New lease of life for Peckham's most historic buildings
31 August 2022
Peckham town centre has rolled back the years following the repair of nine historic buildings as part of a joint project between Southwark Council and the local community.
Each building is a key part of Rye Lane's conservation area. They include:
- three 19th century former public houses
- four 19th century terrace houses
- two cottages from the early 1800s
Materials were used to restore the buildings that would have been used at the time they were built. This has set a standard for Peckham town centre for others to follow.
For years, Peckham Vision and the Peckham Society worked hard to promote the town centre's rich heritage with support from the council. The Peckham Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) was born out of this work. It is steered by the Peckham Heritage Regeneration Partnership (PHRP). This group is made up of the council, businesses and local residents.
In 2014, the Peckham THI was awarded £1.675million by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players. Southwark Council added funds to this grant, bringing the total to £2.3m. In the Rye Lane Conservation Area, 44 buildings were eligible for funding. Owners and retailers also had to put money towards the building works to receive a grant.
Cllr James McAsh, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and Sustainable Development, said: “It is easy to see why so many people, like us, are passionate about Peckham. Every building has a unique story to tell. One that is closely linked to Peckham as a thriving place to meet, shop and live for centuries.
“The methods and materials we used to preserve the buildings has set the bar for future projects. Huge thanks to the local groups who have been pivotal to the project's success, along with owners and retailers. Everyone placed their trust in the shared vision we had for the buildings. Now Peckham's heritage can be enjoyed for generations to come.”
Claire Hegarty, Chair of Peckham Heritage Regeneration Partnership, said: “This project has been brought to life by local enthusiasm, knowledge and interest. We're very grateful also to the building owners and businesses who made this happen. It’s been such a great idea to combine the careful repair and conservation of buildings in Peckham town centre with community projects to explore personal stories, local history, and the different sorts of heritage that weave together to make Peckham special.
“In some ways, the buildings that have been repaired are ordinary and every day, but when you look again and find out more, you realise that there's beauty, craft and skill on display here - these buildings are everyday treasures! When this fantastic THI project ends, the PHRP will evolve into a new local community group. We want to continue to protect, enhance and revitalise Peckham town centre.”
Stuart McLeod, Director England - London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Investing in heritage means investing in the community it belongs to, which is why we are proud to support Peckham THI with their regeneration project. Thanks to National Lottery players, this project will not only preserve this important heritage to be enjoyed by locals and visitors from further afield, but will also play a significant role in boosting the local economy and aiding the wider regeneration of Peckham.”
Repair of the buildings went hand in hand with local events for people of all ages and walks of life to learn about Peckham’s history. The Peckham THI funded:
- Charity Our Hut working with local schools to teach children about the area's architecture
- Local History Library’s photos about local buildings and people's lives in Peckham through the ages
- South London Gallery’s project called Grow Our Histories
- Many local walks and talks, including a heritage trail map. You can access these at www.peckhamheritage.org.uk.
A grand finale took place over a number of days. This included walking tours and an exhibition at Mountview School for Performing Arts in Peckham, attended by over 250 local school children and over 200 visitors.
If you want to get involved in Peckham town centre’s heritage, visit peckhamheritage.org.uk/contact-us/
Page last updated: 31 August 2022
