Figure 1.--. |
|
The best known English charity institutions are work houses and orphanages. The literature on these institutions is legion. Of course most of our concept of English orphanges comes to us from the bleak descriptions Charles Dickens provides in Oliver Twist. As bad as conditions were in 19th century English institutions, it should be remembered that these were some of the first attempts to deal with the problems of poverty. The Victorians viewd these efforts as Christian charity. Other strongly held Victorian values resulted in the creation of institutions that were in fact as bleak as Dickens described. Many Victorians saw poverty as a lack of effort and a result of a flawed character. Others felt that it was more charitable not to intervene and that Government action would simply foster a debtor class that would create even more indigents. Another less well known charity institution was the cottage home.
The literature on English orphanages and work houses is legion. Of course most of our concept of English orphanges comes to us from the bleak descriptions Charles Dickens provides in Oliver Twist. Of course most of our concept of English orphanges comes to us from the bleak descrioptions Charles Dickens provides in Oliver Twist.
Banstead Cottage Homes in Surrey, England was one English approach to the problem of abndoned and indigent children. We do not have much informtion on these cottage homes. These cottage homes were started to take children from the workhouse and off the streets, young offenders, etc and get them into a school and learning the important life skills. The homes were like small villages and self contained. I do not know how common this approach was in Britain. We notice it being tried at the turn of the 20th century, but we do noy yet have a complete time line.
As bad as conditions were in 19th century English institutions, it should be remembered that these were some of the first attempts to deal with the problems of poverty. The Victorians viewd these efforts as Christian charity. Other strongly held Victorian values resulted in the creation of institutions that were in fact as bleak as Dickens described. Many Victorians saw poverty as a lack of effort and a result of a flawed character. Others felt that it was more charitable not to intervene and that Government action would simply foster a debter class that would create even more indigents.
Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web Site:
[Return to Main country charity page]
[Return to Main institutional charity page]
[Return to Main institutional page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossary]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]