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*the legacy of “Thomas Barnardo” – his ‘Barnardo Village-Girls Home’ & the ‘Ragged School’

Posted on July 8, 2020 by Geoff Clements Posted in Historic Buildings, People .

This week London Shoes ventured out onto public transport for only the second time in the 3 months+ during these strange Covid19 virus pandemic travel restricted times – and headed off to Barkingside in the London Borough of Redbridge and also  Mile End in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets  – for the purpose of finding out about an amazing man who left his mark on the development of social care of children and young people – “Thomas Barnardo”

Thomas John Barnardo was born in Dublin in 1845. His father was a furrier from Jewish decent and his mother was English. By the time Thomas Barnardo reached the age of 17 he was a practicing Christian, and had aspirations of becoming a missionary in China.

In 1866 he moved to London to train as a Doctor at the London Hospital in Whitechapel.

Living and working in the heart of London’s east end, he got to experience first-hand the squalor, deprivation and horrific poverty that the working classes in that area of London were living  and working in – and it had a profound effect on him.

Training as a doctor at that time he witnessed the carnage of a cholera epidemic that claimed the lives of over 3,000 east-enders. He also got to understand that without any formal schooling throughout the area, there were literally no opportunities for London’s youth.

Outside of his medical studies he still had a massive to become a missionary, and really wanted to do this work in China – but having been totally shocked by the poverty that he saw all around him – he felt that he had clearly found his ‘China’ in London.

So – in 1867 Barnardo decided it was time to jack-in his medical studies and become a full-time missionary on his own east London door-step.

Basing himself in the Stepney Causeway area, he started his mission by opening his very own School where east-end children would get a basic education for free.

This school was based in Copperfield Road-Mile End (now London E3) alongside the Regent Canal, and was named “The Ragged School”. The building had originally been 3 warehouses that were used to store goods being transported by barges up & down the Regent Canal.

Apart from a general education, the boys at his Ragged School were trained in carpentry, metal work and shoe making – in an effort to give them a decent start in their eventual working life.

The Ragged School operated for the next 31 years, and throughout that time over 300,000 children were educated there. The Ragged School finally closed its doors in 1908, when the British Government introduced mandatory formal education with purpose built schools.

 

By 1870 Thomas Barnardo had become Director of the “Dr. Barnardo’s Charity” that he had set-up, and based his head-office in Stepney Causeway, close to his Ragged School.

His Barnardo’s charity bought-up 12 east-end properties that were then used to house the children – and his charity’s mantra was that “No destitute boy or girl will ever be refused admission”

In 1873 Thomas Barnardo married ‘Sara Louise Elmslie’ who was known as ‘Syrie’.

As a wedding present, they were given a massive plot of land in Essex known as ‘Mossford Lodge’, which today, is now part of Barkingside in the London Borough of Redbridge.

Syrie Barnardo shared her husband’s interests in evangelism and social work, and together they set-out to build up their charity to provide a better start in life to those children who had been forgotten, and never really stood a chance.

The newly married couple set-up home in a house on the Bow Road, located between Bow Road Station and Mile End Station.

In 1879 Barnardo and his wife moved from their Bow Road home and set-up home on their Mossford Lodge estate that they had been given as a wedding present (it’s actually just down the road from Ilford, where I grew up) and came up with an idea to build an ‘village of cottages’ that would be used to house destitute & difficult girls with a ‘crime record’, of all ages from London’s east-end.

Each cottage within the ‘Barnardo’s-Girl’s Village Home’ would have its own ‘House Mother’ who would look after the girls, and the ‘Victorian’ style cottages would create the effect of a sort of village community – with an aspiration of housing up to 1,000 girls.

By 1880, 26 of these cottages had been built – with all the construction costs financed from charitable donations.

In 1887 the construction of the ‘Cairns Memorial Cottage’ was completed at the site, notable for its distinctive clock tower – this building would be the new admin center for the Dr. Barnardo Charity.

By 1892 a Children’s Church had been added to the site, where the pews and the stained glass windows were specifically designed to attract and appeal to the children resident there.

Sadly, in September 1905 Thomas Barnardo died from an angina attack, at the age of 60.

His body was taken to Stepney Causeway – the site where he had originally set-up his charity back in 1867.

