History
Peabody was founded in 1862 as the Peabody Donation Fund by the remarkable American banker, diplomat and philanthropist George Peabody, to tackle the poverty he saw around him in his adopted home of London.
An inspirational figure, part of a circle of reformers including Lord Shaftesbury, William Cobbett and Charles Dickens, he was also a social visionary, with views far ahead of his time. For example, horrified by the devastation caused by the American Civil War, he set up a fund to establish a public education system in the Southern states.
That vision and sense of social justice formed Peabody's foundations. It pioneered social housing with such unheard-of luxuries as separate laundry rooms and space for children to play, at a time when the capital had some of the most horrific slums in Europe.
The first Peabody estate, in Spitalfields, was opened in 1864. Since then, the organisation has grown to house almost 50,000 people and continues to build on its pioneering history, adapting to the changing needs of Londoners with innovations in affordable, sustainable housing. It was incorporated by private Act of Parliament in 1948 and is a charity registered with the Charity Commissioners. It is also a member of the National Housing Federation.
Can you help our archive grow?
Do you have any memories, family stories, film or photographs of Peabody's past? If you do please email Christine Wagg, Peabody's historian, giving your postal address and a contact number.
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