diff --git a/HISTORY.md b/HISTORY.md
index e0b686a0..7456d461 100644
--- a/HISTORY.md
+++ b/HISTORY.md
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ http://visjs.org
 ### Timeline
 
 - Fixed #1001: First element of group style being cut.
+- Fixed #1071: HTML contents of a group not cleared when the contents is updated.
 
 
 ## 2015-07-03, version 4.4.0
diff --git a/lib/timeline/component/Group.js b/lib/timeline/component/Group.js
index d10c3ba2..e286ff9f 100644
--- a/lib/timeline/component/Group.js
+++ b/lib/timeline/component/Group.js
@@ -83,6 +83,9 @@ Group.prototype.setData = function(data) {
   // update contents
   var content = data && data.content;
   if (content instanceof Element) {
+    while (this.dom.inner.firstChild) {
+      this.dom.inner.removeChild(this.dom.inner.firstChild);
+    }
     this.dom.inner.appendChild(content);
   }
   else if (content !== undefined && content !== null) {