industrial
Douglas Wood, 1933
20 Petersham Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 6UR
The Poppy Factory will mark 100 years in Richmond upon Thames in 2026. Its iconic Art Deco building opened in 1933 and a unique, supportive community was established on the surrounding estate. Today, a small team makes Remembrance wreaths by hand, and the charity supports veterans and families on the path to employment across the UK. A new visitor centre opened in 2021 after a full refurbishment.
Richmond
Richmond
65
Access is all on one level. No stairs and we are fully accessible throughout.
Plenty of seating. Space is open plan and relaxing. Videos playing on a loop, moderate volume.
10:00–16:00
Visitors are welcome to drop in for an hour during Open Event. Should numbers exceed capacity, we will operate a 'one in, one out' queue.
Returning from the First World War, Major George Howson wanted to address the lack of job opportunities for the many injured veterans who had been affected by the conflict.
He created The Poppy Factory in 1922 to provide a supportive work environment for those with mental and physical conditions, pioneering the employment support that our charity now offers in communities across the UK.
The original factory building was in Old Kent Road, east London, where a growing team of veterans quickly outgrew the premises. In 1926, The Poppy Factory moved to Richmond upon Thames, where a thriving community of veterans worked year-round making Remembrance wreaths and poppies for the Royal British Legion and the Royal Family. Many lived with their families in purpose-built flats on the Richmond estate.
In modern times, The Poppy Factory has gown into a national charity. Since we started developing and expanding our services in 2010, The Poppy Factory has helped thousands of veterans and family members to make progress on path to all kinds of employment, starting more than 3,000 new jobs.
