St. Peter's Walworth
St. Peter's Walworth
We produced a Conservation Management Plan for this Grade I listed church designed by Sir John Soane as part of an NHLF project.
St Peter’s is one of only three churches designed by Soane and is considered the best-preserved example of his distinctive Neoclassical style. The surrounding area was redeveloped in the 1890s under the social reformer Octavia Hill, whose model housing and landscaped streets now form the Octavia Hill (Liverpool Grove) Conservation Area, within which St Peter’s stands as the visual and social focus. The crypt served as an air raid shelter during the Second World War, when bombing in 1940 killed 67 people. Post-war reconstruction by Thomas Ford in 1953 reinstatedmuch of Soane’s original design, and the crypt was again adapted in 2003 to accommodate a café and community spaces.
The Plan provides a comprehensive account of the church’s history, architectural character, and enduring role within the local community, together with guidance for its long-term conservation and adaptation.
We established that St Peter’s retains exceptional architectural, historic and communal value, recognised by its Grade I listing. It remains an active parish church and community centre, offering inclusive support and outreach to Walworth’s diverse population while continuing to define the character, memory and identity of the neighbourhood it has served fortwo centuries.
We then set out management policies for the site’s ongoing conservation, upholding legal compliance and best-practice maintenance of the historic fabric. Priorities include improved accessibility, inclusive use, and community outreach while safeguarding heritage value. Sustainability goals target ‘Gold’ Eco Church status through efficient heating and insulation. These policies also promote research, heritage interpretation, collaboration with the Soane Museum, and protection of the church’s setting and public realm.
Client St Peter’s Church (Diocese of Southwark)