Annual Barnardo's Fete, 1892 [ILN Picture Library]

Victorian London - Publications - History - The Queen's London : a Pictorial and Descriptive Record of the Streets, Buildings, Parks and Scenery of the Great Metropolis, 1896 - Dr. Barnado's Homes at Barking Side

DR. BARNARDO'S HOMES AT BARKING SIDE. 

Dr. Barnardos Homes for Orphan and Destitute Girls are the making of the Essex village known as Barking Side. They were founded in 1866; and in these thirty or more Homes, all erected by private donors, thousands of girls have been trained for domestic service in such a thorough fashion that there is always a great demand for them. The Homes are built upon the plan of a college quadrangle, and a pleasanter place could not well be provided. One of the chief features of the village is the steam laundry, where the washing for the Homes, as well as for the establishment for boys elsewhere, is done. The girls are received here from infancy onwards, and most of them remain until they have attained the age of seventeen.

BARNARDO'S (DR.) HOMES. Head Offices, 18-26 Stepney Causeway, E. - These Homes are founded and carried on to rescue, train and place out in life, destitute, orphan and waif children. So large is this work, that the boys and girls in the Homes always number about 8,000 and nearly 3,000 are admitted in each year. There are 1,100 babies under care, and 1,150 children who are in some way afflicted (crippled, blind, deaf and dumb, deformed etc.). This is the biggest child-emigration agency in the world, sending out as it does, 1,200 every year to Canada and the Colonies. Already, 19,968 young people have been sent out, who were once actually destitute and are now in 98 cases out of every 100 self-supporting and prosperous Colonists. No destitute child ever refused immediate and free admission, even if sick, afflicted, incurable or a helpless infant. The book issued at 6d., entitled THE LEAST OF THESE, gives a vivid description of the work and how and where it is carried out, but the fact that the amount required for food alone is £240 per day, gives some idea of the huge wants of this great family. The founder of the great work was the late Dr. Barnardo, who has been succeeded by Wm. Baker, Esq., as Hon. Director and Mr. George Code is Hon. Secretary.

Charles Dickens Jr. et al, Dickens Dictionary of London, c.1908 edition
(no date; based on internal evidence)

History of Dr. Barnardos

^{(home page:- Dr. Barnardos site http://www.barnardos.org.uk)}