Zinc Centre is located in Chipping Ongar in a beautiful Victorian building, originally known as Great Stony School. The school was built in 1903 as a residential children's home, to house the children of paupers from London. It was part of the wider provision by Hackney council, with the aim to help disadvantaged children.

 

The school was designed to accommodate 300 children in a series of two and three storey dormitory blocks set around a central village green. The main building formed part of a system designed to provide a more village-like environment for children, rather than a single institutional building.

 

Children lived in separate house-style cottages, with boys and girls typically accommodated and taught separately in line with the social expectations of the time. Great Stony was completely self-sufficient and even had its own infirmary, as well as classrooms and an assembly hall within the main school building.

 

The building's rich history remains preserved, with original parquet flooring and decorative features throughout. We've even kept the original room names (Rowan, Acacia, Beech, Oak) which were named after the trees planted in front of each house.

 

With characterful workspaces and classrooms, a studio theatre and residential accommodation, we are proud to continue the building’s long history of care and community. Built on these strong foundations, Zinc Centre now provides a welcoming and supportive space for people of all ages to learn, connect and thrive.

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