American banker and philanthropist George Peabody creates the Peabody Trust with a £150,000 donation. The money is used to build affordable homes for Londoners within eight miles of the Royal Exchange.
The first Peabody homes open on Commercial Street, Spitalfields, designed by architect Henry Astley Darbishire.
George Peabody dies in London aged 74. His funeral is held at Westminster Abbey before his body is returned to the USA. There are now five Peabody estates in London.
The first Peabody estate south of the Thames opens in Southwark, providing 384 homes across 19 blocks.
Queen Victoria grants Peabody a Royal Charter, allowing us to work within 12 miles of the Royal Exchange.
Thousands of our residents serve in the First World War. Nearly 400 lose their lives. We now manage 24 estates across London.
We continue to grow, opening new estates such as Horseferry Road in 1922 and Hammersmith in 1927.
Kensington Housing Trust is set up with a clear mission: to tackle poor housing in west London. Its first purpose-built homes, Crosfield House, offer 36 safe and secure flats for families previously living in slum conditions
The Second World War causes major damage to several estates. More than 200 residents and three colleagues are killed. Rebuilding takes over ten years.
The Peabody Donation Fund Act extends our work to areas within 25 miles of the Royal Exchange.