Reedham Orphanage

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Coronation Drill at Reedham Orphanage (1911), a Kinemacolor film

Reedham Orphanage was founded in 1844 in Richmond, London as the Asylum for Fatherless Children by Rev Andrew Reed [1] taking children of both sexes and giving them food, shelter and education until the age of 13 and 14. [2]

Contents

History

It quickly outgrew the Richmond premises and relocated to Stoke Newington, then to Stamford Hill in 1846. [1] [2] It immediately began fundraising for a new home. The funds for the site were raised by 1853.

At long last … we have purchased an estate three miles from Croydon on the trunk line of the Dover and Brighton Railway. It is paid for (the cost was £3,895). We shall put our Asylum on the crown of the Hill. [2]

Rev Andrew Reed, 1853

The orphanage in Purley, Surrey was opened in 1858 [1] with a capacity of 300. [3]

When Andrew Reed died in 1862 the asylum's name was changed to Reedham in his honour. [2] [3]

The orphanage included a school for the children and a non-sectarian church which was added in 1879. [1] [2] When the local railway station opened in 1911 it took the Reedham name. [3] The school was evacuated to Nottingham from July 1944 to June 1945. [2]

The home was closed in 1980 and sold for redevelopment. The proceeds established the Reedham Trust. [3] The Purley site is now occupied by a housing estate adjacent to St Nicholas School and Beaumont Primary School.

Reedham Trust

The Trust fulfills the original intent of the asylum by funding a boarding school education for children who through loss or incapacity of their parents, need to attend a boarding school. Their focus "is on boarding need rather than educational need". [4]

The trust is run from the former lodge building of the orphanage. [1] [3]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Reedham Orphanage". formerchildrenshomes.org. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "History". Reedham Old Scholars Association. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Reedham, Croydon". Hidden London. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  4. "Our Criteria - Care for my children". The Reedham Trust. Retrieved 13 October 2014.