Open House Festival

Good Shepherd Studios

-, 1880

15a Davies Lane, E11 3DR

The doors to the building (including the artists' studios) will be opened to the public. Not only will visitors get the opportunity to see "behind the scenes" but they will have the opportunity to join workshops run by the artists/makers. Outdoors, visitors can bring along their food and drink and join the Our Pastures Community Garden Picnic including live music, storytelling and more.

Getting there

Tube

Leytonstone

Train

Leytonstone High Road

Bus

145, 275, 66, W13

Additional travel info

Nearest Bus Stop: Leytonstone High Road station Stop J and Stop F (257 and W14).

Access

Facilities

Accessibility notes

Step-free access to the ground floor and toilets. No lift in the building so the 1st and 2nd floors are only accessible via stairs.

What you can expect

The walking tours will include opportunities to rest.

Create a free visitor account to book festival tickets

Drop in activities

Sun 22 Sep

12:00–16:00

Drop in: Open Day | Open Studios

Visit and meet the Good Shepherd Studios' artists, makers and creators such as Tamasyn Gambell and Daniel Heath in their own studios.

12:00–16:00

Drop in: Our Pastures Community Garden Picnic

Join Our Pastures in the oasis of peace, calm and beauty of the Community Garden for live music, storytelling, forest activities and more.

Activities

Sun 22 Sep

Walking tour

10:30–12:00

Leytonstone Freedom Walk: Led by Peter Ashan

Explore Leytonstone's multi-ethnic multi-faith community from the c17 to the present day.

How to book

Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.

Guided tour

12:00–12:30

Building Tour

Find out about the building's history, see "behind the scenes" information and meet some of the Studios' artists, makers and creators.

How to book

Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.

Guided tour

13:00–13:30

Building Tour

Find out about the building's history, see "behind the scenes" information and meet some of the Studios' artists, makers and creators.

How to book

Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.

Guided tour

14:00–14:30

Building Tour

Find out about the building's history, see "behind the scenes" information and meet some of the Studios' artists, makers and creators.

How to book

Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.

Guided tour

15:00–15:30

Building Tour

Find out about the building's history, see "behind the scenes" information and meet some of the Studios' artists, makers and creators.

How to book

Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.

About

History

Good Shepherd Studios is a building within a site located on a residential street off Leytonstone High Road. The site also comprises of The Pastures Sports Centre and gardens.

The building was previously known as the Good Shepherd Building and was built around 1880 to facilitate a home for “fallen” girls.

Fast-forward a few decades and the site is now owned by the London Borough of Waltham Forest. In 2020 the buildings were under threat of demolition and redevelopment and became the subject of the “Save Our Pastures” community-led campaign.

After much petitioning, the site was saved and the Council invited bids to take a lease of the Good Shepherd Building. After a successful proposal work commenced in August 2022 to bring the building back to life in the form of Good Shepherds Studios. Home to a collection of design-led coworking and community spaces, the foundations of Good Shepherd Studios are in place and the community are being involved in the direction the space will take.

Our Neighbours

The site (locally known as "Our Pastures") is shared between Good Shepherd Studios (which includes the building, garden and outdoor "People's Pavilion"), Our Pastures Community Garden and Pastures Leisure Centre and Lawn.

The Community Garden is run by volunteers who invite gardeners of all levels to join them on Saturdays and Sundays 10.00-13.00.

The Pastures Leisure Centre and Lawn is run by Waltham Forest Council and used for a number of leisure and sporting events as well as a weekday centre and art project for adults with learning difficulties.

Online presence

www.goodshepherdstudios.com

www.instagram.com/gsstudiosE11

www.facebook.com/GSstudiosE11

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