From there, with thousands of people lining the streets, his coffin was paraded through the east end onward to Liverpool Street Station, where it was put on a train and taken to Barkingside Station, which had only just been built and opened in 1903.

Thomas Barnardo’s body was then cremated and his ashes were buried in the Barnardo Village grounds.

From the foundation of the Barnardo’s children’s homes in 1867 to the date of his death, nearly 60,000 children had been taken in. At the time of his death, his Dr.Barnardo’s charity was caring for over 8,500 children in a total of 96 homes

In 1908 a memorial statue of Thomas Barnardo was built by the same person who designed the Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens – and the statue was placed on the site of Barnardo’s grave.

The Dr. Barnardo Charity continued to operate after Thomas Barnardo’s death and by 1930; boys were also allowed to live at the Barnardo Village.

By 1964 the Barnardo Village in Barkingside had 60 cottages housing up to 600 boys and girls.

In 1967, the Village Orchard had been cleared to make way for a new Barnardo’s HQ.

In 1969, 30 acres of the Village was sold off to the London Borough of Redbridge, who then sold it off so that a supermarket could be built.

It was around the late 1960’s early 1970’s that my personal tenuous link to the Barnardo Village was created – because, living in Ilford, just down the road from the Village, the church youth club that I belonged to, used to take us kids away on an ‘activity’ holiday every year – and we would always take a few of the ‘Barnardo’s Village kids along with us.

By 1986 there were only 44 children housed in the Barnardo Village – as the operation of child care had altered significantly throughout the preceding couple of decades.

It was around this time that I sort of had a link to the Ragged School. At that time I was working at the Barclays Bank branch in Whitechapel, and one of its sub-branches was Mile End, just a couple of minutes down the road from Barnardo’s Ragged School building.

During the 1980’s, having been used for industrial purposes for a number of decades – Barnardo’s former ‘Ragged School’ became disused, run down and dilapidated. The famous old building was due to be demolished, but a local action group formed a ‘heritage trust’ and fought long and hard against its demolition.

In 1990, this heritage group won its battle for the building to remain, and they converted it into ’The Ragged School Museum Trust’ – an education centre where school children come to learn all about its history, and the social history of the east-end – in authentic Victorian style classrooms.

Today, around 16,000 children per year visit the museum to experience what school lessons and school conditions were like back in Victorian times – it’s a very popular attraction.

Sadly, in 1991 the Barnardo Village in Barkingside officially closed as a children’s home, as officials considered it “too isolated and outdated for modern child care” – and the land was sold off to developers.

However – one of the Barnardo Village Green’s still survives today, with 11 of its original Victorian style cottages still in situ, along with its original Victorian water fountains plus its original Scots Pine and Oak trees.

These 11 cottages are now leased out to a Housing Association and fortunately the green is an official conservation area.

London Shoes had a great time seeking the remains of the Barnardo’s Girls Village as it is today, and also tracing the origins of the Barnardo’s charity and the formation of the Ragged School

So – that’s Dr Thomas Barnardo for you – an amazing man whose legacy left an indelible mark on the development of social care and practice with children and young people.

 

See below – the full gallery of photographs taken to accompany this ‘Thomas Barnardo’ blog

___________________

Thomas John Barnardo was born in Dublin in 1845.

 

An old photo of the famous ‘London Hospital’ in Whitechapel – where Thomas Barnardo commenced his studies to become a Doctor.

 

Barkingside Station on the Central Line – the nearest stop to the Barnardo Village

 

An aerial photo of the ‘Barnardo Girls Village Home’ in Barkingside – taken back in Edwardian times. The ‘Cairns Memorial Cottage’ with its noticeable clock tower can be seen in the center of the picture.;

 

One of the Barnardo Village Green’s still survives today, with 11 of its original Victorian style cottages still in situ, along with its original Victorian water fountains plus its original Scots Pine and Oak trees.

 

In 1887 the construction of the ‘Cairns Memorial Cottage’ was completed at the site, notable for its elegant clock tower – this building would be the new admin centre for the Dr. Barnardo Charity.

 

11 of the Barnardo Village Home for Girls, Victorian style cottages are still in situ, along with the Victorian water fountains plus its original Scots Pine and Oak trees. These 11 cottages are now leased out to a Housing Association and fortunately the green is an official conservation area

 

By 1880 Thomas Barnardo had completed his ‘Barnardo Village-Girls Home in Barkingside – a ‘village of cottages’ to house destitute & difficult girls of all ages from London’s east-end, to save them from a life3 of crime, exploitation and prostitution. 11 of these cottages remain today, as does the village ‘green’ they were built around.

