The beginnings of
residential childcare
in England and Wales
The 1901 census gives an indication of the residential childcare institutions already in place as the twentieth century began.
You can also have a look at institutions in the 1911 census here (far more institutions just 10 years later)
The links take you to other pages within this website
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Aston Union Cottage Homes, Erdington, Birmingham
Beeston Orphanage, Nottinghamshire
Blue Coat School, Colmore Row, Birmingham
Chesterfield Union Industrial School, Newfold Road, Chesterfield More on industrial schools
Children's Emigration Homes, St Luke's Road, Birmingham
Cottage Homes, Arnos Lane, Wednesfield
Desford Industrial School, Ratby, Market Bosworth More on industrial schools
Industrial School, Gem Street, Birmingham
Industrial School, the Shawberry, Fillongley
Midland Orphanage, Lenton, Nottingham
Midland Truant School for Boys, Beacon Street, Lichfield
Nazareth House, St Sepulchre, Northampton
North Staffordshire School for the Blind and Deaf, Parkhall, Stoke on Trent
Nottingham training institution for Pauper Children, Hartley Road, Nottingham
Old Swinford Hospital for Orphans (Boys), Hagley Road, Stourbridge
Poor Law School, Wigmore, West Bromwich
Princess Alice Orphanage, New Oscott, Sutton Coldfield
Railway Servants' Orphanage, Ashbourne Road, Derby
Reformatory School for Juvenile Delinquents, Saltley, Birmingham
Royal Albert Orphan Asylum, Hernwick Road, Worcester
Royal Institution for Deaf and Dumb Children, Church Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham
Royal Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, Derby
Royal Orphanage/ Wolverhampton Orphan Asylum, Goldthorn Hill, Wolverhampton
St Michael’s Home for Boys, Pelsall (Founded 1901)
Sir Josiah Mason's Orphanage, Bell Lane, Erdington, Birmingham
Stafford Industrial Boys' School, Cheadle More on industrial schools
Standon Boys' Home / Industrial School, Standon, Stone More on industrial schools
St Philip Neri's Orphanage for Boys, Birmingham (founded 1861)
The Orphanage (RC), Southam, Rugby
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Hope House Orphanage, Ipswich (1875-1940)
St John's Home for Boys and Girls, Bloomfeld Street, Ipswich
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Abbot Memorial Industrial School, Durham Road, Gateshead More on industrial schools
Adel Reformatory (for boys), Wharfedale More on reformatories
Albert Industrial School, Corporation Road, Birkenhead More on industrial schools
Ardwick Green Industrial School, 77 Ardwick Green, Manchester More on industrial schools - More on Manchester homes
Ashburton Industrial Home, Ashburton Road, Tyneside
Barnes Industrial School for Boys, Didsbury Road, Heaton Norris More on industrial schools
Beacon Lane Orphanage (RC), Beacon Road, Liverpool
Birkdale Farm School / Reformatory, Ainsdale, Southport More on reformatories
Bishop Brown's Memorial Industrial School, High Street, Stockport More on industrial schools
Bishop O'Reilly Memorial Poor Law School (RC), Honeygreen Road, Liverpool
Blackburn Orphanage
Blue Coat Hospital, School Lane, Liverpool
Bolton Industrial Reformatory for Boys, Lostock Junction, Bolton More on reformatories
Boys' Charity School, East Parade, Sheffield
Boys' Industrial School, Offerton More on industrial schools
Boys' Industrial School, Marygate, York More on industrial schools
Boys' Orphanage, Headingley, Leeds
Boys' Truant Industrial School, Marborough Terrace, Hull More on industrial schools
Buckley Hall Orphanage for Roman Catholic Boys, Wardleworth, Rochdale
Calder Farm Reformatory School (for boys), Hopton More on reformatories
Castle Howard Reformatory School (for boys), Welburn, Malton More on reformatories
Certified Industrial School, Boughton, Chester More on industrial schools
