Peckham Experiment
Heritage + Legacy
Heritage + Legacy
The Peckham Experiment began in 1926, when doctors Innes Hope Pearse and George Scott Williamson opened a small family health club at 142 Queen’s Road in Peckham. They wanted to investigate a question they felt medicine had largely neglected: what allows health to develop and flourish?
Their ideas led to the purpose-built Pioneer Centre on St Mary’s Road, which opened in 1935. Designed by engineer Sir Owen Williams, its glass walls, open spaces, swimming pool, gymnasium, nursery, cafeteria and social areas created a setting in which everyday life could unfold and be observed.
Membership was for whole families living within pram-pushing distance of the Centre. Members had regular health overhauls, while children and adults were free to swim, play, dance, make things, learn new skills, form clubs and organise activities of their own. Pearse and Williamson were interested in what happened when people had the space, resources and freedom to develop their own capacities, within family and community life.
Food and environment were part of the Experiment too. A farm at Bromley Common supplied fresh food for families and the Centre, while experiments with composting connected Peckham to the emerging organic movement and, later, the formation of the Soil Association.
The Experiment was interrupted by the Second World War, reopened in 1946 and continued until 1950. Its research did not produce a simple formula for health, but it left a remarkable record of family life, human development, community and the relationship between people and their surroundings. Its questions about health, autonomy, education, food, architecture and belonging still resonate today.
Today, The Peckham Experiment CIC is a resident-led, largely volunteer-run organisation based at the Pioneer Centre. We preserve, share and explore the history and legacy of the Experiment, working with archives, former members and their families, researchers, artists and the local community. Through exhibitions, films, tours, digital collections and public conversations, we are bringing this history to new audiences and opening up its ideas for discussion today.
The Peckham Experiment began in 1926, when doctors Innes Hope Pearse and George Scott Williamson opened a small family health club at 142 Queen’s Road in Peckham. They wanted to investigate a question they felt medicine had largely neglected: what allows health to develop and flourish?
Their ideas led to the purpose-built Pioneer Centre on St Mary’s Road, which opened in 1935. Designed by engineer Sir Owen Williams, its glass walls, open spaces, swimming pool, gymnasium, nursery, cafeteria and social areas created a setting in which everyday life could unfold and be observed.
Membership was for whole families living within pram-pushing distance of the Centre. Members had regular health overhauls, while children and adults were free to swim, play, dance, make things, learn new skills, form clubs and organise activities of their own. Pearse and Williamson were interested in what happened when people had the space, resources and freedom to develop their own capacities, within family and community life.
Food and environment were part of the Experiment too. A farm at Bromley Common supplied fresh food for families and the Centre, while experiments with composting connected Peckham to the emerging organic movement and, later, the formation of the Soil Association.
The Experiment was interrupted by the Second World War, reopened in 1946 and continued until 1950. Its research did not produce a simple formula for health, but it left a remarkable record of family life, human development, community and the relationship between people and their surroundings. Its questions about health, autonomy, education, food, architecture and belonging still resonate today.
Today, The Peckham Experiment CIC is a resident-led, largely volunteer-run organisation based at the Pioneer Centre. We preserve, share and explore the history and legacy of the Experiment, working with archives, former members and their families, researchers, artists and the local community. Through exhibitions, films, tours, digital collections and public conversations, we are bringing this history to new audiences and opening up its ideas for discussion today.
PEX 100
About Us
2026 marks 100 years since the Peckham Experiment began.
This November, our centenary exhibition, A Place to Belong, comes together at Copeland Gallery, Peckham, bringing archive material, photography, film, oral histories, objects and contemporary work together to tell the story of the Peckham Experiment through its ideas, its remarkable building and the people who lived it.
PEX 100: A PLACE TO BELONG
19–22 November 2026
Copeland Gallery, Peckham
The Peckham Experiment CIC exists to preserve, share, and explore the heritage of The Peckham Experiment.
Preserve the legacy by safeguarding the archives, artefacts, and stories of The Peckham Experiment and the Pioneer Building. We aim to ensure that future generations locally and nationally can access and learn from this important heritage.
Share the history through a sustainable and inclusive digital platform, which will serve as a new home for The Peckham Experiment’s archives. In addition, we will organise and collaborate on community activities to connect people with this rich legacy.
Explore the ongoing relevance of The Peckham Experiment by hosting exhibitions, events, and digital challenges that celebrate its groundbreaking ideas and demonstrate the impact on modern health and wellbeing.
We aim to ensure that The Peckham Experiment’s vision continues to inspire and engage communities for generations to come.
To Preserve
Share
+ Explore
Support Us
We are actively seeking funding opportunities and partnerships to support our initiatives, including a community exhibition celebrating 100 years of The Peckham Experiment. This milestone event will explore the Experiment’s enduring relevance and celebrate local health pioneers.
As part of this, we are inviting community groups, organisations, and individuals to collaborate with us on workshops, discussions, and co-curation efforts that address health, well-being, and the legacy of the Experiment. If you would like to work with us or contribute to this important project, please get in touch below.