 

An old b&w photo of the Barnardo Village Girls Home in Barkingside

 

By 1892 a Children’s Church had been added to the site, where the pews and the stained glass windows were specifically designed to attract and appeal to the children resident there.

 

The Barnardo Village Girls Home ‘Children’s Church’ as it was back in the day.

 

One of the Barnardo Village Green’s still survives today, with 11 of its original Victorian style cottages still in situ, along with its original Victorian water fountains plus its original Scots Pine and Oak trees.

 

The Barnardo Village-Girls Home site-Barkingside – as it is today

 

An old enhanced photo of the Barnardo Village Girls Home in Barkingside

 

The Barnardo Village-Girls Home site-Barkingside – as it is today

 

An old b&w photo of the Barnardo Village Girls Home in Barkingside

 

The Barnardo Village-Girls Home site-Barkingside – as it is today

 

 

An old b&w photo of the Barnardo Village Girls Home in Barkingside

 

Me – in the middle of one of the original Barnardo Village-Girls Home ‘village greens’ – as it is today

 

The Barnardo Village-Girls Home site-Barkingside – as it is today

 

An old b&w photo of the Barnardo Village Girls Home in Barkingside

 

Me – in the middle of one of the original Barnardo Village-Girls Home ‘village greens’ – as it is today, with the original girls home cottages in the background

 

In 1908 a memorial statue of Thomas Barnardo was built, and the statue was placed on the site of Barnardo’s grave within the grounds of his former ‘Village Home for Girls

 

A close-up of the 1908 a memorial statue of Thomas Barnardo that was placed on the site of Barnardo’s grave within the grounds of his former ‘Village Home for Girls

 

A close-up of the inscription on the Thomas Barnardo memorial statue – that is sited on Barnardo’s burial spot within the grounds of his former ‘Barnardo Village-Girls Home

 

A close-up of the 1908 a memorial statue of Thomas Barnardo that was placed on the site of Barnardo’s grave within the grounds of his former ‘Village Home for Girls

 

Me – at the Holy Trinity Church close to the old Barnardo Village Girls Home site – where a significant number of the children’s home resident are buried

 

A close-up of the inscription on the memorial stones on display in the grounds of the Holy Trinity Cemetery close to the Barnardo Village Children’s Home site in Barkingside. The memorial display lists the names of all the Barnardo children laid to rest there.

 

The memorial stones on display in the grounds of the Holy Trinity Cemetery close to the Barnardo Village Children’s Home site in Barkingside. The memorial lists the names of all the Barnardo children laid to rest there.

 

Another memorial stone close to the Barnardo Village Children’s Home site in Barkingside.

 

Throughout the many decades following Thomas Barnardo’s passing – fund raising for Barnardo’s Homes has been a continual activity for the Dr. Barnardo’s Charity

 

Throughout the many decades following Thomas Barnardo’s passing – fund raising for Barnardo’s Homes has been a continual activity for the Dr. Barnardo’s Charity – this is one of their retro ceramic money boxes

 

Throughout the many decades following Thomas Barnardo’s passing – fund raising for Barnardo’s Homes has been a continual activity for the Dr. Barnardo’s Charity

 

In 1967, the Barnardo Village orchard was cleared to make way for a new Barnardo’s HQ.

 

The new Dr. Barnardo Charity HQ on the site of the old orchard of the original Barnardo Village Children’s Home – Barkingside

 

A blue plaque is displayed on the exterior wall of a retail shop within a housing estate off Ben Johnson Way-Stepney – to commemorate the site where Thomas Barnardo started his children’s home charity back in 1866

 

A close-up of the blue plaque displayed on an exterior wall of a retail shop within a housing estate off Ben Johnson Way-Stepney – that commemorates the site where Thomas Barnardo started his children’s home charity back in 1866

 

Me – alongside the blue plaque in Stepney that commemorates the site where Thomas Barnardo started his children’s home charity back in 1866

 

Thomas Barnardo’s ‘Ragged School’ in Copperfield Road-Mile End (now London E3)

 

Thomas Barnardo’s ‘Ragged School’ building had originally been 3 warehouses that were used to store goods being transported by barges up & down the Regent Canal.

