About Us

The Hackney Society's mission statement reads

"Promoting the highest standards in design and protecting Hackney's unique heritage. The Hackney Society has encouraged positive development of the borough's built and natural environments, through engagement with a broad cross-section of local people and experts. We encourage exemplary new design, regeneration and conservation of our rich heritage through Spaces (our newsletter), our publications, walks, talks, meetings, website and social media."

The Society was formed in 1967 to involve and support local people in the conservation and regeneration of Hackney's built environment and public spaces.

The Hackney Society is a membership organisation of Hackney residents and friends. An elected Board of Trustees, drawn from the membership, manages the work of the Society. The Society has no staff and is entirely run by volunteers.

The Hackney Society is an amenity society, a registered charity (number 1126736) and a company registered in England, limited by guarantee (number 4574188).

Contact us

While we update our website please use this temporary email for all queries: hackneyhistoryfestival@gmail.com

If you can't email, you can write to us via our post box at The Hackney Society, The Round Chapel, 1D Glenarm Road, London E5 0LY, but bear in mind post is only collected intermittently. We'll get back to you as soon as we can but give us a couple of days.

What do we do?

The Hackney Society:

• promotes high standards of planning and architecture in Hackney
• gives a voice to local people in the future development of Hackney
• educates and fosters public interest in the history, architecture and character of the Borough
• 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 councillors
• 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
• comments on planning applications in the borough to improve the quality of design
• 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
• campaigned on issues including affordable homes and sustainability

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, many in need of urgent repairs
• Hackney is one of the most deprived authorities in England, yet property prices have risen dramatically in recent 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 copy of Spaces, a quarterly newsletter, delivered to your door
• discount on most Hackney Society publications and many events
• an opportunity to guide and shape the work of the organisation

For further details and to join see our membership page.