Heritage + Legacy
Heritage + Legacy
The Peckham Experiment was a groundbreaking investigation into the nature of health. Led by Dr George Scott Williamson and Dr Innes Hope Pearse, it began in a house on Queen’s Road before relocating to the purpose- built Pioneer Centre on St Mary’s Road, from 1926 to 1950 in South London, England.
The Pioneer Centre served as a vibrant community hub where local families participated in social, recreational, and educational activities. Membership was open to local families within pram- pushing distance, ensuring it remained deeply embedded in the neighbourhood. Members received annual health checks, and their behaviours and interactions were observed to uncover factors that contributed to well-being.
The Centre offered a variety of facilities, including a gym, swimming pool, dance hall, cafeteria, games rooms, nursery, and library. These spaces promoted physical activity, social engagement, and intellectual growth, with the dance hall hosting the popular Pioneer Waltz. To support good nutrition, the Centre also leased a farm, providing fresh organic food.
Described by Walter Gropius as ‘an oasis of glass in a desert of brick’, the Centre’s modernist design, created by Sir Owen Williams in 1935, featured large glass windows, open-plan spaces, and neutral tones to encourage natural light and airflow. The flexible layout facilitated freedom of movement, interaction, and unobtrusive observation, integrating health promotion with modern, socially-conscious design.
The Pioneer Health Foundation has long preserved and promoted the legacy of the Peckham Experiment, keeping it central to discussions about health and wellbeing. In 2025, this vital stewardship will transition to The Peckham Experiment CIC, ensuring this remarkable heritage continues to inspire future generations.
The Peckham Experiment was a groundbreaking investigation into the nature of health. Led by Dr George Scott Williamson and Dr Innes Hope Pearse, it began in a house on Queen’s Road before relocating to the purpose- built Pioneer Centre on St Mary’s Road, from 1926 to 1950 in South London, England.
The Pioneer Centre served as a vibrant community hub where local families participated in social, recreational, and educational activities. Membership was open to local families within pram- pushing distance, ensuring it remained deeply embedded in the neighbourhood. Members received annual health checks, and their behaviours and interactions were observed to uncover factors that contributed to well-being.
The Centre offered a variety of facilities, including a gym, swimming pool, dance hall, cafeteria, games rooms, nursery, and library. These spaces promoted physical activity, social engagement, and intellectual growth, with the dance hall hosting the popular Pioneer Waltz. To support good nutrition, the Centre also leased a farm, providing fresh organic food.
Described by Walter Gropius as ‘an oasis of glass in a desert of brick’, the Centre’s modernist design, created by Sir Owen Williams in 1935, featured large glass windows, open-plan spaces, and neutral tones to encourage natural light and airflow. The flexible layout facilitated freedom of movement, interaction, and unobtrusive observation, integrating health promotion with modern, socially-conscious design.
The Pioneer Health Foundation has long preserved and promoted the legacy of the Peckham Experiment, keeping it central to discussions about health and wellbeing. In 2025, this vital stewardship will transition to The Peckham Experiment CIC, ensuring this remarkable heritage continues to inspire future generations.
Our Mission
About Us
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.
All image attributions: Pioneer Health Foundation, Wellcome Collection, Southwark Council. By kind permission of the PHF
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.

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.