 

Having been used for industrial purposes for a number of decades – Barnardo’s former ‘Ragged School’ became disused, run down and dilapidated. In the late 1980’s the famous old building was due to be demolished, but a local action group formed a ‘heritage trust’ and fought against its demolition. This heritage group won its battle for the building to remain, and they converted it into ’The Ragged School Museum Trust’ – an education center for school children

 

The back of the ‘Ragged School’ building – viewed from the Regent Canal

 

Me – outside the building that was formerly Barclays Bank-Mile End Station branch, where I worked in the late 1980’s – and its very near to Barnardo’s Ragged School

 

The house on Bow Road-London E3 where Thomas Barnardo & his wife Syrie lived between the years 1875 to 1879

 

A blue plaque is displayed on the exterior wall of the house on Bow Road where Thomas Barnardo & his wife once lived.

 

Me – outside the Barnardo’s residential home on the Bow Road.

 

The great man himself who certainly left his mark on the development of social care of children and young people

 

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12 Comments
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12 Responses

  1. Bob Robinson says
    July 8, 2020 at 4:36 pm

    Hi Geoff Once again a very informative blog which stirred a few personal memories. My two Uncles – my Mother’s Brothers – following the death of their Father were brought up in a Doctor Barnardo’s Home and I have a vivid memory of their class photograph when they were all dressed in roll knecked black wooden jumpers.
    I myself spent two years in a Doctor Barnardos Home so when I worked at Barkingside Police Station in the 1960’s it was very sentimental that the top boss Commander Alfie Hemingway was also a “ Barnardos Man”.
    There must be so many out there who owe so much to this Great Man.

    Reply
    • Geoff Clements says
      July 8, 2020 at 5:22 pm

      Hi Bob,

      So pleased that you enjoyed this piece and found it interesting – and thank you so much for sharing your family and personal connections to Barnardo’s.

      Growing up in Ilford I was always aware of the Barkingside homes, but it was only doing my research for this blog that I found out more about the charity’s east end connections.

      I am hoping that there may be other ‘readers’ out there who, having viewed this blog, may also share their personal connections and memories of Barnardo Homes.

      Take care……..GEOFF (London Shoes)

      Reply
  2. Jude says
    July 9, 2020 at 8:03 am

    Brilliant story. Thanks Geoff. I used to love my little cream and green Barnardos collection box

    Reply
  3. Natalie says
    July 9, 2020 at 8:05 am

    Great read

    Reply
  4. Gill says
    July 9, 2020 at 8:09 am

    Totally fascinating. Brilliant

    Reply
  5. Avril says
    July 9, 2020 at 8:09 am

    We have a Barnardo charity shop in Milton Keynes. The village still looks an attractive place to live.

    Reply
  6. Jane says
    July 9, 2020 at 8:44 am

    Great read Geoff. Very interesting

    Reply
  7. Carol says
    July 9, 2020 at 2:56 pm

    Excellent article Geoff, my Grandparents lived in the same area he lived in East London and I also remember the friends we made with the youth club who came from Barnardos in Barkingside 😊

    Reply
  8. Peter David sugg says
    July 9, 2020 at 6:57 pm

    I lived in Eton Cottage on the Barnardo Village Children’s Home-Barkingside, in the early 1950’s.

    Reply
    • Geoff Clements says
      July 10, 2020 at 6:04 pm

      Hello Peter – thank you for sharing that info, and I hope my article did the Barkingside Barnardo Village justice – I certainly enjoyed researching and publishing it.

      Following receipt of your e-mail I checked the Internet, and can see that ‘Eaton Cottage’ was actually built in 1879 – so it had already been stand almost 70 years by the time you were residing there.
      Cheers……..GEOFF (London Shoes website)

      Reply
  9. Maurice Carr says
    August 8, 2020 at 10:05 am

    I worked as a carpenter in a new school off the Highway Stepney in the 1970s, which had Bernardo children in it , can you confirm a centre there at that time, I do believe a path is named Bernardos there .

    Reply
    • Geoff Clements says
      August 11, 2020 at 2:33 pm

      Hello Maurice – thank you for sharing your experiences/memories of Barnardo’s in the area – I’m sure that a reader viewing this may recall the name of the school and the road/street/path you refer to.
      kind regards…..Geoff (London Shoes)

      Reply

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