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

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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...

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Coram's fountain

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

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Foundling pavement plaque

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

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Jim Gaffney

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

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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...

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Coram statue

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

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Other Subjects

First Belgian School WW1

First Belgian School WW1

By June 1915, the population of Belgian refugees in Britain rose to 265,000. But we couldn't find anything on the web about the school in Cale Street.

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1 memorial
Edward Smith

Edward Smith

Edward Smith is the 3rd on the right of the seven boys sitting in the photograph of the scout troop. His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1901 in the Lambeth registration district. As a...

Person, Children, Community / Clubs, Tragedy

2 memorials
Frank George Southgate

Frank George Southgate

Drowned in the 1898 HMS Albion disaster, aged 3 months. Buried in grave 5 at the memorial in East London Cemetery.

Person, Children, Tragedy

1 memorial
Brady Settlement

Brady Settlement

From the picture source website: The Brady Boys' Club was the first Jewish boys' club in Great Britain and it was founded in 1896 by Lady Charlotte Rothschild, Mrs Arthur Franklin and Mrs N S Josep...

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South End Green Association

South End Green Association

An association for residents, shops and local workers devoted to South End Green, which is the principal gateway to Hampstead Heath. Shortly after being formed, it succeeded in thwarting a plan to ...

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1 memorial
Jack Pritchard

Jack Pritchard

Furniture designer. In 1929 he founded the firm of Wells Coates and Partners, with the name changing to Isokon in 1931. The name was derived from Isometric Unit Construction.

Person, Craft / Design

1 memorial
Metropolitan Asylums Board

Metropolitan Asylums Board

A campaign by Florence Nightingale and Edwin Chadwick led to the establishment of this board.   It dealt with London's sick poor (but excluding those in Penge, for some reason), those with infectio...

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1 memorial
Charles Francis Annesley Voysey

Charles Francis Annesley Voysey

Architect and designer. Born near Hull, Yorkshire. Influenced by William Morris, his early work included the design of wallpaper and textiles.  His designs for houses became very influential on dom...

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4 memorials
Rose Theatre - Kingston upon Thames

Rose Theatre - Kingston upon Thames

KT1, Kingston High Street, 24 - 26

The plaque can be seen in our photo to the right of the entrance.

3 subjects commemorated