The Hackney Society

Lennox House, Cresset Road

© The Hackney Society

St Augustine's tower

© The Hackney Society

Who we are and what we do

Aims of the Society

• promote high standards of planning and architecture in Hackney
• give a voice to local people in the future development of Hackney
• educate and foster public interest in the history, architecture and character of the Borough

Who are we?

The Hackney Society is a membership organisation of Hackney residents and is a registered charity. An elected Board of Trustees, drawn from the membership, manages the work of the Society.

The Hackney Society is an amenity society, a registered charity (number 1074596) and company limited by guarantee (number 4574188).

What do we do?

The Hackney Society:

• organises free public events including talks, guided walks, exhibitions and site visits
• produces publications which celebrate Hackney's social, cultural and architectural history
• works to build links between residents, officials and councilors
• supports conservation work and comments on planning applications in the borough
• provides advice, training and technical support to local groups to help them improve their neighbourhoods
• works with residents and groups to develop community history and cultural heritage projects

How are we working to improve the area?

• comments on planning applications in the borough to improve the quality of design.
• secured funding for projects: From Fever to Consumption; Action for Hackney Heritage, Doing it for Ourselves.
• supports the six Conservation Areas Advisory Committees made up of local people.
  produces a quarterly newsletter, SPACES to highlight the society's work and important current issues.
• undertakes community consultation and research projects.
• published an award-winning book on Twentieth Century Buildings in Hackney.
• Established Hackney Historic Buildings Trust which has raised over £1 million to restore historic buildings in Hackney.
• campaigned on issues including litter, street trees, streetscape design and empty homes.

Why is Hackney special?

Hackney has a uniquely rich and diverse cultural heritage

• There are over 1,250 special historic (or listed) buildings in the borough and over 20 conservation areas
• Hackney has over 32 important listed buildings in need of urgent repairs
• Hackney is one of the most deprived authorities in England, yet property prices have risen dramatically in the last three years
• Development pressures in Hackney are rising at an unprecedented rate

Becoming a Hackney Society member gives you

• an opportunity to help make Hackney a better place to live and work
• a free copy of SPACES, a quarterly newsletter
• discount on all Hackney Society publications and information about events
• an opportunity to guide and shape the work of the organisation

For further details and to join see our membership page.