Reverse of card sent from Essex Boys Industrial School
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Reverse of card sent from Essex Boys Industrial School
Reverse of card sent from Essex Boys Industrial School, Chelmsford, complaining about conditions in the institution. (Front of card is a separate image in this collection.) Date: circa 1906
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 14245837
© Mary Evans / Peter Higginbotham Collection
Chelmsford Complaining Conditions Essex Homes Institution Reverse Separate Youth Childrens
EDITORS COMMENTS
This reverse side of a postcard sent from the Essex Boys Industrial School in Chelmsford, England, circa 1906, reveals a handwritten complaint about the living conditions within the institution. The sender expresses concern for the welfare of the children housed there, stating, "I am afraid the boys are not being properly looked after. They are not getting enough to eat and are often cold and hungry." The writer goes on to describe overcrowded dormitories and a lack of proper supervision, expressing a hope that "something will be done to improve things." The Essex Boys Industrial School was one of several institutions established in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to provide care and rehabilitation for neglected, delinquent, and orphaned boys. While the front of the postcard in this collection (separate image in this collection) depicts a picturesque scene of the school's grounds, this reverse side offers a stark contrast, revealing the harsh realities of life for some of the children in its care. Historically, the Essex Boys Industrial School was part of a larger social housing movement in the UK, aimed at addressing the needs of vulnerable children and youth. However, the conditions described in this postcard highlight the challenges faced by these institutions in providing adequate care and resources for their residents. This reverse side serves as a reminder of the importance of advocacy and reform in the history of children's homes and social housing.
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