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Whitechapel Drinking Fountain Restored

“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
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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 craft 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 6,000 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

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Queen Mary's Hospital for the East End

Newham

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

Cranford Stables

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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Bandstand

Bromley

This ornate bandstand in Croydon Recreation Ground is steeped in musical history, most notably David Bowie penned 'Life on Mars' upon its steps. 

"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.”

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– 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.” 

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– Ben, aged 16

Find out a little more about the Proud Places experience!

6000+

YOUNG

PEOPLE

40

SITES

33

LONDON BOROUGHS 

Gallery

GALLERY

Get Involved

GET INVOLVED

Want to bring your group along?

Leave your info and we’ll get back to you.

*The programme covers free visits for state schools, alternative provisions and youth groups. 

Site visits are fully risk-assessed and groups can be as small as necessary.

CONTACT
Contact Us

CONTACT

Contact Us

Thanks for submitting!

Our Office

Heritage of London Trust,

Fivefields,

10 Grosvenor Gardens,

London,

SW1W 0DH

 

info@heritageoflondon.org

Tel: 020 7099 0559

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Special thanks

This programme has been funded with the generosity of the Jones Day Foundation 

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