St Margaret’s House: Our Long History in a Short Timeline

St Margaret’s House was founded in 1889 and moved to its current home, 21 Old Ford Road, in 1902. There is a rich history at St Margaret’s House with community always being at the heart of the buildings and the activities.

Dating back to 1753, 21 Old Ford Road has had a number of tenants using the space embarking on projects to benefit the community around them.

21 Old Ford Road was built by Anthony Natt, whose family constructed and owned a number of properties in Bethnal Green.

1753

21 Old Ford Road became home to an all-girls school run by ‘The London Society For Promoting Christianity Among the Jews’

1815

The school was taken over by a reforming group who opened their doors to ‘ladies of the night’.

1840

St Margaret’s House was founded as a sister settlement to Oxford House and was the home of the Bethnal Green Ladies Committee.

1889

The Guardian Society Temporary Asylum, a retreat for ‘fallen women’, occupied 21 Old Ford Road until the house was bought by the trustees of St Margaret’s House Settlement who added the Chapel.

1901

St Margaret’s House charged £2 for the training and lodging of female students.

1921

Queen Mary and the Empress of India visited St Margaret’s House, meeting members of the local community in the garden and interacting with the children from the play centre.

1935

During World War II, five houses in Bethnal Green were destroyed by bombing. St Margaret’s House survived despite many broken windows and several near misses. An incendiary bomb fell on the Chapel roof but fortunately failed to ignite.

1940s

Throughout the 1960s and into the 70s, St Margaret’s House was the home to a number of organisations. ARC, a retirement day centre functioned from the Mulberry Hall, the Children’s Country Holiday Fund took residency and a number of theatre workshops were organised for children and adults.

1960s

St Margaret’s House celebrated its 100 year anniversary. A street party was held for all the residents of the Settlement.

1989

In 1995 the first community shops opened on 23, 27 and 29 Old Ford Road. These were arts and crafts shops run by charities that used office space on the settlement.

In 2006 the first ever Somali community shop was opened in England on 27 Old Ford Road.

1995

1997

The Gallery Cafe was opened. The cafe hosts continuous art exhibitions from local creatives for everyone who enters to see.

2001

We bought buildings 15 & 17, expanding the settlement and offering more office space.

2007

The Bangladeshi Parents and Carers Association takes residency in the Mulberry Hall. They still use this space to this day and have recently won an award for the best Day Centre Experience.

2011

The Create Place opened at 29 Old Ford Road. This is a bustling arts hub with lots of community projects.

The following year the Yoganest opened - now known as the Canvas - at 27 Old Ford Road. This is a wellbeing studio.

2023

In April 2023, St Margaret’s House gained new Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation status. We continue to be an arts and wellbeing hub for the Tower Hamlets community and the surrounding areas, focused on improving access to quality culture and supporting people’s health.