Certified Industrial School for Boys, 95 Everton Terrace, Liverpool More on industrial schools
Chadwick's Orphanage, Haulgh, Bolton
Cherrytree Orphanage, Totley
Children's Convalescent Home, Meol's Drive, West Kirby
Chorlton Union Cottage Homes, Styal, Wilmslow
Cumberland County Industrial School, Cockermouth, Cumbria More on industrial schools
Eden's Orphanage, Astley Bridge, Bolton
Edgworth Orphanage / Children's Home, Bolton (1872)
Foresters' Orphanage, Bridlington
Girls' Industrial School, Northumberland Terrace, Liverpool More on industrial schools
Halifax Orphanage, Savile Park
Harris Orphanage, Fulwood, Preston
Henshaw's Blue Coat School (for boys), Horsedge Street, Oldham
Holly Mount Poor Law School, Tottington
Holy Trinity Certified Industrial School, 77 Grafton Street, Liverpool More on industrial schools
Home of Good Shepherd Industrial School, Shebdon, Southowram More on industrial schools
Hull Seamen's and General Orphan Asylum, Spring Bank, Hull
Indefatigable (ship for training orphans of sailors), Birkenhead
Industrial School for Boys, Witton Gilbert, Chester le Street More on industrial schools
Industrial School for Boys and Girls, Jubilee Road, Newcastle upon Tyne More on industrial schools
Kirkdale Industrial School, Kirkdale, Liverpool More on industrial schools
Leeds Union Industrial School, Beckett Street, Leeds More on industrial schools
Liverpool Seamen's Orphan Institution, Orphan Drive, Newsham Park, Liverpool
Liverpool Farm School / Reformatory, Newton le Willows More on reformatories
Liverpool Truants' School, Hightown, Southport
Macclesfield Certified Industrial School, Brook Street, Macclesfield More on industrial schools
Major Street Ragged School, Liverpool (founded 1860) More on ragged schools
Manchester and Salford Reformatory, Blackley, Manchester More on reformatories
Manchester Female Orphan Home and Refuge
Manchester Industrial School for Girls, Northenden Road, Sale More on industrial schools - More on Manchester homes
Manchester Poor Law School, Chorley Road, Swinton More on Manchester homes
Manchester Warehousemen and Clerks' Orphanage, Cheadle Hulme
Miners' Orphanage, Bolsover
Nazareth House, Park Road North. Middlesborough
Nicholls Hospital, Hyde Road, Manchester
North Eastern Reformatory for Boys, Nedderton More on reformatories
North Lancashire Reformatory, Bleasdale, Garstang More on reformatories
Ormerod Convalescent Home, Lytham St Anne's
Ormskirk Union Workhouse Children's Wards, Wigan Road, Knowsley
Orphanage (girls), Faulkener Street, Liverpool
Orphans' Asylum, Melville Place, Liverpool
Orphans' Asylum (girls), Myrtle Street, Liverpool
Port of Hull Orphan Homes, Cottingham Road, Hull
Reformatory School (RC), Holme, Howden More on reformatories
Ripley Hospital for Orphans and Fatherless Children, Lancaster
Rochdale Union Cottage Homes, Middlewood
Royal Deaf and Dumb Institution, Chester Road, Old Trafford
St Anne's Industrial School, West Lane, Freshfield, Southport More on industrial schools
St Elizabeth's Industrial School for Girls (RC), 64 Breckfield Road South, Liverpool More on industrial schools
St George's Industrial School for boys (RC), 137a West Derby Rd, Liverpool More on industrial schools
St Joseph's Home and Reformatory for Girls (RC), Howard Road, Sheffield
St Joseph's Industrial School, Carmel Road, Darlington More on industrial schools
St Joseph's Industrial School for Boys, Richmond Grove, Manchester More on industrial schools - More on Manchester homes
St Joseph's Industrial School for Girls, Victoria Road, Rusholme More on industrial schools
St Joseph's Orphanage (RC), Theatre Street, Preston
St Mary's Convent and Orphanage (RC), Richmond Hill, Leeds
St Vincent Boys' Home (RC), Garstang Road, Fulwood More on St Vincent de Paul
St Vincent de Paul Home for Boys (RC), 105 Shaw Street, Liverpool - More on St Vincent de Paul
School for Deaf and Dumb, Melville Place, Liverpool
