Culture And Memory

Becoming Neighbours - Stories of the Pembroke House Residency

Founded in Walworth, south-London in 1885, Pembroke House is one of the world’s first Settlement houses. A core principle of the Settlement movement was residency—coming to live alongside disadvantaged communities to find innovative solutions to social problems. This experience had profound impact on people’s lives and work, including influencing the development of the NHS and the welfare state. Today, Pembroke House is unique among Settlement Houses in upholding an unbroken tradition of residency, welcoming people to live and work alongside the people of Walworth for 140 Years. This year, as community members and residential volunteers, coming together through research, storytelling, and celebration, we will uncover and amplify the voices of those whose lives have been changed by connections made at Pembroke House. We will create a new oral history archive, events, display and podcasts, which will serve to revitalise, reimagine, and sustain the Residency model for the 21stC and beyond.