Building    From 1739  To 1920

Foundling Hospital

Categories: Children, Social Welfare

England's first home for abandoned children. Established in 1739 by Captain Thomas Coram.

From the Museum's Friends Update: "On the afternoon of Wednesday 25 March {1741}, the coat of arms designed by William Hogarth was hung above the entrance to the Hospital's temporary residence in Hatton Garden. The Governors' had given public notice that:  "...on Wednesday, the 25th March, at 8 o clock at night, and from that time till the House should be full, their House will be opened for the reception of Children"  That evening the first 30 babies were admitted..."

A purpose-built 'hospital' (orphanage) in Bloomsbury was begun in 1742 and finished in October 1745.  The eastern wing for the girls was added in 1752. 

In the 1920s the children were moved to the healthier countryside, first to an old convent in Redhill, and then in 1935 to the new purpose-built Foundling Hospital in Berkhamsted. In the 1950s orphanages were largely done away with and the Foundling Hospital ceased most of its operations. The Berkhamsted buildings are now used by Ashlyns School.

The Bloomsbury buildings were demolished shortly after 1926 and the site is now occupied by Coram's Fields. The charitable work is continued by Thomas Coram Foundation for Children in buildings just to the north of the Fields.

The Governors included Handel and Hogarth

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Foundling Hospital

Commemorated ati

Coram's Fields

These grounds, the site of the Foundling Hospital, established in 1739 by Cap...

Read More

Coram's fountain

The lamb relief is also carved on the rim of the fountain.

Read More

Foundling pavement plaque

We had spotted this unusual plaque in 2015 but put it on the long finger. The...

Read More

Jim Gaffney

Jim Gaffney, 1941 - 2002. Jim spent his life helping vulnerable children. H...

Read More

This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Foundling Hospital

Creations i

Collingham Garden

Collingham Garden The use of this ground for the welfare of children for all...

Read More

Coram statue

The base of the statue is inscribed "Wm. MacMillan Sc. 1963". The pose is tak...

Read More

Other Subjects

Ernest Hopkins

Ernest Hopkins

Drowned in the 1898 HMS Albion disaster, aged 12. Buried in grave 3 at the memorial in East London Cemetery.

Person, Children, Tragedy

1 memorial
Central Foundation Girls School

Central Foundation Girls School

Moved from Spital Square in 1975 to the building in Bow Road.  Spitalfields Life reports on a 2013 school reunion at the old building, which is now Galvin Restaurant - old photos and reminiscences.

Group, Children, Education

1 memorial
Muschamp Junior School
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Alan Micklethwaite

Alan Micklethwaite

Sculptor.  We're guessing the image is a self portrait, since it graces the home page of his website but we could be wrong.  Either way, we love the work.

Person, Sculpture

1 memorial
Councillor Marion Schumann

Councillor Marion Schumann

Lambeth Councillor 1990-4. Mayor of Lambeth 1993-4.  2012 appointed CEO of Hammersmith and Fulham Volunteer Centre.

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
William Ewart Gladstone

William Ewart Gladstone

Born in Liverpool. Liberal Prime Minister four times. One of the Commissioners for the Great Exhibition. Queen Victoria moaned that "He speaks to me as if I were a public meeting". Caroline's Misce...

Person, Jack the Ripper suspects, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Seriously Famous

10 memorials
William Sykes

William Sykes

Church warden at Christ Church Spitalfields in 1836. We've found two sites which have information about a William Sykes that may be our man, or maybe not: you decide: London Street Views and the Ol...

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
F. Brook Hitch

F. Brook Hitch

Born London. Lived in Hertford. RBS. Our colleague Andrew Behan has researched this man, and found him at Mapping Sculpture, where the date of birth is given as 1877 which conflicts with Wikipedia...

Person, Sculpture

2 memorials