WHAT PEOPLE SAY
“I didn’t know it was important until I saw it being restored!”
— Margaret E, East London
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
“I didn’t know it was important until I saw it being restored!”
— Margaret E, East London
RECENT PROJECTS
“You never know if one day something could change your life forever. So just hearing stories of inspirational people who continue to thrive can be inspiring.”
— Sundus, aged 15
ABOUT
Proud Places is a London-wide engagement programme inspiring young people with the world around them. Through heritage projects, we introduce children aged 11 and upwards to important themes in local places… the hidden stories of London and why they matter.
The programme helps young people improve their life choices as well as their life skills. We offer site visits and creative workshops, a chance to explore London behind-the-scenes and develop local knowledge and pride. We are specialists in alternative provision schools and youth groups but also work with primary and secondary pupils across the city.
Visits are individually tailored to each group, and entirely free of charge.
The programme was developed with our Proud Places Young Ambassadors and launched during the pandemic in October 2020 with funding from the Jones Day Foundation. To date we have worked with over 3,500 young people, and the programme continues to expand.
Proud Places is represented on the Partners' Board of the Mayor of London's Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm.
For more information on the Heritage of London Trust and our restoration projects go to our webpage heritageoflondon.org.
RECENT PROJECTS
Queen Mary's Hospital for the East End
Newham
As the only surviving element of Queen Mary’s Hospital for the East End, this freshly restored arch tells the story of a long history of exemplary medical care in West Ham.
Columbia Market Gates
Tower Hamlets
Columbia Market’s Gates are the last survival of an immense Gothic marketplace serving the Victorian East End’s poorest inhabitants.
Whitechapel Fountain
Tower Hamlets
The Whitechapel Fountain has been completely restored, keeping visible the medieval, Victorian and 20th century history of Altab Ali Park.
Cranford Lock Up
Hounslow
Small ‘lock ups’ like this one were once found all around London. They detained petty criminals and vagrants overnight, before the era of police stations.
Mount Clare Temple
Wandsworth
The ‘Temple of Honour’ is an 18th century neo-classical temple with beautiful images of gods and goddesses. It was moved to its current location in the early 20th century and has been locked up for many years.
Caroline Gardens Chapel
Southwark
With its soot-stained walls and heat-damaged interior, unchanged since a bomb dropped in 1941, this almshouse chapel is a unique time capsule from WWII.
Toynbee Fountain
Merton
The freshly restored Toynbee Fountain lends a gothic presence to the Wimbledon crossroads. Young people are introduced to the weird and wonderful history of Joseph Toynbee, Ear Surgeon Royale…
Pope's Grotto
Richmond
The poet Alexander Pope created a Grotto under his house as a place for contemplation and writing. It was an artificial cavern, sparkling with minerals, crystals and mirrors.
Promenade Approach
Hounslow
These 1920s gates led into Chiswick’s first public park for working people as London’s industrial factories expanded in west London. The park offered fresh air for families to relax and exercise.
Leaning Woman
Hammersmith
A pioneering ‘classical’ statue in concrete created after WWII by Czech sculptor Karel Vogel as part of a London-wide programme to improve society with public art.
Emma Cons Memorial The Old Vic
Lambeth
Emma Cons was a pioneering social reformer, who campaigned for better housing and education for the poor of Victorian London and the right of women to be in power.
Northumberland House Arch
Tower Hamlets
This arch now in Bromley-By-Bow came from a grand palace on the Strand and was moved across London by horse and cart 146 years ago.
Conde de Bayona Mausoleum
Hammersmith & Fulham
This mausoleum in Kensal Rise is a perfect Gothic house in miniature.
Cranford Stables
Hillingdon
Cranford’s 18th century stables once housed the grooms as well as horses.
Wanstead Grotto
Redbridge
Wanstead Grotto was once the location of lavish 18th century entertainments.
"Not gonna lie, this was genuinely the best day we've had yet! Every week I think it's not gonna top the last and it does! This is the best day I've ever had! I'll say to my mates, what did YOU do this Wednesday?! NOTHING.”
Devon, aged 19
“How can you not touch this site… feel it! I’m going to come every day after school to pay my tribute… It makes you kind of appreciate the history, like the culture of the area you’re living in. It makes you feel like you have an obligation to uphold this much history in your local area.”
Ben, aged 16
Find out a little more about the Proud Places experience!
3500+
YOUNG
PEOPLE
40
SITES
33
LONDON BOROUGHS
GALLERY
 Learning new skillsProud Places introduces young people to new skills such as stonemasonry |  Project launchesPupils are invited to attend their local heritage site launches once restoration is complete |  Speaking to expertsProud Places connects young people and industry professionals |
|---|---|---|
 Proud Prospects at Jones DayYear 10s go to the Jones Day HQ to partake in a mock 'Dragons Den' pitching restoration projects. |  Proud Prospects at Jones DayPupils learn new skills in presentation and confidence as part of our Proud Prospects workshops |  Exploring hidden heritageA young person from a pupil referral unit examines a horse's bridle at Cranford Stables. |
 Wanstead GrottoA Proud Places visit at Wanstead Grotto, locked to the public for over 100 years. |  Whitechapel FountainLocal pupils learn about different mortar compositions from a conservator |  Promenade Approach GatesPupils discover different flames blacksmiths use while they restore a park entrance in Chiswick |
 Mount Clare Temple ParthenonExploring a temple hidden away in West London |  Proud Places stone masonryA young person from a pupil referral unit tries their hand at stone masonry. |  Kentish Drivers MuralLocal pupils use binoculars to examine the mural before its restoration on Old Kent Road. |
 Poetry workshopsA young person shows her poem at our literacy workshop inspired by a visit to Pope's Grotto. |  Proud Places Ambassador looking down into St Bart'sProud Places Ambassador explores hidden spaces of St Bart's |  Inside Pope's GrottoA young person from a youth group explores Pope's Grotto |
GET INVOLVED
Site visits are fully risk-assessed including for Covid and groups can be as small as necessary.
CONTACT
Contact Us
Our Office
Special thanks
This programme has been funded with the generosity of the Jones Day Foundation