Sculcoates Union Cottage Homes, Hessle
Shadwell Industrial School (for boys), Shadwell Lane, Wetherby More on industrial schools
Sheffield Union Children' Home, Smilter Lane, Sheffield
Southampton - Industrial School training ship, Alexandra Dock, Hull
Sunderland Orphanage
Teachers' Orphanage, Sunderland
West Derby Union Cottage Homes, Fazakerley
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Actors' Orphanage, Croydon (1896)
Alexandra Orphanage, Hornsey Rise, Islington
All Saints Boys' Orphanage, Granville Park, Lewisham
All Saints Boy's Orphanage, 12, 13, 14 Gordon Square, Birchington
All Saints Boy's Orphanage, Granville Park & Lewisham Road, Lewisham
All Saints Convalescent Hospital, Meads, Eastbourne
All Saints Home for Married Women & Infants, Holyrood House, The Avenue, Beckenham
Asylum for Fatherless Children, Purley (founded 1844)
Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb Children of the Poor, Victoria Road, Isle of Thanet
Babies' Castle, Hawkhurst (Dr Barnardo's)
Bethnal Green Poor Law Union School, Leystonstone
Boys' Home / Industrial School, Regents Park Road, St Pancras More on industrial schools
Boys' Home Reformatory, Spanish Road, Wandsworth Common More on reformatories
Boys' Home, Stepney Causeway, Stepney
Boys’ Industrial Home, Shaftesbury House, Perry Rise, Forest Hill
Boys' Industrial School, Southwark Street, Southwark More on industrial schools
Boys’ Orphanage, Montagne House, Dartmouth Hill, Greenwich
Boys’ Orphan House, Southwark House, St Lawrence, Ramsgate
British Orphan Asylum, Slough
Brixton Orphanage (for 300 fatherless girls), 53-57 Barrington Road, Lambeth
Carter Boys' Home, High Street, Clapham
The Children's Home, Parrock Hall, Parrock Road, Gravesend
Cholera Orphan Home, Richmond
Church of England Home for Waifs & Strays, 3 Biggin St, Dover More on the Waifs and Strays
Church Missionaries Children's Homes, Limpsfield
Colony for Epileptics (adults and children), Chalfont St Peter, Amersham
Commercial Travellers' School for Orphan and Necessitous Children, Hatch End, Pinner
Convalescent Home for Children (RC), Lawn House, Grosvenor Place, Margate More on convalescent homes
Convent and Orphanage of the Sisters of Bethany, Church Road, Boscombe
Convent of Notre Dame, St George's Road, Southwark
Convent of the Sacred Heart Certified School for RC children, Hassett Road, Homerton
Cowley Industrial School, Headington More on industrial schools
Cripples’ Nursery, 10 Sea View Terrace, Margate
Deptford Orphanage and Home for Friendless Girls
Dr Barnardo's Village Homes for Destitute Girls, Barkingside
Duke of York's Royal Military Asylum for Children of Soldiers, Cheltenham Terrace, Chelsea
East Kent Industrial Home, Dover House, 51 Grange Road, Ramsgate More on industrial schools
East London Industrial School, Poison Street, Lewisham More on industrial schools
Edmonton Union Chase Farm School, The Ridgeway, Enfield
Farningham Home for Little Boys, Horton Kirby
Feltham Industrial School, Staines More on industrial schools
Female Orphan Asylum, Beddington Park, Croydon
Female Orphan Asylum, Brighton (founded 1822)
Field Lane Certified Industrial School for Boys, Hillfield Road, Hampstead More on industrial schools
Forest Gate Workhouse School, 95 Forest Lane, Forest Gate
Fortescue House for Boys, London Road, Twickenham
Foundling Hospital, Guildford Street, St Pancras
Freemens' Orphan School, Ferndale Road, Lambeth
Girls’ Club & Home, 26 Simpsons Rd, Bromley
Girls’ Home, 1 Blythe Hill, Catford
Girl's Industrial Home, 16 Rojack Road, Forest Hill More on industrial schools
Girls' Industrial School and Home, St Mary's Road, Ealing More on industrial schools
Girls' Orphan Home, 64-74 Lewisham Rd, Lewisham
Good Templar and Temperance Orphanage
Gordon Boys' Home, Chobham, Chertsey
Gordon's Boys' Orphanage, 7 Biggin St, Dover
