Ancestry UK

Cripples' Home and Industrial School for Girls

The Hill Street Refuge for Girls was founded in 1851 by Mrs Caroline Blunt. It was originally located at Hill Street, near Dorset Square, in Marylebone. It particularly catered for girls with physical disabilities and became known as 'The Cripples' Home'. In the early 1860s, it typically had about 60 girls in residence. On 23rd March, 1859, the Home became officially certified as an Industrial School allowing it to take girls committed by magistrates. However, the large majority of its residents were voluntary cases.

In 1864, the Home moved to new premises at Northumberland House, 17a Marylebone Road, at the corner of Northumberland Street (now Luxborough Street). On February 27th of that year was re-certified as an Industrial School. The girls were given lessons in reading and writing by ladies from the home's Committee. They were also given industrial training in the form of straw plaiting, straw hat making and needlework.

Cripples' Home, Marylebone Road, c.1877. © Peter Higginbotham

By 1874, there 98 girls in residence: 69 'cripples', and 29 'industrial cases of whom only 5 were there under detention. Dressmaking was being introduced and a great deal of laundry work was being carried out. The domestic work of the Home was being performed by the 'industrial' inmates who also attended to the wants of the 'cripples'. The institution was described by an inspector as having a 'kindly benevolent spirit'. The Home relinquished its Industrial School status in 1877.

In 1911, the Home moved to 'Halliwick' on Bush Hill Road, Winchmore Hill, in north London. The 300-year-old house, with spacious grounds, was the former residence of Sir Hugh Myddleton, a 17th century politician merchant and engineer. Myddleton was responsible for a pioneering project to channel clean water to London from the River Lea in Hertfordshire via a channel known as the New River which still runs through the former grounds of the now demolished house.

In 1927, the Home was handed over to the Waifs and Strays Society and became the Halliwick School For Girls.

Halliwick and the New River, Winchmore Hill, c.1927. © Peter Higginbotham

Records

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