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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Surrey Lookup Requests => Surrey => England => Surrey Completed Look up Requests => Topic started by: hazelnuts01 on Thursday 06 July 06 14:33 BST (UK)
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How can I find out more about a child who was in this orphanage in 1881 from Scotland?
Are there any records? If so where?
Hazelnuts01
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Where exactly was this orphanage Hazel?
jane
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Hello Hazelnuts.
This is probably a reference to the Orphanage set-up by the Reverend Charles Haddon Spurgeon who was recognised by most as the foremost of the 19thC. English baptist preachers.
Spurgeon's "power base" was the Metropolitan part of Surrey around the Newington area.The orphanage was established at Stockwell and opened in 1869.
More information can be found at the following site,
http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/bio12.htm
Unfortunately I cannot suggest where any records may be,but it does seem that the Orphanage moved to Birchington in 1953.I would guess that this is Birchington in Kent.
Good luck with your search.
Dave.
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Hazel
My Father and some of his siblings were educated at Spurgeon's Orphanage in Stockwell, London in the 1920s. I believe that there were a number of establishments sponsored by Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
I wrote to the following address and received a very helpful reply from the Public Relations Manager, Marilyn Willis (in June 2000):
Spurgeon's Child Care
74 Wellingborough Road
Rushden
Northants NN10 9TY
The ledgers held in the Archives give only basic information but she was able to give me the admission dates of my Father and his siblings, as well as the date that they left the Orphanage.
If you send as much information as you can, I feel sure that you will get a response.
Good luck!
Lyn S
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The address I have is:-
Clapham Road Surrey
Rev C H Spurgeon's Orphanage
Lambeth
Surrey.
Many thanks for all the replies - I will write to the address given and see what it brings.
Hazelnuts01
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Spurgeons Orphanages became Spurgeons ChildCare at some time.
Hope you get a response
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I did get a reply from Spurgeons Orphanage - many thanks for all your help
hazelnuts01
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I have an aerial view in the 1960's A think a chapel was built in 1961.
Also a picture of boys in their uniforms from the 1950's.
With the outbreak of World War II and the evacuation of children from London, the London history of Spurgeon's Orphanage came to a close. At the end of the war the trustees decided to build at Birchington (Birchington Hall in Canterbury Road) where they owned some forty acres of land. In 1953 the new buildings were ready for occupation. The orphanage has been named Spurgeon's Homes and still maintains links with the tabernacle.
In the 1930's W Boyle Norcott (MRSC Eng, LRCP Lond, ) was Medical Officer and Miss Goodhew the Matron, recorded as Spurgeon's Orphan Home, Sea side Branch.
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A good tale from the Birchington Roundabout group
The gift that lasted a hundred years
The story starts in 1866 in London. The charismatic Baptist preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon was speaking during one of his Monday evening prayer meetings at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. He declared:
“We are a huge church, and should be doing more for the Lord.
Let us ask God for some new work to do and the money to do it with”
£20,000 gift
His sermon was later printed in his magazine ‘The Sword and the Trowel' and eventually fell into the hands of a Mrs Anne Hillyard, a wealthy widow living in Islington, London. She wrote to Spurgeon telling him of her desire to found a home for orphans, and to his amazement, she offered him a gift of £20,000 to carry out the work.
He and one of the Tabernacle deacons. Mr. William Higgs, a Stockwell builder, called upon Mrs. Hillyard the next day.
“We have called, madam, about the £200 mentioned in your letter.” Spurgeon said.
“£200 did I write?” she exclaimed. “I meant £20,000!”
“Oh, yes!” replied Spurgeon. ‘You did put £20,000, but I was not sure whether a nought or two had slipped in by mistake, and thought I would be on the safe side.” Furthermore before agreeing to receive this sum Spurgeon sought an assurance that the needs of none of her near relations had been overlooked by the widow and that she had given consideration to the wants of already existing institutions.
A year later, having received many smaller donations, Spurgeon began the process of purchasing a freehold plot of land in Clapham Road; Stockwell.The house was to be called The Stockwell Orphanage.
By 1869 the building was complete. The cost had been just over £10,000 and with no debt or mortgage attached to it. It comprised seven houses, a dinning hall and play hall. Spurgeon was responsible for the design of the building. He felt that a more protective family atmosphere could be created with separate houses, each with it's own matron in charge. More buildings were added later.
New master resigns
The first six children arrived at the Stockwell Orphanage in February 1869, soon followed by seventeen more. But the first few weeks were difficult. The new Master and Matron that had been appointed decided to resign almost immediately. On the day that this news was received, a Mr Charlesworth was present at the home, being an assistant minister at surrey Chapel. He was asked if he would take up the post of the new House Master.
He replied, “ But I am not a Baptist.”
Spurgeon replied with quick with and a twinkle in his eye,
“ And I am not a bigot.”
Charlesworth did take up the post and stayed on for forty-six years! The orphanage survived despite some difficult times, and by 1880 foundation stones were being laid for the building of six new houses, a playroom and swimming baths. For the first time the new intakes would include girls.
Charles Spurgeon died in 1892. His brother James took over as president and subsequently his sons, Thomas and Charles.
Children suffered ill health
A large number of the children who were taken in to the orphanage at Stockwell were suffering from bad health and so it was decided to open a home by the sea where the children could enjoy a holiday and regain their health. Eventually a large house was purchased in Northdown Road, Cliftonville. Mrs James Surgeon ran the house. It was also used as a primary school.
In 1917 the Stockwell Orphanage celebrated its Golden Jubilee at the Queen's Hall in London. To celebrate this event it was decided to establish another seaside home, this time in Birchington. Birchington Hall, which fronted onto the Canterbury Road where Charlesworth Drive is today, was purchased, altered and extended. The house stood in about 40 acres.
During the war the building in Stockwell was bombed and fell into some disrepair. After the war the trustees came to realise that the Home at Stockwell would not be suitable for the children's return.
Boys at play at Spurgeon's - Birchington 1950.
It was therefore decided to develop at Birchington and plans were drawn up for the rebuilding of the entire Home on the forty acres site.
By Easter 1953 the new buildings were occupied and once again the Spurgeon's family were all back in one location. The HRH Duchess of Gloucester visited the Home in June the following year.
Birchington's biggest happy family
In 1963 the Home was being described as Birchington's biggest happy family, with over two hundred boys and girls enjoying the forty acres well maintained lawns adjoining Park road. Children from birth to the age of sixteen were taken in, some staying only on a temporary basis. The Home had a nursery, a chapel, four large kitchens serving the eleven-seperate houses. Each house was in the care of married couples or housemothers. To begin with schooling was provided on site, but in later years children attended local schools. The yearly cost of running the Home in 1963 was approximately £52,000.
The Birch Hill estate now occupies the site and no trace of the happy and loving community remains. However, perhaps a more tangible epitaph to Charles Spurgeon's Home are the thousands of children who were given the chance to live happy and fulfilling lives, after difficult beginnings.
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This is exceptional information and so very interesting. My contact with the orphanage gave me the information that the Wilson I was researching there was in fact born in 1868 and not 1872 as I had found on the IGI index (sadly another dead end) however many thanks for the email.
regards
hazelnuts01
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Good luck with with it all.
Kind Regards
Suzannah
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I was wondering if anyone remembers a James McLaren, superintendant of Spurgeons orphanage when it went it went to Wray Park, Reigate during WWII and in particular the "scandal" surrounding his resignation and others, mentioned in the House of Commons in 1943. He was my grandfather. Can anyone shed more light on the circumstances?