London Grilling: Dr Nicola Stacey, Director, Heritage of London Trust Talks To Delancey Real Estate
Dr Nicola Stacey, Director, Heritage of London Trust
Hi Nicola, please introduce yourself to our readers!
I’m Nicola Stacey and I run the Heritage of London Trust, a charity which has been working hard to rescue London’s heritage for over 40 years. I’ve worked for the Museum of London and English Heritage and before that was an archaeologist. I grew up in Battersea near the Power Station and the postmodern black and white Lego Observer building – which as a child I loved!
Please tell us all about the Proud Places initiative
Proud Places is a free programme for young people to come and learn about and celebrate their local heritage and to find inspiration in their local places. We take small groups at a time behind the scenes at our projects to meet stonemasons, blacksmiths and conservators and get a go themselves on the tools. At the same time, they learn about pioneering or courageous people in their local histories and take part in workshops: debating, art or poetry workshops about their local area. Our priority groups for the programme are young people excluded from school, young refugees or youth groups but we work with mainstream schools near our projects too.
HOLT’s Director Dr Nicola Stacey with primary pupils at a restoration project in Enfield
How does Proud Places impact local communities across London?
We launched Proud Places in 2020 during the pandemic because so many children were really suffering with isolation, disrupted education and challenging circumstances, and we wanted to offer them inspiration and support. The programme has grown out of that and involved 4,000 children in the last two and half years. It’s been transformational: they see their neighbourhood in a new way and do become proud of where they live. This has knock on effects like more confidence, curiosity, ambition, and we’ve recently added a skills programme called Proud Prospects to take it a step further.
The programme is funded by the Jones Day Foundation and they’ve been amazing at working with us to develop its impact. It’s massively exciting as we’re about to expand this year.
What are you most proud of in your work so far with Heritage of London Trust?
Proud Places of course, as it’s so important on many levels, not least in a new generation growing up to appreciate and love their local heritage. But also some projects like our campaign to get London’s historic drinking fountains restored and offering free water to the public again. That’s such an obvious thing to do with 100s of these beautiful monuments in public places all across London. They just need new piping and fresh water and then anyone can fill up their bottle. It’s a really great step away from the pollution of plastic water bottles.
What are your long-term goals for the charity?
To increase the diversity of the heritage sector – it’s one of the most un-diverse arts sectors – and ensure that future generations grow to love this beautiful city.
How can people get involved in the Proud Places initiative?
We’re always interested in volunteers who can join visits on a regular basis, as well as anyone with specific skills, e.g. artists or sculptors who might like to work with a group of young people. Or if you know a school or youth group who’d like to be involved let us know!
From left: Councillor Eleanor Stringer, Dr Nicola Stacey of the Heritage of London Trust, and Polly Toynbee, great-great-granddaughter of Joseph Toynbee
Please describe your perfect day out in London, including any secret spots where we might find a restored historic London treasure!
I adore the Thames as the great artery of the city – so it would have to include old pubs like The Dove in Hammersmith or The Mayflower in Rotherhithe. But on Sunday Columbia Market in Bethnal Green – if you’re going to buy flowers walk past the nursery school at the far end of the street and find out more about old Columbia Market – we’ve just restored its Victorian gates and lanterns. Or a summer breakfast in Wimbledon and a drink at Joseph Toynbee’s fountain: he was a pioneering ear surgeon who died experimenting with chloroform to cure tinnitus. He helped save Wimbledon Common – we’ve just restored his beautiful Gothic fountain.
Is there anything else you want to tell us about?
We’ll soon be launching a Poet for Places competition for aspiring poets aged 18-25 – keep an eye on our website to find out more!
