Made in the East End presents... Oxford House Building Tour

Join this unique guided tour of our listed Victorian building. Hear untold stories, peek into our archives, visit our ‘secret chapel’ and take in 360-degree views of East London on our spectacular rooftop.

Oxford House was initially established in 1884, and our history is full of surprises. As one of the world's first ‘settlement houses’ where students came to live and work in the East End, our listed building is brimming with unique stories, architectural features, and quirks.

Oxford House was a male settlement house. While the narrative of male reformers often takes centre stage, women were essential to the functioning and social fabric of the building. This tour will highlight their roles and legacy.

The tour will be followed by 30 minutes ‘memory sharing session’. On this occasion, we will welcome Ms Rhiannon Walters. Her mother was a student at Oxford and spent her vacations volunteering in the area. Rhiannon’s mother kept a diary, and many entries refer to her time here, including individuals listed in Oxford House’s Annual Reports (1940-41 and 1941-42). The diary includes accounts of fire-watching and giving support to those made homeless by the blitz. This is a very special occasion to hear a first-hand account of Oxford House as experienced by a young female student brimming with life.

Please feel free to come along with your memories and join a relaxed, friendly conversation.

On this guided building tour, you will:

• Uncover hidden stories of women who lived in Oxford House.
• Take a look at key pieces in our Archive which dates back to the Victorian period.
• Visit our beautiful oak panelled ‘secret chapel’ designed for our earliest ‘settlers’.
• Learn more about the social history of the East End and social movements.
• Hear about the role our building played in World War I and World War II.
• Learn more about Oxford House’s most famous visitor - Gandhi in the 1930s.
• Visit rooftop with 360-degree views across East London*.
• Listen to and share your memories.

*Weather permitting. Please also note that access to our rooftop is via spiral staircase with 24 steps.

This tour will last approximately 1 hour and will be followed by a ‘memory sharing session’ which will last approximately 30 minutes.

Please email events@oxfordhouse.org.uk to let us know if you have any additional access needs or need any information.

Participants to the Tour will get a 10% at the café on the day of the event.

Booking is essential.

This tour forms part of Made in the East End

Made in the East End is an inspiring heritage 2-years project funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund which will bring our community together to learn, exchange ideas and create new public artworks, writing and performances responding to local history and our archive.