St Vincent's Orphan Home for Boys, Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire
St Vincent's Orphan Home for Roman Catholic Boys was established in 1890 at 12 Wright Street, Kingston upon Hull. It was run by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul on behalf of Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough. The home could accommodate up to 50 boys, under the age of 14, who were classed as waifs and strays and whose faith or morals were in danger. No boy with an "incurable disease" was accepted.
![Former St Vincent's Orphan Home for Boys, Wright Street, Hull, 2013.](HullStVincent1.jpg)
Former St Vincent's Orphan Home for Boys, Wright Street, Hull, 2013. © Peter Higginbotham
On 21st June, 1908, the foundation stone was laid for new, purpose-built premises on Queen's Road, Hull.
![St Vincent's Orphan Home for Boys, Hull, 1908.](HullStVincent11.jpg)
St Vincent's Orphan Home for Boys, Hull, June 21st, 1908.
The new building, designed by local architect Arthur Lowther, provided accommodation for up to 108 boys aged under 16. It was formally opened on 25 October 1909.
![St Vincent's Orphan Home for Boys, Hull, c.1911.](HullStVincent2.jpg)
St Vincent's Orphan Home for Boys, Hull, c.1911. © Peter Higginbotham
![Dining room at St Vincent's Orphan Home for Boys, Hull, c.1911.](HullStVincent3.jpg)
Dining room at St Vincent's Orphan Home for Boys, Hull, c.1911. © Peter Higginbotham
![Recreation room at St Vincent's Orphan Home for Boys, Hull, c.1911.](HullStVincent4.jpg)
Recreation room at St Vincent's Orphan Home for Boys, Hull, c.1911. © Peter Higginbotham
![Dormitory at St Vincent's Orphan Home for Boys, Hull, c.1911.](HullStVincent10.jpg)
Dormitory at St Vincent's Orphan Home for Boys, Hull, c.1911. © Peter Higginbotham
![St Vincent's Orphan Home for Boys, Hull, 2013.](HullStVincent5.jpg)
St Vincent's Orphan Home for Boys, Hull, 2013. © Peter Higginbotham
![St Vincent's Orphan Home for Boys, Hull, 2013.](HullStVincent6.jpg)
St Vincent's Orphan Home for Boys, Hull, 2013. © Peter Higginbotham
![St Vincent's Orphan Home for Boys, Hull, 2013.](HullStVincent7.jpg)
St Vincent's Orphan Home for Boys, Hull, 2013. © Peter Higginbotham
![St Vincent's Orphan Home for Boys, Hull, 2013.](HullStVincent8.jpg)
St Vincent's Orphan Home for Boys, Hull, 2013. © Peter Higginbotham
The undated photograph below shows staff and children in front of the home. It includes a number of girls, though it is unclear whether these were then resident at the home.
![Former St Vincent's Orphan Home, Wright Street, Hull, no date.](HullStVincent12.jpg)
Former St Vincent's Orphan Home, Wright Street, Hull, no date. © Peter Higginbotham
Immediately adjacent to the home was a Roman Catholic school which the boys would presumably have attended.
![Roman Catholic School, Queen's Road, Hull, 2013.](HullStVincent9.jpg)
Roman Catholic School, Queen's Road, Hull, 2013. © Peter Higginbotham
After the opening of the Queen's Road home, the Wright Street home was used as a home for Ratholic working boys.
By the 1980s, the Queen's Road premises were being used as an old people's home, finally closing in around 1995. The site was then used as a bail hostel. More recently, the buildings have been converted to residential use.
Records
Note: many repositories impose a closure period of up to 100 years for records identifying individuals. Before travelling a long distance, always check that the records you want to consult will be available.
- The Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough Curial Office, 50a The Avenue, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough TS5 6QT.
Bibliography
- Cleveland, Ernest St Vincent's Home for Boys
Links
Except where indicated, this page () © Peter Higginbotham. Contents may not be reproduced without permission.