Hackney Union Cottage Homes (Sidney Road Children's Homes), Sidney Road, Homerton
Hackney Union Training School, Brentwood
Hanwell Poor Law School for Pauper Children, Hanwell
Hertford Reformatory School, Chapman End, Hertford More on reformatories
Highbury Truant School, Highbury Grove, Islington
Holburn Union (St George's) Workhouse School, London Road, Wimbledon
Holme Cowe Industrial Truant School, Twickenham
Home & Infirmary for sick children, Sydenham Road, Sydenham
Home and School for Little Boys, Leopold House, 199 Burdett Road, Stepney (Dr Barnardo's)
Home for afflicted orphans, Granville Rd, Broadstairs
Home for Destitute Boys / Essex Industrial School, Rainsford Road, Chelmsford More on industrial schools
Home for Little Cripples, Grove Road, Bethnal Green
Home for Orphan Boys, Hextable, Sutton at Stow, Dartford
Home for Orphan Boys, Swanley
Home for the Fatherless, 76 Lewisham Road, Greenwich
Homes for Little Boys, South Darenth, Horton Kirby
Home for Working Boys, 85 Beresford Street, Woolwich
Hornchurch Cottage Homes, Hornchurch
Infant Orphan Asylum, Wanstead (founded 1827)
Infant Pauper Asylum, Surrey House, London
Institute for the daughters of missionaries, Walthamstow Hall, Sevenoaks
Isle of Thanet Workhouse School, Thanet
Islington Workhouse School, Andover Row, Hornsey Road
Jew's Hospital and Orphan Asylum, Knights Hill Road, West Norwood
John Groom's Orphanage, Clacton on Sea
Kent County Industrial School, Kingsnorth, Ashford More on industrial schools
Kidbrook Girls’ Home, Old Dover Rd, Blackheath
King Edward Industrial School for Girls, Andrews Road, Hackney More on industrial schools
King Edward's Home for Destitute Boys, Wormley Hill, Witley
King Edward's Orphanage, St George's Road, Southwark
London Asylum for Orphans, Hackney (founded 1813)
London Orphans' Asylum, Watford
Mayford Industrial School, Mayford, Woking More on industrial schools
Metropolitan and City Police Orphanage, Wellesley House, Hampton Road, Twickenham
Metropolitan Asylum School for Idiots, Darenth
Metropolitan Infirmary for Children Northumberland Road, Margate
National Industrial Home for Crippled Boys, Wrights Lane, Kensington
National Refuges House for Girls, Sudbury Hall, Harrow
Nazareth House, Cowley Road, Oxford
Nazareth House, Hammersmith Road, Hammersmith
Nazareth House, Lawrence Road, Portsmouth
Nazareth House, London Road, Southend on Sea
Orphan Working School, Maitland Park, St Pancras
Orphanage (Wesleyan), Victoria Park, Bethnal Green
Orphanage for Destitute Children, Randolph Gardens, Kilburn
Orphanage of Mercy - Home of the Sisters of the Church & Orphanage, Percy Road, Kilburn
Orphans’ Home, The Cedars, Overcliffe, Gravesend
Orphans’ Home, 72 Upper Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Road
Orphans' House, Austral Street, Southwark
Percy House Workhouse School, Twickenham Road, Brentford
Philanthropic Society's Farm School (reformatory), Redhill More on reformatories
Poor Law School, Bancroft Road, Stepney
Portsmouth Children's Home, St Mary's Road, Portsmouth (run by the Poor Law Union) - a history of this children's home is written up in The Homes on the Hill
Princess Louise Home, Gloucester Road, Kingston Upon Thames
Princess Mary Village Homes, Crouch Oak Road, Addlestone
Ragged School Union Children’s Holiday Home, Dover Road, Folkestone More on ragged schools
Reading and Wokingham District School for Pauper Children, Wargrave, Twyford, Wokingham
Reedham Asylum (for fatherless children), Reedham, Croydon
Rest Home for Girls, Elm Park Villa, The Elms, Ramsgate
Rochester & Chatham Industrial Home for Friendless Girls, 1 Ordnance Terrace, Chatham
Royal Albert Orphan Asylum, Portsmouth Road, Frimey
Royal Asylum of St Anne's, Redhill
Royal Caledonian Asylum (for the children of Soldiers and Sailors), Caledonian Road, Holloway
Royal Merchant Seamen’s Orphanage Royal Merchant Seamen’s Orphanage, Snaresbrook, London
