */
     --color-zulip-logo: hsl(0deg 0% 100% / 50%);
     --color-zulip-logo-loading: hsl(0deg 0% 100%);
+    --color-recent-view-loading-spinner: hsl(0deg 0% 100% / 60%);
     --color-zulip-logo-z: hsl(214deg 27% 18%);
 
     /* Message collapsing/condensing button colors */
diff --git a/web/templates/recent_view_table.hbs b/web/templates/recent_view_table.hbs
index de6202ba4f..3489e0aa4b 100644
--- a/web/templates/recent_view_table.hbs
+++ b/web/templates/recent_view_table.hbs
@@ -10,18 +10,28 @@
     </div>
 </div>
 <div class="table_fix_head" data-simplebar>
-    <table class="table table-responsive">
-        <tbody data-empty="{{t 'No conversations match your filters.' }}" class="required-text"></tbody>
-        <thead>
-            <tr>
-                <th data-sort="stream_sort">{{t 'Stream' }}</th>
-                <th data-sort="topic_sort">{{t 'Topic' }}</th>
-                <th data-sort="unread_sort" data-tippy-content="{{t 'Sort by unread message count' }}" class="unread_sort tippy-zulip-delayed-tooltip">
-                    <i class="zulip-icon zulip-icon-unread"></i>
-                </th>
-                <th class='participants_header'>{{t 'Participants' }}</th>
-                <th data-sort="numeric" data-sort-prop="last_msg_id" class="last_msg_time_header active descend">{{t 'Time' }}</th>
-            </tr>
-        </thead>
-    </table>
+    <div class="recent-view-container">
+        <table class="table table-responsive">
+            <tbody data-empty="{{t 'No conversations match your filters.' }}" class="required-text"></tbody>
+            <thead>
+                <tr>
+                    <th data-sort="stream_sort">{{t 'Stream' }}</th>
+                    <th data-sort="topic_sort">{{t 'Topic' }}</th>
+                    <th data-sort="unread_sort" data-tippy-content="{{t 'Sort by unread message count' }}" class="unread_sort tippy-zulip-delayed-tooltip">
+                        <i class="zulip-icon zulip-icon-unread"></i>
+                    </th>
+                    <th class='participants_header'>{{t 'Participants' }}</th>
+                    <th data-sort="numeric" data-sort-prop="last_msg_id" class="last_msg_time_header active descend">{{t 'Time' }}</th>
+                </tr>
+            </thead>
+        </table>
+        {{!-- Don't show the banner until we have some messages loaded. --}}
+        <div class="recent-view-load-more-container main-view-banner info notvisible">
+            <div class="last-fetched-message banner_content">{{t "This view is still loading messages."}}</div>
+            <button class="fetch-messages-button main-view-banner-action-button right_edge notvisible">
+                <div class="loading-indicator"></div>
+                <span class="button-label">{{t "Load more"}}</span>
+            </button>
+        </div>
+    </div>
 </div>
diff --git a/web/tests/message_fetch.test.js b/web/tests/message_fetch.test.js
index e92d840a9c..9d1736c745 100644
--- a/web/tests/message_fetch.test.js
+++ b/web/tests/message_fetch.test.js
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ mock_esm("../src/recent_view_ui", {
     process_messages: noop,
     show_loading_indicator: noop,
     hide_loading_indicator: noop,
+    set_oldest_message_date: noop,
 });
 mock_esm("../src/ui_report", {
     hide_error: noop,
diff --git a/web/tests/timerender.test.js b/web/tests/timerender.test.js
index 52b722b40f..93edd2117c 100644
--- a/web/tests/timerender.test.js
+++ b/web/tests/timerender.test.js
@@ -105,6 +105,12 @@ run_test("get_localized_date_or_time_for_format returns correct format", () => {
                 date: "Wed, Jan 27, 2021, 1:53 AM",
             },
         },
+        {
+            format: "full_weekday_dayofyear_year_time",
+            expected: {
+                date: "Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at 1:53 AM",
+            },
+        },
     ];
 
     for (const format of formats) {