Last July, Pen & Sword published historian Peter Higginbotham’s latest book, Children’s Homes: A history of institutional care for Britain’s young, and Revd Dr John Pridmore, former Rector of Hackney in east London, recently reviewed it for the London-based Church Times.
Revd Dr Pridmore writes, “An appeal of this endlessly fascinating book is its window on the daily life of children in residential care.”
Those familiar with the story of the more than 100,000 British Home Children who came to Canada between 1869 and 1948 will recognize in the book the names of Thomas John Barnardo and James Fegan, who founded homes for poor and orphaned children.
“A chapter on Thomas John Barnardo rehearses the familiar but still inspiring story of his ‘Ever Open Door’ homes and his commitment to the principle, proclaimed in the famous slogan running in huge letters across his home for boys on Stepney Causeway: ‘No Destitute Child Ever Refused Admission,” writes Revd Dr Pridmore. “Higginbotham does not overlook the conflicts that dogged Barnardo’s career, including the controversy over his questionable use of the title ‘Doctor’ and his recourse to phoney photography in his promotional material.”
Those interested in the book can take a peak inside it on Amazon.
Mr. Higginbotham created the website, The Workhouse, an online compendium on workhouses, the staff, and inmates.