Royal Victoria Patriotic Asylum for fatherless daughters of Sailors, Soldiers and Marines, Wandworth Common
Saints Joseph and Anne Orphanage, Farnborough, Sevenoaks
School and home of the Convent of the Sisters of Providence, 198 Hampstead Hill, Hampstead
School for Paupers' Children, Kings Street, Hammersmith
School for the Indigent Blind, Lambeth Road, Southwark
Seamen’s Orphan Home, Portsmouth
Shaftesbury School Orphanage (for boys), Bisley, Chertsey
Sisters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul Orphanage, Carlisle Place, Westminster More on St Vincent de Paul
Soldiers' Daughters' Home/Orphanage/Sailor Orphan Girls' School, Rosslyn Hill, Hampstead (founded 1829)
South Grove Home for Children of Poorer Clergy, Naval, Military etc., 10 Smith Grove, Tunbridge Wells
South Western Railway Servants’ Orphanage, Woking
St Agnes' Orphanage, Church Road, Walthamstow
St Barnabas Orphanage, west Chiselhurst
St Charles' Poor Law School, Weald Lane, Brentwood
St Edward's Reformatory School, Green Street, East Ham More on reformatories
St Edward's School for Orphan Sons of the Clergy, St Thomas Hill, St Dunstan
St John's Industrial School, Church Lane, Walthamstow More on industrial schools
St Joseph's Home for Boys, West Grinstead
St Joseph's House (Little Sisters of the Poor), Portobello Road, Kensington
St Joseph's RC School, Brook Green, Hammersmith
St Margaret's Convent Orphanage, East Grinstead
St Margaret's Industrial School, Mill Hill More on industrial schools
St Mary Magdalene’s Children’s Home, 23/5 East Cliff, Folkestone
St Mary’s Convalescent Home, Stone Rd, Broadstairs
St Mary's Industrial School, Wellesley Road, Croydon More on industrial schools
St Mary's Orphanage, (RC), North Hyde, Heston
St Michael’s Orphanage, Chiselhurst
St Nicholas Industrial School, Whitt Road, Manor Park, East Ham More on industrial schools
St Pancras Poor Law School, Leavesden, Watford
St Peter’s Orphanage & Sanatorium, Stone St Peters, Broadstairs
St Stephens Industrial Home for Training Domestic Servants, 23/9 High Street, Lewisham
St Vincent de Paul's Orphanage, 9 Lower Seymour Street, Portman Square More on St Vincent de Paul
St Vincent Home for Boys, 337 Harrow Road, Paddington More on St Vincent de Paul
St Vincent's Industrial School (RC), Dartford More on St Vincent de Paul
St Vincent's School and Orphanage, Mill Hill More on St Vincent de Paul
Stockwell Orphanage, Clapham Road, Stockwell
Strand Union Workhouse School, Tanners Yard, Enfield
Temporary Home for Fallen & Destitute Women & Girls, 54 Hardy Street, Maidstone
Training Home for Girls, 22 Woodland Park Rd, Greenwich
Training Home for Orphan Girls, Folkestone Rd , Dover
Training Home for Weak Minded Boys, Bearsted House, Bearsted
Upper Norwood Convent and Orphanage, Central Hill, Upper Norwood
Upton House Truant Industrial School, Urswick Road, Homerton More on industrial schools
Victoria Orphanage, Shirland Road, Paddington
Victoria Seaside Orphans Rest, 1/2 Launceston Place, Dover
Walthamstow Truant School, 115 High Street, Walthamstow
Warren Farm School / Newhaven Union workhouse school, Rottingdean
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Bathwick Orphanage, Bath
Blue Maids' Orphanage / Bristol Asylum for Poor Orphan Girls, Stokes Croft Turnpike, Bristol (founded 1795)
Bristol Scattered Homes, Beaufort Road / Summerhill Road, Bristol
Clifton Certified Industrial School for Boys, Church Path, Bristol More on industrial schools
Devon and Cornwall Female Orphan Asylum, Plymouth
Herefordshire and District Working Boys Home and Industrial School, Bath Street, Hereford More on industrial schools
Home for the Boys of Bristol Union, Cumberland Road, Bristol
Keynsham Reformatory School, Keynsham More on reformatories
Mount Edgcombe Industrial School, Saltash More on industrial schools
Muller's Orphanage, Ashley Down, Bristol
