The Founders of Oxford House were volunteers from Keeble College, University of Oxford. They came to East London as part of the social reform movement, to enact schemes designed to alleviate local urban poverty and poor-living conditions.

Oxford House's founders set up activities for the local community to partake in, including the working men's club pictured here.

Photograph from the Repton Boy's Club Football team, 1913-14 season. Oxford House ran sports clubs for local members of the community and those who lived in the house itself.

During WWII, Oxford House's basement served as a bomb shelter for the local community. This photograph was taken during Christmas Celebrations, c.1940.

Since the 1800s Oxford House has produced an annual report which looks back on the year’s work and achievements. This annual review is from 1943, during the World War II. Oxford House was fortunate to avoid damage during the war when 80 tons of bombs were dropped on East London.

Oxford House was fortunate to avoid bomb damage during WWII. This photograph of protection on the exterior of the house comes from the cover of the 1944 Annual Report.

Sally Clutton- Brock (centre) was the first child to live at Oxford House. This photograph shows her playing on the roof with other local children. Oxford House managed to stay open during the war and several clubs and community projects thrived during this period. With so many men away during the war, Oxford House focused many of its activities towards women and girls.

Post-War, the Webbe Boys Club run by Oxford House saw a mass oversubscription of their services. Staff had been worried about the longevity of the clubs set up during WWII, but returning young men and boys flocked to Oxford House and there was a long waiting list for membership.

Oxford House celebrated many events over the years, including the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953. Here, the Holland Hall in Oxford House was set up for a 'Coronation Spread' for young children in the local community.

Oxford House has always hosted festivals. Photographs from the E2 festival held in 1973 in Weavers Fields opposite our building are a gem of our archive, although we unfortunately do not know the photographer of any of the items.

Photographs taken from the E2 Festival show the surrounding area.

The Oxford House Social Club was set up in the 1970s. A place for local people to drink and socialise, the waiting list for membership stood at over 1000 people at its peak! Photographs, like this one here taken by Philip Cunningham, are a rare documentation of working class life in 1970s East London.

The Oxford House Social Club was located at the back of Oxford House, prior to the new extension being built in the late 1990s.

Before Oxford House had its new entrance, opened in 2019, what we now know as the 'historic entrance' was round the side. This photograph was taken standing at the entrance to Weavers Field just opposite.

From the 1970s onwards, Oxford House became a hub for many protest and campaigning groups. Pictured here are the Tower Hamlets Pensioners Action Group, who met together at Oxford House to discuss pensioners rights.

In the 1980s, Oxford House ran the 'Summer Playscheme,' where local kids could come during the school holidays and socialise with one another, often while their parents worked. Here, the theme of the summer playscheme from the 1980s was 'tropical island!'

To celebrate the centenary of Oxford House in 1984, Princess Anne made a visit for the celebratory events.

Engagement with older members of the local community has always been important at Oxford House. Here, a dance class for older women is being hosted in the Oxford House Social Club - identifiable by its wallpaper!

The Oxford House Youth Club was the younger version of the Oxford House Social Club. 'Oxfords' as it was known was a place for young people to come and socialise, especially those who had been kicked out or banned from other youth clubs who instead found acceptance and home at Oxfords.

In the 1990s, the Oxford House Health Projects used the Health Bus pictured here to administer health advice to members of the local community, in a variety of needed languages. Additionally, health stalls were hosted inside the Oxford House cafe to provide health advice to those who needed it.

Other activities hosted for young people at Oxford House included, among other things, music workshops for local youth to get involved and develop a passion for creativity.