1884

Toynbee Hall

The first university settlement house. Founded by Samuel and Henrietta Barnett. It was named for their friend, Arnold Toynbee, the economic historian noted for his social commitment and desire to improve the living conditions of the working classes.

The idea was that the educated rich should live close to the poor and thus change society for the better. The Guild and School of Handicraft started life here in 1888.

Spitalfields Life have a good post about Toynbee Hall with lots of pictures. It's there we learnt that Toynbee Hall opened on Christmas Eve.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Toynbee Hall

Commemorated ati

Dr Jimmy Mallon

Dr Jimmy Mallon, CH, 1874 - 1961, Warden of Toynbee Hall, Champion of social ...

St Mary Matfelon

Our picture comes from Google satellite view and shows, better than can be se...

Toynbee Hall

Toynbee Housing Society Evershed House Community - Opened on September 23rd 1...

Toynbee Hall clock

The top plaque claims the 1965 restoration was in appreciation of "the half c...

Toynbee Hall Gatehouse

Toynbee Hall Gatehouse Inaugurated by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Harold...

See other memorials in this area

Other Subjects

Foundling Hospital

England's first home for abandoned children. Established in 1739 by Captain Thomas Coram. From the Museum's Friends Update: "On the afternoon of Wednesday 25 March {1741}, the coat of arms designe...

Building, Children, Social Welfare

6 memorials

Organ donors

From 2013 Organ Donation news item: "In the last ten years, around 10,000 people have been honoured {with the St John award} and are estimated to have made more than 25,000 organ transplants possi...

Group, Medicine, Social Welfare

1 memorial

Immigration to Spitalfields

Spitalfields has experienced a number of waves of immigration from other countries, often driven from home due to difficult or dangerous conditions. The French Huguenots escaping religious persecut...

Concept, Community / Clubs, Social Welfare

1 memorial

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Bishop and opponent of apartheid and campaigner on many other causes: AIDS, homophobia, etc. Received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. His Wikipedia page and obituary confirm that he died, aged 90 ...

Person, Peace, Race Issues, Religion, Seriously Famous, Social Welfare, South Africa

1 memorial

Soup Kitchen for the Jewish Poor

From LMA: Founded January 1854 in Fashion Street with the aim to supply soup, bread and meat twice a week, during the winter to the Jewish poor. In 1902 it moved to 17-19 Butler Street, renamed Bru...

Group, Social Welfare

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Joseph Losey

Born Wisconsin, U.S.A. Film and theatre director. In 1952 he moved to England after being blacklisted by the House Committee on Un-American Activities. Directed three ground-breaking films, (with...

Person, Cinema, Seriously Famous, Theatre, USA

1 memorial

Joseph Knight

Born London. Landscape painter and engraver. At the age of seven, his right arm was amputated following an accident, but this did not deter him from following his chosen profession. Member of the I...

Person, Art, Wales

1 memorial

Brian Catling

Poet, sculptor and performance artist. Born London.

Person, Poetry, Sculpture, Theatre

1 memorial

Henry Fawcett

Economist, politician and educational reformer. Born Salisbury. Blinded in a shooting accident as a young man. The first blind MP. As Postmaster General (1880-4) he developed the parcel post and in...

Person, Economist, Education, Politics & Administration, Social Welfare

5 memorials

Samuel Knight

Architect. Born Exeter. Knight was a captain in the Bloomsbury Rifles, which probably has something to do with the commission he was given to design their Drill Hall in 1882-3. Later he became an H...

Person, Architecture

1 memorial