Ancestry UK

St Vincent's Crèche/Nursery/School/Orphanage, Marylebone, London

The St Vincent's Crèche, for the children of milk-women, was established in 1868 at Beaumont Street, Marylebone, London W1. It was run by a Roman Catholic order of nuns, the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul.

In 1869, the Crèche moved to Bulstrode Street, Marylebone, where it became St Vincent's Nursery and Orphanage for Girls.

Another move came in 1879, taking it to 9 Lower Seymour Street (renamed Wigmore Street in 1923), Marylebone. The premises now offered a day-nursery and school/orphanage.

In January, 1938, the establishment moved to Blandford Street, Marylebone, to become St Vincent's Orphanage and Day School, with 53 orphans then in residence.

At the outbreak of the Second World War in September, 1939, the sSchool was evacuated to Bristol. During the war, the building was used as a communal meals service, as emergency accommodation, and as a public shelter.

After the war, the School, re-opened but the orphanage was discontinued.

In July, 2005, a decline in the Sisters' numbers resulted in the Order selling their Blandford Street convent and school building to Westminster Council. The School is now managed by the Council in partnership with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster. Some of the original buildings still survive, including the chapel and a dormitory block.

Records

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Bibliography