Lindsey

In Pictures: 150 Years of Peabody

150 years ago today, The Times announced banker George Peabody's £150,000 founding donation to establish a fund to "ameliorate the condition of the poor and needy" in London through supporting low rent housing. The first dwellings for the “artisans and labouring poor of London” were opened in Commercial Street, Spitalfields in February 1864

Today Peabody — one of London's largest housing associations and community regeneration agencies — owns and manages more than 20,000 homes on 219 estates, with 55,000 residents, 99% of whom live within six miles of Smithfield Market. Browse through the gallery for photos of Peabody estates through the ages.

Peabody are celebrating their 150th anniversary with a year of special events, including a non-denominational service at Westminster Abbey on Thursday, summer street parties for residents, a sports day and much more. Residents' stories will also be collected on the Peabody 150 website.

Visit the special anniversary website and like PeabodyLDN on Facebook for more archive photos and news about Peabody 150 events.

George Peabody is one of our Top 10 London social philanthropists.