institution/profession, historical house
Unknown, 1740
37 Spital Square, E1 6DY
A rare opportunity to explore the Georgian headquarters of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), the UK’s oldest building conservation charity, not normally open to the public.
Liverpool Street, Moorgate
Liverpool Street, Shoreditch High Street
8, 26, 35, 47, 48, 78, 149, 344
Due to the nature of the site, this visit is not suitable for wheelchair users or those with limited mobility. Assistant dogs only.
The tour will involve climbing stairs between the building’s five floors and significant periods of standing, with some seating available.
Guided tour
10:00–10:50
How to book
Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.
Guided tour
11:00–11:50
How to book
Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.
Guided tour
12:00–12:50
How to book
Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.
Guided tour
13:00–13:50
How to book
Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.
Guided tour
14:00–14:50
How to book
Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.
Guided tour
15:00–15:50
How to book
Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.
Guided tour
16:00–16:50
How to book
Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.
This is a rare opportunity to explore the Georgian headquarters of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), the UK’s oldest building conservation charity.
37 Spital Square is the last surviving Georgian house on a street once lined with such buildings. Just a stone’s throw from Spitalfields Market, the building’s history and architecture help to tell the story of a constantly evolving Spitalfields, which for centuries has been a hub of immigration, culture and commerce.
Join a free guided tour of this labyrinthine five-storey building and uncover some of the architectural clues to its past – from original Georgian features, to hints of the medieval origins of the site.
Along the way you’ll hear the fascinating history of the people who lived and worked here, including Huguenot silk merchants, Jewish purse makers, an 18th-century surgeon and a 20th-century umbrella maker.
There'll also be a chance to see some fascinating items from our Archives, where we store case files, notes and images stretching all the way back to 1877, when we were founded by William Morris.
Join us to explore this historic building, not normally open to the public, and learn more about our work to champion old buildings and the people who care for them.