Youth Engagement | Proud Places

“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 nearly 5,000 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.

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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.

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A pupil from London Enterprise Academy has a go at stonemasonry at the back of the fountai

Whitechapel Fountain

Tower Hamlets

The Whitechapel Fountain has been completely restored, keeping visible the medieval, Victorian and 20th century history of Altab Ali Park.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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…

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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.

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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.

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Conde de Bayona Mausoleum

Hammersmith & Fulham

This mausoleum in Kensal Rise is a perfect Gothic house in miniature.

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Cranford Stables

Hillingdon

Cranford’s 18th century stables once housed the grooms as well as horses.

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Wanstead Grotto

Redbridge

Wanstead Grotto was once the location of lavish 18th century entertainments.

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"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!

4500+

YOUNG

PEOPLE

SITES

LONDON BOROUGHS

Gallery

GALLERY

Learning new skills Proud Places introduces young people to new skills such as stonemasonry.	Project launches Pupils are invited to attend their local heritage site launches once restoration is complete.	Speaking to experts Proud Places connects young people and industry professionals.
Proud Prospects at Jones Day Year 10s go to the Jones Day HQ to partake in a mock 'Dragons Den' pitching restoration projects.	Sundial making workshop Young people creating their own sundials after visiting the Seven Dials monument in covent garden.	Exploring hidden heritage A young person from a pupil referral unit examines a horse's bridle at Cranford Stables.
Wanstead Grotto A Proud Places visit at Wanstead Grotto, locked to the public for over 100 years.	Whitechapel Fountain Local pupils learn about different mortar compositions from a conservator	Promenade Approach Gates Pupils discover different flames blacksmiths use while they restore a park entrance in Chiswick
Mount Clare Temple Parthenon Exploring a temple hidden away in West London	Proud Places stone masonry A young person from a pupil referral unit tries their hand at stone masonry.	Kentish Drivers Mural Local pupils use binoculars to examine the mural before its restoration on Old Kent Road.
Poetry workshops A young person shows her poem at our literacy workshop inspired by a visit to Pope's Grotto.	Proud Prospects Pupils learn new skills in presentation and confidence as part of our Proud Prospects workshops	Proud Places at Stonemasonry workshop 4_edited A young person being taught by stone mason, leading him to rethink his career options.