Presented in collaboration with Coram, explore the fascinating story of the 18th century children left in the care of the Foundling Hospital. Discover the role of maternal love tokens, and see those created by school children of today.
In 1739, Thomas Coram established the Foundling Hospital in London for the “education and maintenance of exposed and deserted young children”. It was the first example of children’s social care in the UK, and marked the beginning of Coram, UK’s first and longest-serving children’s charity.
It soon found itself unable to meet the ever-increasing demands on its services. A branch hospital was subsequently established in Westerham, Kent at Wellstreet, better known to us today as Chartwell.
Join us to find out more about the Westerham foundlings and the tokens that their mothers left with them when they were given to the care of the Foundling Hospital. 469 children passed through the Westerham branch of the London Foundling Hospital. See the tokens crafted by local school children to represent the Westerham foundlings.
This is a free exhibition in the Coach House and was created in collaboration with Coram.
Today, Coram is a vibrant group of specialist charities and organisations, supporting hundreds of thousands of children, young people and families every year. They champion children’s rights and wellbeing, and make lives better through legal support, advocacy, adoption and their therapeutic, educational and cultural programmes. Visit coram.org.uk to learn more.
If you would also like to visit Quebec House, normal admission or National Trust membership applies. Please pre-book a timed entry ticket for house visits.