New Orphan House, Ashley Down, Bristol
Reformatory School for Girls, Convent of the Good Shepherd, Arno's Court, Bath Road, Bristol More on reformatories
Royal British Female Orphan Asylum, Stoke Terrace, Stoke, Devonport, Plymouth
St Elizabeth's Industrial School for Roman Catholic Girls, Exeter Street, Salisbury More on industrial schools
St Elizabeth's Orphanage of Mercy, Eastcombe, Gloucestershire (founded 1800)
St Mary's Priory Orphans' Home, St Mary's Church, Torquay
St Vincent de Paul Orphanage, Elizabeth House, Lower Bullingham, Hereford More on St Vincent de Paul
Seamen’s Orphanage, Brixham, Devon
Somerset Industrial School for Boys, Lower Bristol Road, Bath More on industrial schools
West of England and South Wales Industrial School (RC), Cannington, Bridgwater
West of England Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, Yopsham Road, Exeter
Wiltshire Reformatory, Warminster (founded 1856) More on reformatories
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Aberdare Industrial School, Trecymon, Llwydcoed More on industrial schools
Clio - Industrial training ship, Menai Straits
Cottage Homes, Llantwitfardre, Llantrisant
Newport Union Caerleon School, Mill Street, Caerleon
Nazareth House, Blackweir, Cardiff
Pantasaph Orphanage, Holywell
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Isle of Man and Channel Islands
Industrial School, Strathallan, Douglas More on industrial schools
Jersey Industrial School, St Martins, Gory More on industrial schools
It was towards the end of the nineteenth century that the idea of providing residential care for children away from the workhouse really took hold in England and Wales.
Before this, residential institutions for children - orphanages and homes - were few and far between. A child finding him or herself destitute and living on the streets or our newly growing towns and cities was likely to stay that way unless they found themselves dragged off to the workhouse or the prisons.
It is hard to imagine this situation as we now take it for granted that children need specific welfare services and should have access to a roof over their heads and food in their mouths.
The philanthropic response
While social welfare is the remit of government these days, it was individual people who funded our first forays into residential childcare. These philanthropists - Thomas Coram, Dr Barnardo - who built our first orphanages at great personal expense.
The majority of this type of response came from the mid nineteenth century onwards. While much of it had a religious motivation, this was not exclusively so.
The local government response
Local government was structured differently pre-1930. A board of Guardians in each local union had responsibility for administering Poor Law regulations for their population. In the main, this focused solely on the building of a workhouse into which children were admitted along with the adults. It was not until the late nineteenth century that there was a mind change about workhouses and a strong move towards providing separate accommodation for children away from the adults. Initially this manifested as separate spaces and schooling within the workhouses, but, as the nineteenth century ended, more and more Poor Law Unions were investing in separate buildings known as cottage homes or scattered homes.
The result of these two different responses - the earlier philanthropic response being joined by the later local government response - was that the turn of the century was a 'boom time' for orphanages and homes. In the twentieth century we ran with the idea of separate residential accommodation for orphaned, destitute and abandoned children and other children in need and developed in the children's services element of state-provided socal care we see today.
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