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

Rita Ferguson

Rita Ferguson

We think Ferguson lived locally and was involved in the community at the Grove Estate, possibly in a role for the Hyde Housing Association.

Person, Children, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial
Action for Children

Action for Children

National children's charity. Founded by the Reverend Thomas Bowman Stephenson as 'The Children's Home'. Renamed 'National Children's Home' and adopted its present name in 2008. It originally provid...

Group, Benefactor, Children

2 memorials
George Claydon

George Claydon

Drowned in the 1898 HMS Albion disaster, aged 14. Buried in grave 2 at the memorial in East London Cemetery.

Person, Children, Tragedy

1 memorial
Dr Barnardo

Dr Barnardo

Missionary and social worker with the British poor, especially children. Born Thomas John Barnardo in Dublin with a Prussian father. "Brought to Christ" in 1862. Arrived at 30 Coburn Street in 1866...

Person, Children, Jack the Ripper suspects, Social Welfare, Ireland

5 memorials

Previously viewed

Vanessa Bell

Vanessa Bell

Artist and interior designer, born Vanessa Stephen at 22 Hyde Park Gate, London. Sister of Virginia Woolf. She married Clive Bell in 1907 and their home in Gordon Square became the focus of what wa...

Person, Art, Craft / Design

1 memorial
Paul Richardson

Paul Richardson

Paul Richardson was born on 7 December 1972, one of the three children of Derek A. Richardson (b.1949) and Joan Elizabeth Richardson née King (1951-2021). His birth was registered in the Stepney re...

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Sir Sydney Waterlow - SW1 statue

Sir Sydney Waterlow - SW1 statue

SW1, Palace Street, Westminster City School

This statue is a copy of the one in Highgate.

1 subject commemorated
Southall rail crash

Southall rail crash

An InterCity 125 high speed passenger train from Swansea failed to slow down in response to warning signals and collided with a freight train crossing its path. Seven people were killed and 139 inj...

Event, Tragedy, Transport

3 memorials
William Willson Yeates

William Willson Yeates

Born in Lewisham. His children included Rose Mary Crawshay and 3 daughters who died in quick succession, aged 1,3 and 4. William is often described as “of Caversham Grove” and we think this means ...

Person, Friend / family

1 memorial