About us
Our members' generosity enables us to fight for the Victorian and Edwardian buildings people value. Every day, we work to protect Victorian and Edwardian buildings from demolition and destruction.
Our Conservation Advisers, guided by experts on our Southern Buildings Committee and Northern Buildings Committee, help local planning authorities and churches to avoid needless harm to Victorian or Edwardian buildings. The reuse of our wonderful historic buildings, rather than wasteful demolition and rebuild, is key to a sustainable future. Our input has saved landmark buildings ranging from St Pancras in London to the Albert Dock in Liverpool.
We run numerous events and visits, developed by our events committee, and publish books, journals and a membership magazine to entertain educate about our subject. The Victorian Society is an IHBC recognised CPD provider.
We have regional groups which run their own events and campaigns, click the links on the right hand side of this page find out more .
Join the Victorian Society to be at the front of the battle to save our heritage. Our members’ support is crucial to our work, every member matters in the fight to save the buildings we cherish.
We’ve been fighting to protect historic buildings since John Betjeman and Nikolaus Pevsner among others founded The Victorian Society in February 1958. Their aim was to preserve Victorian and Edwardian architecture and encourage research into the art and history of the period. You can read more about our history below.
The Victorian Society is a registered charity in England and Wales. Charity number 1081435.
Our archives
Much of our casework archive covering 1958-2005 is kept at the London Metropolitan Archives, under reference LMA/4460. Church case files and other records are generally retained in our office.
History of the Victorian Society
Dr William Filmer-Sankey takes a look back at the origins and early history of the Victorian Society, which was founded in 1958. This article was published in the first edition of our magazine, The Victorian, in 1998.
Trustees
The Society is managed by a Board of Trustees. The trustees are also the directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act. Who are they, and how are they elected?
How we work
Victorian and Edwardian buildings are irreplaceable, cherished, diverse, beautiful, familiar and part of our everyday life. They contribute overwhelmingly to the character of places people love and places where people live. They belong to all of us. Their owners are really only custodians for future generations.
Your legacy will make a big difference to the Victorian Society!
Legacies are a vital source of income for the Victorian Society and can have tax befits for the donor. They enable supporters like you to make a larger donation than may be possible during your lifetime. Remembering the Society in your will with a legacy, however small, makes a much greater difference to us than to larger, wealthier charities. Can you help us by leaving a legacy in your Will?
Our advice
Read more about how to notify us about a building under threat, or how to start your own campaign...