"Boy's W.H."

[Sgt_Tollers]

Hi everyone,

I recently found the school record for my great grandfather.

Upon reason for leaving his school, it says 'gone to boy's W.H.'.

I can only think that the W.H. could stand for workhouse.

Can anyone else offer what these initials could stand for?

Thanking you kindly,
Sgt Tollers

[Framesmiths1816]

Hi,

What year was this and how old was your great grandfather at the time?

FS

[Sgt_Tollers]

Hi FS

The year was 1892 and my great grandfather was 12. Both of his father and mother had died at this point (1883 & 1891 respectively), but I believe he was in the care of his stepfather.

Thank you and kind regards,
Sgt Tollers

[Framesmiths1816]

Hi Sgt Tollers,

I cannot find the references at the moment but I have in mind that the education acts between about 1870 and 1888 made it mandatory for children between the ages of 5 and 13 to attend school. Also reforms around this time placed children, who might have otherwise gone into the Work House, into Foster Homes. In Leicester their was something called the Board of Guardians, which seem to have been responsible for both the Union Work House and Children's foster homes. I think, but do not know for certain that one of my relatives was in one of these Foster Homes while her mother was in the work house. Is it possible that W. H. is ? Home? or ? House (meaning House  in this instance and not Workhouse).

It might pay you to do some research into the set up in the area of your great grandfather to see if there was a foster home or similar with these initials.

Sorry if that is not very helpful

Best regards - FS

Additional - I had to use a combination of the Census records and Commercial Directories to identify my relatives Home. The public names given in the commecial directories did not reference the Board of Guardians but I managed to match the addresses and different names in the end